David Rivas Rodríguez (born 2 December 1978) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender.

David Rivas
Personal information
Full name David Rivas Rodríguez
Date of birth (1978-12-02) 2 December 1978 (age 46)
Place of birth Dos Hermanas, Spain
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
Betis
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1999 Betis B 38 (4)
1997–1998Dos Hermanas (loan)
1999–2010 Betis 202 (8)
2010–2011 Vaslui 10 (0)
2011–2013 Huesca 39 (0)
Total 289 (12)
Medal record
Betis
First place Copa del Rey 2005
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He spent most of his 16-year professional career with Betis, appearing in 244 competitive games and winning the 2005 Copa del Rey. In La Liga, he totalled 171 matches and seven goals in nine seasons.[1]

Club career

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Rivas was born in Dos Hermanas, Province of Seville. Having previously played with the club's reserves, he spent the vast majority of his professional career at Real Betis, making his first-team – and La Liga – debut during the 1999–2000 season: his first game was on 21 August 1999 as he started in a 1–0 away loss against Athletic Bilbao,[2] with his team eventually suffering relegation. He contributed 20 Segunda División matches the following campaign, in an immediate promotion.[3]

Rivas went on to become an important defensive element for the Andalusians in subsequent years, becoming their captain and scoring four goals from 32 appearances in 2004–05 as Betis achieved qualification for the UEFA Champions League (Juanito, the other stopper, added another four).[4][5][6] Afterwards, however, dramatic loss of form and a bad run with injuries meant he featured sparingly for the side.[7][8][9]

In July 2010, after only 42 league appearances over four seasons, the 31-year-old Rivas left Betis and Spain for the first time, joining Liga I club FC Vaslui. In September of the following year, he returned to his homeland and signed for SD Huesca in the second tier.[10]

Honours

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Betis

References

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  1. ^ Palazón, Miguel (15 April 2018). "Rivas: central de un Betis histórico" [Rivas: stopper of an historic Betis] (in Spanish). Cadena COPE. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  2. ^ Rodrigálvarez, Eduardo (22 August 1999). "El Athletic exprime su constancia" [Athletic showcase consistency]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  3. ^ Del Castillo, Alfonso (24 September 2020). "David Rivas" (in Spanish). Manquepierda. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Con ocho basta si están Juanito y Rivas" [Eight is enough when Juanito and Rivas are around]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 28 October 2002. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  5. ^ "El Betis saca los colores a un conservador Getafe" [Betis humble conservative Getafe]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 24 October 2004. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  6. ^ "¿Qué fue de los héroes de la 2004/05? (Episodio I)" [What happened to 2004/05's heroes? (Episode I)] (in Spanish). Vídeos del Betis. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  7. ^ "El Betis pierde tres semanas a David Rivas" [Betis lose David Rivas three weeks]. Marca (in Spanish). 7 January 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  8. ^ Lastra, Luis (14 September 2009). "Rivas se pierde lo que queda de campaña y deja su ficha en el aire" [Rivas loses remainder of season and leaves uncertainty regarding roster spot]. El Correo de Andalucía (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  9. ^ Ramírez, Álvaro (25 February 2010). "Rivas estará de baja alrededor de un mes" [Rivas will be out of action for about one month] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  10. ^ "David Rivas: "Vengo a darlo todo"" [David Rivas: "I come to give it my all"]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 14 September 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Dani delivers for Betis". UEFA. 11 June 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
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