Diego Rivas (footballer, born 1980)

Diego Rivas Gutiérrez (born 27 April 1980) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Not to be confused with the Spanish football goalkeeper Diego Rivas Rego.
For the Chilean fighter, see Diego Rivas (fighter).
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rivas and the second or maternal family name is Gutiérrez.
Diego Rivas
Personal information
Full name Diego Rivas Gutiérrez
Date of birth (1980-04-27) 27 April 1980
Place of birth Ciudad Real, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Youth career
Atlético Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2000 Amorós 32 (0)
2000–2002 Atlético Madrid B 69 (3)
2002–2003 Atlético Madrid 3 (0)
2002–2003 → Getafe (loan) 31 (3)
2004–2006 Getafe 83 (0)
2006–2011 Real Sociedad 124 (3)
2007–2008 → Cádiz (loan) 20 (0)
2011–2013 Hércules 57 (0)
2013–2014 Eibar 24 (0)
2014–2015 Llagostera 20 (0)
2015–2016 Socuéllamos 30 (0)
2016–2018 Manchego 58 (3)
Total 551 (12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He amassed totals of 364 matches and six goals both major levels of Spanish football combined, including 122 games and three goals in La Liga where he represented Atlético Madrid, Getafe and Real Sociedad (over five seasons).[1]

Club career

Born in Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Rivas started playing as a senior in Atlético Madrid's reserves, but could never break into the first team. In the 2002–03 campaign, he served a loan at neighbouring Getafe CF in Segunda División.

Having returned to the Colchoneros, Rivas was definitely waived and, in January 2004, had a second Getafe spell, still contributing with 17 games to a first ever top-flight promotion. He continued to be everpresent from 2004 to 2006, as the side achieved two consecutive ninth-place finishes in La Liga.

Rivas played the first of the following two seasons with Real Sociedad, appearing irregularly as the Basques were relegated and being loaned to Cádiz CF of the second level for 2007–08, in another ill-fated campaign.

Rivas excelled in the following second-tier seasons with Real Sociedad, rarely missing a match and helping the club return to the top level in his second year,[2] while collecting a combined 22 yellow cards. He featured in 32 matches in 2010–11 (31 starts), scoring against former team Atlético Madrid[3] and Sevilla FC, both games ending in home losses,[4] with the club eventually retaining its status.

In late June 2011, 31-year-old Rivas signed for Hércules CF in division two, agreeing on a 2+1 contract.[5] He featured regularly during his spell in the Valencian Community, and on 9 August 2013 joined fellow league side SD Eibar.[6]

Rivas contributed with 20 starts in 1,810 minutes of action during the campaign, as the Armeros were promoted to the top division for the first time ever coached by his former Real Sociedad teammate Gaizka Garitano.[7] On 25 August 2014, he signed a one-year deal with UE Llagostera, newly promoted to the second level.[8]

Rivas retired in May 2018 at the age of 38, after two seasons in Tercera División with CD Manchego Ciudad Real.[9]

Personal life

Rivas' younger brother, Marcos, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He played almost exclusively in amateur football, his biggest achievement being appearing in 13 games for AD Alcorcón in the third division.[10]

Honours

Real Sociedad

Eibar

References
  1. Calle y Diego Rivas, dos futbolistas de Primera en Tercera (Calle and Diego Rivas, two Primera footballers in Tercera); ABC, 21 March 2017 (in Spanish)
  2. El cielo de Primera vuelve a abrirse para la Real Sociedad (Primera heaven reopens for Real Sociedad) Archived 12 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine; Marca, 13 June 2010 (in Spanish)
  3. Aguero and Forlan inspire Atletico triumph; ESPN Soccernet, 21 November 2010
  4. Kanoute bags brace in Sevilla comeback; ESPN Soccernet, 8 January 2011
  5. Diego Rivas se compromete con el Hércules (Diego Rivas committs to Hércules); Marca, 30 June 2011 (in Spanish)
  6. El Eibar ya tiene a su 'galáctico': el veterano Diego Rivas (Eibar already have their 'galactic': veteran Diego Rivas); Marca, 9 August 2013 (in Spanish)
  7. El Eibar no necesitó aclimatarse (Eibar needed no adjustment); El Diario Vasco, 2 June 2014 (in Spanish)
  8. Diego Rivas, nova incorporació del Llagostera (Diego Rivas, new Llagostera addition) Archived 26 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine; UE Llagostera, 25 August 2014 (in Catalan)
  9. La emoción de Diego Rivas: “Recordaré para siempre este día de mi retirada” (La emoción de Diego Rivas: “I'll remember this day of my retirement forever”); Lanza, 7 May 2018 (in Spanish)
  10. El Santa Ana incorpora a la plantilla a Marcos Rivas (Santa Ana add Marcos Rivas to squad); Futmadrid, 11 January 2013 (in Spanish)
  11. Griezmann, candidato a jugador revelación de Segunda por su excelente campaña (Griezmann, best newcomer candidate in Segunda for his excellent campaign); Marca, 24 June 2010 (in Spanish)
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