David Rivas
Encyclopedia
David Rivas Rodríguez is a Spanish
footballer who plays for SD Huesca
as a central defender.
Rivas, a player with a physical approach, spent the vast majoriy of his professional career at Real Betis
, making his first-team - and La Liga
- debuts during 1999–2000: his first game was on 21 August 1999, as he started in a 0–1 loss at Athletic de Bilbao
, with his team eventually suffering relegation. He contributed with 20 second division
games in the following season, in an immediate promotion back.
Rivas went on to become an important defensive element in the following years, becoming club captain and netting four times in 32 games in 2004–05
, as Betis achieved UEFA Champions League
qualification honours (Juanito
, the other stopper, added another four). From 2006–09, however, dramatic loss of form and a bad run with injuries meant he appeared sparingly for the Andalusia
ns.
In July 2010, after only 42 league appearances in four seasons combined, 31-year old Rivas left Betis and Spain for the first time, joining Liga I
side FC Vaslui
. In September of the following year, he returned to his country, signing for SD Huesca
in the second level.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays for SD Huesca
SD Huesca
Sociedad Deportiva Huesca, S.A.D., is a Spanish football club based in Huesca, in the autonomous community of Aragon. Founded in 1960, it currently plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadio El Alcoraz, which seats 8,000 spectators....
as a central defender.
Club career
Having previously played with the club's B sideReal Betis B
Real Betis B is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1963, it is the reserve team of Real Betis, and currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 4, holding home games at Ciudad Deportiva, with a capacity for 4,000 spectators.Unlike the...
Rivas, a player with a physical approach, spent the vast majoriy of his professional career at Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
, making his first-team - and La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
- debuts during 1999–2000: his first game was on 21 August 1999, as he started in a 0–1 loss at Athletic de Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
, with his team eventually suffering relegation. He contributed with 20 second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
games in the following season, in an immediate promotion back.
Rivas went on to become an important defensive element in the following years, becoming club captain and netting four times in 32 games in 2004–05
2004–05 La Liga
2004–05 season was composed of the following clubs:* Albacete Balompié* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Real Betis* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Levante UD* Málaga CF* Real Mallorca* CD Numancia* CA Osasuna...
, as Betis achieved UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
qualification honours (Juanito
Juan Gutiérrez Moreno
Juan Gutiérrez Moreno, aka Juanito , is a Spanish footballer who plays for Real Valladolid as a central defender.A player of physical display, he is also noted for his excellent aerial ability...
, the other stopper, added another four). From 2006–09, however, dramatic loss of form and a bad run with injuries meant he appeared sparingly for the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns.
In July 2010, after only 42 league appearances in four seasons combined, 31-year old Rivas left Betis and Spain for the first time, joining Liga I
Liga I
Liga I, or in full, due to sponsorship reasons, Liga I Bergenbier, is the top division of the Romanian football league system. Before the 2006/2007 season, it was called Divizia A, but the name had to be changed following the discovery that someone else had registered the trademark "Divizia A"...
side FC Vaslui
FC Vaslui
FC Vaslui is a professional football club from Vaslui, Romania. The club plays in Liga I and was founded in 2002. The best league finishes were achieved in the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons, when they managed to end up third. Since foundation, they finished each season in a higher rank than in the...
. In September of the following year, he returned to his country, signing for SD Huesca
SD Huesca
Sociedad Deportiva Huesca, S.A.D., is a Spanish football club based in Huesca, in the autonomous community of Aragon. Founded in 1960, it currently plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadio El Alcoraz, which seats 8,000 spectators....
in the second level.