Victoriano "Nano" Rivas Álvaro (; born 7 July 1980), sometimes known as just Nano , is a Spanish retired Association football, footballer who mainly played as a Defender (association football)#Centre-back, central defender, and a Manager (association football), manager. He appeared in 138 La Liga matches during seven seasons while scoring ten goals, mainly in representation of Real Betis, Betis (three years) and Levante UD, Levante (two). He also represented in the competition Getafe CF, Getafe and Real Valladolid, Valladolid.

Playing career

Born in Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Nano made his professional debut with Atlético Madrid's Atlético Madrid B, B-team, playing two full seasons with the Segunda División B, third division side. In 2002–03 Segunda División, 2002–03 he was loaned to Getafe CF in the Segunda División, second level, before moving to the club on a permanent deal in the summer of 2003; an undisputed starter with the Madrid outskirts team, he scored four goals in 37 games in the 2004–05 La Liga, 2004–05 campaign, their first ever in La Liga. Nano was signed by Real Betis in 2005. He was set to have a promising season before being injured in the UEFA Champions League 2005–06 UEFA Champions League, group stage match against Chelsea F.C., Chelsea at the Estadio Benito Villamarín, Manuel Ruiz de Lopera on 1 November, in his first and only appearance in the competition, as he was ruled out of action for five months; he also featured once in the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Cup and made 14 league appearances in 2005–06 La Liga, his first year, and played a further 21 matches for a side that finished 16th in 2006–07 La Liga, 2006–07. Established as first-choice stopper alongside veteran Juanito (footballer, born 1976), Juanito in the 2007–08 La Liga, 2007–08 campaign, Nano scored in the first matchday against Recreativo de Huelva (1–1 away draw), but suffered a severe knee injury against Deportivo de La Coruña on 16 September 2007, which made him miss six months of action. Upon return from injury, he netted another important goal for the Andalusians, in a 1–1 tie at former club Getafe on 18 May 2008. On 1 September 2008, a one-year loan deal was agreed as Nano joined Real Valladolid in a 2008–09 La Liga, season-long move. He appeared scarcely throughout his spell, as both stopper and Defender (association football)#Full-back, left back, and his return to Betis would be even more unassuming as it consisted of one league match (18 minutes), with the team 2009–10 Segunda División, failing to return to the top division. In August 2010, aged 30, Nano signed with Levante UD. An automatic first-choice during 2010–11 La Liga, his first season, he scored in a 2–0 home win against Atlético Madrid on 4 December. Nano started in all the games for the Valencian Community side during the first half of 2011–12 La Liga, 2011–12, as they spent the vast majority of that period in UEFA Champions League 2012–13 UEFA Champions League, qualification positions. In very late January 2012, however, he was sold to Guizhou Renhe F.C. of the Chinese Super League. Nano announced his retirement in February 2014. On 6 July of the following year, he was appointed Vicente Moreno's assistant manager at Gimnàstic de Tarragona.

Coaching career

On 25 May 2016, Nano was named Getafe CF B manager. He returned to Gimnàstic roughly one year later, being appointed at the helm of the main squad for the remainder of 2016–17 Segunda División, the season. After managing to narrowly avoid relegation, Nano left ''Nàstic'' in June 2017. The following 29 January, however, he replaced fired Rodri (footballer, born 1971), Rodri at the helm of the same club, but was himself dismissed on 13 May. In November 2018, Nano was hired by K.S.V. Roeselare of the Belgian First Division B, replacing compatriot Jordi Condom. Only two months later he left to assist Quique Sánchez Flores at Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C. and was replaced by a third Spaniard, Juanito (footballer, born 1976), Juanito.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Player

Guizhou Renhe *Chinese FA Cup: 2013 Chinese FA Cup, 2013

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Nano Rivas 1980 births Living people People from Ciudad Real Sportspeople from the Province of Ciudad Real Spanish footballers Footballers from Castilla–La Mancha Association football defenders La Liga players Segunda División players Segunda División B players Atlético Madrid C players Atlético Madrid B players Getafe CF footballers Real Betis players Real Valladolid players Levante UD footballers Chinese Super League players Beijing Renhe F.C. players Spanish expatriate footballers Expatriate footballers in China Spanish expatriate sportspeople in China Spanish football managers Segunda División managers Gimnàstic de Tarragona managers K.S.V. Roeselare managers Spanish expatriate football managers Expatriate football managers in Belgium Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Belgium Shanghai Shenhua F.C. non-playing staff