Nelson Vivas

{{Short description|Argentine footballer and manager (born 1969)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Nelson Vivas

| image = NelsonDavidVivas2025Madrid.png

| caption = Nelson Vivas in 2025

| full_name = Nelson Davíd Vivas

| height = 1.76 m

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1969|10|18}}

| birth_place = Granadero Baigorria, Argentina

| currentclub = Atlético Madrid (assistant)

| clubnumber =

| position = Right-back

| youthyears1 = 1989–1990

| youthclubs1 = Somisa de San Nicolas

| years1 = 1990–1994

| clubs1 = Quilmes

| caps1 = 93

| goals1 = 3

| years2 = 1994–1997

| clubs2 = Boca Juniors

| caps2 = 86

| goals2 = 3

| years3 = 1998

| clubs3 = → Lugano (loan)

| caps3 = 22

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 1998–2001

| clubs4 = Arsenal

| caps4 = 40

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2000

| clubs5 = → Celta Vigo (loan)

| caps5 = 13

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2001–2003

| clubs6 = Inter Milan

| caps6 = 19

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2003

| clubs7 = River Plate

| caps7 = 7

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2004–2005

| clubs8 = Quilmes

| caps8 = 24

| goals8 = 0

| totalcaps = 275

| totalgoals = 7

| nationalyears1 = 1994–2003

| nationalteam1 = Argentina

| nationalcaps1 = 39

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| manageryears1 = 2013

| managerclubs1 = Quilmes

| manageryears2 = 2015–2017

| managerclubs2 = Estudiantes

| manageryears3 = 2017

| managerclubs3 = Defensa y Justicia

| manageryears4 = 2018–

| managerclubs4 = Atlético Madrid (assistant)

}}

Nelson David Vivas (born 18 October 1969) is an Argentine former professional footballer and manager who played as a right-back. Vivas played for clubs Quilmes, Boca Juniors, Lugano, Arsenal, Celta Vigo, Inter Milan and River Plate. He also played for the Argentina national team. Vivas has gone on to manage sides Quilmes, Estudiantes and Defensa y Justicia.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/es-ar/news/4435/main/2017/06/19/36487052/nelson-vivas-ser%C3%A1-el-t%C3%A9cnico-de-defensa-y-justicia|title=Nelson Vivas será el técnico de Defensa y Justicia|language=es|website=Goal.com|date=19 June 2017}}

Club career

=Career in Argentina=

Vivas was born in Granadero Baigorria, Santa Fe, Argentina. He began his professional footballing career with Quilmes. After three years with Quilmes, he then joined Boca Juniors. Vivas in all played 98 games and scored three goals for Azul y Oro.

=Move to Europe=

Vivas then made his move to Europe, joining Lugano of the Swiss League on loan. He went on to make ten appearances during his stay at the club. Arsenal eventually signed him from Boca Juniors for £1,600,000 in August 1998.{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/historic/players/nelson-vivas|title=Nelson Vivas|website=Arsenal.com}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/146502.stm|title=Gunners sign Vivas|website=BBC.co.uk}}{{cite web|url=http://www.yojugueenelcelta.com/2008/04/nelson-vivas.html?m=1|title=Nelson Vivas|language=es|website=Yojugueenelcelta.com}}

Vivas was at first used as backup for established full-backs Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn while at Arsenal. He started 18 games and played as a substitute for another 18 matches during his debut season at Highbury. Vivas scored his first and only goal for the Gunners against Derby County in the League Cup.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-arsenal-find-rich-reserves-1181393.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-arsenal-find-rich-reserves-1181393.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Arsenal find rich reserves |work=The Independent |date=28 October 1998 |access-date=3 November 2009 | location=London | first=Jon | last=Culley}} He had a setback when he missed a penalty in a shootout as Arsenal crashed out of the 1999/2000 League Cup to Middlesbrough.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/dec/01/match.sport |title=Schwarzer the hero sees Middlesbrough through |work=The Guardian |date=1 December 1999 |access-date=14 August 2009 | location=London | first=Michael | last=Walker}}

Vivas was loaned out to the La Liga outfit Celta Vigo halfway through the 1999–00 season. As Arsenal had signed Oleh Luzhnyi and Sylvinho in the summer of 1999, he went on to mainly appear as a substitute at the club. With him being unable to attain regular playing time, Vivas left Arsenal at the end of the 2000–01 season. Altogether he played 69 games for Arsenal, with 40 as a substitute, scoring one goal. Vivas then joined Serie A team Inter Milan on a free transfer. At Inter, Vivas found it hard to break into the first team. After two seasons with the Nerazzurri, he left European football to return to his native Argentina.{{cite web|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/interview-nelson-vivas-arsenal-kicking-machine-estudiantes-gaffer-and-a-lot-more-between|title=Interview, Nelson Vivas: From Arsenal "kicking machine" to Estudiantes gaffer – and a lot more in between|website=Four Four Two.com|date=19 April 2017 }}

=Early retirement=

He went on to sign up for River Plate where he spent a solitary season. Vivas then made a return to Quilmes, where he brought an end to his playing days in 2005.

Vivas served as Diego Simeone's assistant manager at clubs Estudiantes, River Plate and San Lorenzo.

For the 2013–14 season, Vivas once again returned to Quilmes, as manager on this occasion. International headlines were made in October 2013 when Vivas attacked a fan in the stands, and subsequently resigned from his post.{{cite news |title=Nelson Vivas: Ex-Arsenal defender resigns after attacking Quilmes fan |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/24623305 |access-date=11 August 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=22 October 2013}}

International career

As a solid defender, Vivas was a regular for the Argentina national football team. He went on to play for La Albiceleste at the 1995 and 1997 Copa America together with the 1998 World Cup. Vivas played 39 games and scored on one occasion for Argentina altogether.

Career statistics

=International=

National team\|\|Year\|\|Apps\|\|Goals
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{NFT\|309\|accessdate=}}
rowspan="11"\|Argentina \|1994	1	0
1995	1	0
1996	2	0
1997	5	0
1998	8	1
1999	7	0
2000	6	0
2001	6	0
2002	1	0
2003	2	0
Total\|\|39\|\|1