To provide a method of manufacturing metal oxide composite particles hardly causing a segregation and evenly dispersible in a matrix material, metal oxide composite particles prepared by the method and a friction material containing the metal oxide composite particles.

In the method of manufacturing the metal oxide composite particles, a hydrolyzable metal compound is hydrolyzed and condensed in a solvent in the presence of inorganic and/or organic particles, to form a metal oxide sol, the resultant sol is treated by drying, heating and pulverizing. Metal oxide composite particles prepared by the method and the friction material containing the metal oxide composite particles, are also provided.