Nelson Enrique Rivas López (born 25 March 1983) is a Colombian former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Nelson Rivas
Rivas with Internazionale in 2009
Personal information
Full name Nelson Enrique Rivas López
Date of birth (1983-03-25) 25 March 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth Pradera, Colombia
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002 Deportivo Pasto 12 (0)
2003 Deportivo Cali 3 (0)
2003 Deportes Tolima 18 (0)
2004–2006 Deportivo Cali 93 (2)
2007 River Plate 9 (0)
2007–2011 Internazionale 27 (0)
2009–2010Livorno (loan) 16 (2)
2011Dnipro (loan) 1 (0)
2012–2014 Montreal Impact 11 (0)
2015 Atlético 12 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 September 2016

Career

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Rivas playing for Inter

Rivas began his career with Deportivo Pasto. After playing for several clubs in his native Colombia, Rivas became a fixture for Deportivo Cali. He was a two-time winner of the Copa Mustang in Colombia, first with Deportes Tolima in 2003 and for the second time with Deportivo Cali in 2005. After leaving Cali he played for legendary club River Plate in Argentina.

Rivas was bought in July 2007 by Internazionale for €5 million[1] and signed a contract until 30 June 2011.[2] The transfer fee actually paid via FC Locarno[1][3] in order to redistributed to investor. He made his debut in a Champions League game Fenerbahçe-Inter (1-0). On 23 September 2007 it was reported in Italy that Rivas had collapsed at the Saturday training session the previous day. He went to further examinations throughout the week after the incident.[4] On 4 October 2008 he injured his knee in the Serie A game against Bologna.[5] While with Inter he became a Serie A champion, having won it in the 2007–2008 season and 2008-2009.

He was loaned to A.S. Livorno Calcio during the 2009–2010 season where he played a total of 16 games, scoring two goals.[6] On 31 August 2011 the Colombian stopper became a free agent after his contract at Inter was rescinded by mutual consent.[7]

On 2 October 2011 Nelson Rivas signed with Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.[8]

On 4 August 2012, at the 67th minute during a match between Montreal vs Philadelphia, Rivas was thrown to the ground by Antoine Hoppenot, prompting Rivas to headbutt Hoppenot.[9] A dispute between the two teams followed, with both Rivas and Philadelphia's Jack McInerney being sent off with red cards. Upon league review, Rivas received a three-game suspension.[10]

Honours

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Deportes Tolima

Deportivo Cali

Inter

Montreal Impact

References

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  1. ^ a b FC Internazionale Milano 2007–08 bilancio, Require purchase in CCIAA (in Italian)
  2. ^ "Jimenez, Rivas complete Inter moves". FC Internazionale Milano. www.inter.it. 18 July 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  3. ^ "Deposito Trasferimenti Calciatori - Stagione Sportiva 2007/2008". Lega Calcio. September 2007. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  4. ^ "Combi: "Rivas tests reassuring"". www.inter.it.
  5. ^ Rivas Requires Surgery
  6. ^ "Livorno Sign Inter Defender Nelson Rivas - Report". Goal.com. 25 August 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  7. ^ [1] Archived 3 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Yvan Delia-Lavictoire (3 October 2011). "Colombian defender Rivas is Montreal's first signing". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  9. ^ 08/07/2012 1:02 am Updated: 08/07/2012 1:02 am (7 August 2012). "Nelson Rivas Headbutts Antoine Hoppenot During Montreal Impact-Philadelphia Union Match (VIDEO)". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 18 January 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "PUNISHED Rivas suspended for head but on Hoppenot". Phillysoccernews.com. 9 August 2012. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
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