Nelson Rivas

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Nelson Rivas

| image = Nelson Rivas - Inter Mailand (1).jpg

| image_size = 200

| caption = Rivas with Internazionale in 2009

| fullname = Nelson Enrique Rivas López

| height = {{height|m=1.81|precision=0}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1983|3|25}}

| birth_place = Pradera, Colombia

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Defender

| years1 = 2002 | clubs1 = Deportivo Pasto | caps1 = 12 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2003 | clubs2 = Deportivo Cali | caps2 = 3 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2003 | clubs3 = Deportes Tolima | caps3 = 18 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2004–2006 | clubs4 = Deportivo Cali | caps4 = 93 | goals4 = 2

| years5 = 2007 | clubs5 = River Plate | caps5 = 9 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2007–2011 | clubs6 = Internazionale | caps6 = 27 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2009–2010 | clubs7 = → Livorno (loan) | caps7 = 16 | goals7 = 2

| years8 = 2011 | clubs8 = → Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (loan) | caps8 = 1 | goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2012–2014 | clubs9 = Montreal Impact | caps9 = 11 | goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2015 | clubs10 = Atlético | caps10 = 12 | goals10 = 1

| nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 =

| pcupdate = 9 September 2016

}}

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

Career

File:Nelson Rivas - Inter Mailand (2).jpg

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 millionFC Internazionale Milano 2007–08 bilancio, Require purchase in [http://www.registroimprese.it/ CCIAA] {{in lang|it}} and signed a contract until 30 June 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=26847&L=en|title=Jimenez, Rivas complete Inter moves |date=18 July 2007|accessdate=12 February 2012|work=FC Internazionale Milano|publisher=www.inter.it}} The transfer fee actually paid via FC Locarno{{cite web|url=http://www.lega-calcio.it/ita/trasferimenti07080.shtml|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926232427/http://www.lega-calcio.it/ita/trasferimenti07080.shtml|title=Deposito Trasferimenti Calciatori - Stagione Sportiva 2007/2008|date=September 2007|archivedate=26 September 2007|accessdate=5 January 2011|work=Lega Calcio}} 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.{{cite web|title=Combi: "Rivas tests reassuring" |work=www.inter.it

|url=http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?L=en&N=27529&stringa=Rivas }} On 4 October 2008 he injured his knee in the Serie A game against Bologna.[http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=899268 Rivas Requires Surgery] 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/08/25/1461356/livorno-sign-inter-defender-nelson-rivas-report |title=Livorno Sign Inter Defender Nelson Rivas - Report |publisher=Goal.com |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=18 January 2014}}

On 31 August 2011 the Colombian stopper became a free agent after his contract at Inter was rescinded by mutual consent.[http://www.football-italia.net/aug31n.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903125027/http://www.football-italia.net/aug31n.html|date=3 September 2009}}

On 2 October 2011 Nelson Rivas signed with Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.{{cite web|author=Yvan Delia-Lavictoire |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/10/03/colombian-defender-rivas-montreals-first-signing |title=Colombian defender Rivas is Montreal's first signing |publisher=MLSsoccer.com |date=3 October 2011 |accessdate=18 January 2014}}

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.{{cite web|author=08/07/2012 1:02 am Updated: 08/07/2012 1:02 am |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/07/nelson-rivas-headbutts-antoine-hoppenot-video_n_1749929.html |title=Nelson Rivas Headbutts Antoine Hoppenot During Montreal Impact-Philadelphia Union Match (VIDEO) |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=7 August 2012 |accessdate=18 January 2014}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.phillysoccernews.com/teams/union2.php?article_id=8908 |title=PUNISHED Rivas suspended for head but on Hoppenot |publisher=Phillysoccernews.com |date=9 August 2012 |accessdate=18 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105121856/http://www.phillysoccernews.com/teams/union2.php?article_id=8908 |archivedate=5 November 2013 |df=dmy-all }}