Diego Gabriel Rivarola Popón (born July 14, 1976) is an Argentine naturalized Chilean former professional footballer who played as striker.
Career Rivarola was born in Mendoza, Argentina. As a child, he was with the Club Leonardo Murialdo in Mendoza. Next he joined the lower River Plate,Diego Rivarola was hoping to reach a "large" Argentina, on Radio Cooperativa. but did not debut with the first team. Later he moved to Platense, where he played eight games.Rivarola: "I wanted to return to play in Argentina" in TODOFUTBOL.CL.
In 1997, he was hired by Santiago Morning, of Chile until 2000 when he would join Universidad de Chile. His first stint with the Santiago-based club would last five years (interrupted by a brief stay at Mexican Atlas in 2002), during which he became one of the most liked players of the team, due in part to his performances at the derbies against Colo-Colo. With Universidad de Chile, Rivarola would win the Chilean National Championship in 2000 and Apertura Tournament in 2004.
At the beginning of 2006, and after conflicts with then coach of the Universidad de Chile, Héctor Pinto, Rivarola signed with Argentinos Juniors, but failed to establish himself as part of the team's starting 11 and moved to the Venezuelan club UA Maracaibo few months later.
In mid-2007 and for Torneo de Clausura, he signed with Palestino of Chile, led by his former Universidad de Chile teammate, Luis Musrri.
After playing for Santiago Morning, Rivarola moved back to Universidad de Chile, eventually appearing in the 2010 Copa Libertadores. On 2011 he won the Apertura Tournament with La "U" after six years from his last championship.
On August 28, 2011, he scored his 100th goal with Universidad de Chile in a match against Universidad de Concepción for the Clausura Tournament.
Post-retirement In 2016, Rivarola represented the futsal team of Universidad de Chile in the national championship of the ANFP alongside another former football players such as Nelson Pinto, César Henríquez and Juan González.
In June 2024, Rivarola played for club Vicente Pérez Rosales from Puerto Montt at the Copa Chile in the 0–3 loss against Universidad de Concepción.
From 2012 to 2022, Rivarola worked as an ambassador of Universidad de Chile, at the same time he was in charge of both the business and marketing areas. In February 2022, he joined ESPN Chile, along with the former footballer Jean Beausejour, as a football commentator and analyst.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueContinentalCupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsSantiago MorningTorneo 1999Chilean Primera División23132313Universidad de ChileTorneo 2000Chilean Primera División271131453012Torneo 2001Chilean Primera División3012423414Apertura 2003Chilean Primera División100100Clausura 2003Chilean Primera División16111611Apertura 2004Chilean Primera División24132413Clausura 2004Chilean Primera División164164Apertura 2005Chilean Primera División13283215Clausura 2005Chilean Primera División21720237Total157601764517871PalestinoClausura 2007Chilean Primera División205205Santiago MorningClausura 2008Chilean Primera División187187Apertura 2009Chilean Primera División189189Clausura 2009Chilean Primera División19131913Total55295529Universidad de ChileTorneo 2010Chilean Primera División3116141204717Apertura 2011Chilean Primera División185185Clausura 2011Chilean Primera División1731042225Total6624151628727Career total321131327107353144
Honours Universidad de Chile Primera División de Chile: 2000, 2004 Apertura, 2011 Apertura, 2011 Clausura Copa Chile: 2000 Copa Sudamericana: 2011
References
External links