David Rivas

David Rivas

Personal information
Full name	David Rivas Rodríguez
Date of birth	(1978-12-02) 2 December 1978 (age 45)
Place of birth	Dos Hermanas, Spain
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Youth career
	Betis
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1997–1999	Betis B	38	(4)
1997–1998	→ Dos Hermanas (loan)
1999–2010	Betis	202	(8)
2010–2011	Vaslui	10	(0)
2011–2013	Huesca	39	(0)
Total		289	(12)
Medal record Betis Copa del Rey 2005
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He spent most of his 16-year professional career with Betis, appearing in 244 competitive games and winning the 2005 Copa del Rey. In La Liga, he amassed totals of 171 matches and seven goals over nine seasons.

Rivas was born in Dos Hermanas, Province of Seville. Having previously played with the club's B-side, he spent the vast majority of his professional career at Real Betis, making his first-team – and La Liga – debuts during the 1999–2000 season: his first game was on 21 August 1999 as he started in a 0–1 away loss against Athletic Bilbao, with his team eventually suffering relegation. He contributed with 20 second division matches in the following campaign, in an immediate promotion back.

Rivas went on to become an important defensive element for the Andalusians in the following years, becoming club captain and scoring four goals in 32 contests in 2004–05 as Betis achieved qualification honours to the UEFA Champions League (Juanito, the other stopper, added another four). Subsequently, however, dramatic loss of form and a bad run with injuries meant he featured sparingly for the team.

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 club FC Vaslui. In September of the following year, he returned to his country and signed for SD Huesca in the second level.

Betis

• Copa del Rey: 2004–05