Villarreal coach Preciado dies of heart attack

Spanish football team Villarreal says its newly appointed coach Manuel Preciado has died of a heart attack on Thursday. He was 54.

Preciado, who only agreed to take charge of the team on Wednesday, had a one-year deal at Villarreal. The team was relegated from the Spanish league last season.

Villarreal's website said the team had expressed its condolences to Preciado's family.

Preciado is a former player with several clubs including Racing Santander and had also previously coached teams including Racing Santander, Levante, Murcia and Sporting Gijon.

The team said Preciado was in Valencia when he was stricken early Thursday.