Nelson Rivas

Nelson Rivas

Personal information
Full name	Nelson Enrique Rivas López
Date of birth	25 March 1983 (1983-03-25)
Place of birth	Pradera, Colombia
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Montreal Impact
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	16	(0)
2009–2010	→ Livorno (loan)	16	(2)
2011	→ Dnipro (loan)	1	(0)
2012–	Montreal Impact	0	(0)
National team
2008	Colombia	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 3, 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Rivas and the second or maternal family name is López.

Nelson Rivas is a Colombian football defender who plays for the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer. He was born on 25 March 1983, in the city of Pradera in Colombia. He currently plays as a central defender or right back. He is nicknamed Tyson after the famous American boxer due to his size, appearance and strength. Inter fans have also nicknamed him The Giant.

Career

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 and signed a contract until the 30 June 2011. The transfer fee actually paid via FC Locarno 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. On 4 October 2008 he injured his knee in the Serie A game against Bologna. 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 2 goals. On 31 August 2011 the Colombian stopper became a free agent after his contract at Inter was rescinded by mutual consent.

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

Honours

Season	Club	Title
2003	Deportes Tolima	Copa Mustang
2005	Deportivo Cali	Copa Mustang
2008	Inter	Serie A
2008	Inter	Italian Super Cup
2009	Inter	Serie A