Nelson Vivas

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Nelson David Vivas (born October 18, 1969 in Granadero Baigorria, Santa Fe, Argentina) is a former professional Argentine football player, who played primarily as fullback or defensive midfielder.

1 Career in Argentina
2 Move to Europe
3 Early Retirement
4 National Team

[edit] Career in Argentina

Vivas began his footballing career with Quilmes, making his first-team debut in September 10, 1991 against Newell's Old Boys. After 3 years with Quilmes, he then joined Boca Juniors, playing 86 games for them until 1998.

[edit] Move to Europe

Like many other South American footballers, Vivas made his move to Europe, joining AC Lugano of Swiss League on loan however, he only made 10 appearances until the big break came; Arsenal signed him from Boca Juniors for £1,600,000 in August 1998.

Vivas was mainly used as backup for established full-backs Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn while at Arsenal; he started 18 games and came on as a substitute for a further 18 during his first season for the Gunners and Vivas struggled to break into the first team.

Vivas was loaned out to the La Liga outfit Celta Vigo half way through the 1999-00 season and barely figured over the next two seasons, appearing mainly as a substitute (particularly as Arsenal had signed Oleg Luzhny and Sylvinho in the summer of 1999). Unable to establish himself as a permanent member of the team, Vivas left Arsenal when his contract expired at the end of the 2000-01 season, and joined Serie A team Internazionale of Milan. He played 69 games for Arsenal (40 as substitute), scoring one goal.

Even at Inter, Vivas found it hard to break into the first-team, after two seasons with the Nerazzurri, Vivas left European football to return to his native Argentina.

[edit] Early Retirement

Only after one season with River Plate, Vivas decided to hang up his boots, as he has been unhappy with his performances for River Plate and Argentina and also the criticism aimed at him from fans.

As of 2006, Vivas is Diego Simeone's assistant coach in Estudiantes de La Plata.

[edit] National Team

Solid defender, despite the fact that he hardly played regularly for any of his clubs in Europe, Vivas was always a regular for his national team, playing 39 games and scoring in one occasion.

	Argentina squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup Quarter-finalists
1 Roa \| 2 Ayala \| 3 Chamot \| 4 Pineda \| 5 Almeyda \| 6 Sensini \| 7 López \| 8 Simeone \| 9 Batistuta \| 10 Ortega \| 11 Verón \| 12 Burgos \| 13 Paz \| 14 Vivas \| 15 Astrada \| 16 Berti \| 17 Cavallero \| 18 Balbo \| 19 Crespo \| 20 Gallardo \| 21 Delgado \| 22 Zanetti \| Coach: Passarella