Chicuelo II

Chicuelo II is a stone monument to a bullfighter, standing in Albacete right beside the main gate of the city's bullring on Calle Feria.

Who was the bullfighter behind the statue?

The stage name Chicuelo II belonged to Manuel Jiménez Díaz, born in 1929 in Iniesta, in the province of Cuenca. Although not born in Albacete itself, he grew up there and considered himself an Albaceteño for the rest of his life. He built a reputation as one of the boldest bullfighters of his generation, admired for a daring, all-or-nothing fighting style. His career and life ended abruptly on 21 January 1960, when he died in the crash of Avianca Flight 671 near Montego Bay, Jamaica. He was only 30 years old.

Where does the name "Chicuelo II" come from?

The chosen nickname might suggest a family link to earlier bullfighters who also fought as "Chicuelo" — Manuel Jiménez Vera and Manuel Jiménez Moreno. In fact, despite sharing the surname Jiménez, none of them were related. What is a genuine family connection, though, is on the other side: his nephew, Ricardo Sevilla Jiménez, later fought under the name "Chicuelo de Albacete," directly invoking the city his uncle had adopted as home.

What does the monument look like, and when was it built?

The sculpture shows the bullfighter mid-pass with the muleta, one of the most recognizable gestures of a corrida. It was carved in stone by sculptor Fernando Colominas and unveiled in 1961, just a year after the bullfighter's tragic death, as a lasting tribute to his bond with Albacete's bullfighting scene.

Why does the monument stand right at the bullring gate?

The placement is deliberate. The statue of Chicuelo II flanks one side of the main entrance to the Plaza de Toros de Albacete, while a monument to another great local bullfighter, Dámaso González, stands on the other side. Every visitor walking into the arena passes between the two figures, a layout that cements their status as symbols of the city's bullfighting tradition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Chicuelo II? Chicuelo II was the stage name of Manuel Jiménez Díaz, a bullfighter raised in Albacete and known for his daring style, who died in a plane crash in 1960 at the age of 30.

When was the monument in Albacete unveiled? It was unveiled in 1961, a year after the bullfighter's death. The stone sculpture was made by Fernando Colominas.

Where exactly is the monument located? It stands beside the main gate of the Plaza de Toros de Albacete, on Calle Feria, flanking one side of the entrance opposite a statue of Dámaso González.

Was Chicuelo II related to other bullfighters who used the same nickname? No. Despite the similarity to the earlier "Chicuelo" nickname used by Manuel Jiménez Vera and Manuel Jiménez Moreno, there was no family connection. His nephew, Ricardo Sevilla Jiménez, later performed as "Chicuelo de Albacete."