José Manuel Rivera

José Manuel Rivera

Rivera with Chivas USA in 2013
Personal information
Full name	José Manuel Rivera Galván
Date of birth	(1986-06-16) 16 June 1986
Place of birth	Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder / Forward
Youth career
2005	Club Atlas
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2006	Pachuca	0	(0)
2006	Spartak Trnava	4	(1)
2007–2009	Budapest Honvéd	3	(1)
2007	→ Jaguares (loan)	8	(0)
2008	→ Toluca (loan)	0	(0)
2009–2010	Deportivo Guamúchil	33	(7)
2011–2012	RoPS	48	(17)
2013	Chivas USA	9	(0)
2014–2015	Irapuato	12	(2)
2015–2016	FF Jaro	28	(4)
2016–2017	Arizona	16	(10)
2017	Venados	1	(0)
2018	Sonsonate	20	(6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

José Manuel Rivera Galván (born 16 June 1986) is a Mexican former professional footballer who has played in 6 different countries in highest level in Europe, (Finland, Hungary and Slovakia) Mexico, United States and El Salvador being with Sonsonate FC his last team in 2018.

Club career

He signed with FC Spartak Trnava in August 2006 as a free agent. Not much is known about Manuel Rivera. He spent time in the youth league teams of Club Atlas and C.F. Pachuca. Having little opportunity to show what he is capable of on these two teams, he was forced to travel to Europe in search of a contract. He had try-outs during the course of a month with teams from the Netherlands, France, and Germany. He tried their second, third, and fourth divisions, until finally, his agent received a call for Rivera to go and try-out for the Slovakian club FC Spartak Trnava.

He arrived at the club on 4 August 2006 to practice with the B team. On the very next Tuesday, he got to play in a friendly match with the A team against a club team from Kuwait. They told him that this was his only opportunity to show what he is made of and that if you play well you stay, if not you go. He entered in the second half of the game and ended up scoring two goals. His signing with the team was very quick after that and he made his league debut against Inter Bratislava where he played 27 minutes and had an assist. In the match against FC Artmedia Petrzalka 27 August 2006 scored one goal from penalty kick. For the 2007 season he played for Chiapas of the Primera División (First Division) on loan. The following season, he played on another loan with Club Toluca in the First Division. In the summer of 2009 he signed with Deportivo Guamúchil in Mexico.

RoPS

On 4 April 2011 Rivera signed a contract with Finnish club Rovaniemen Palloseura after have pass a time with Deportivo Guamúchil. Rivera debuted with RoPS on May 6 in a victory 1–0 against FF Jaro and on May 9 he scored his first 2 goals in a draw 3–3 against IFK Mariehamn. Rivera have tried to get contract from Scandinavia and might be back in Rovaniemi 2012.

CD Guadalajara

Jose Manuel Rivera is joining C.D. Guadalajara for the 2013 Clausura. He joined after he tried out a few weeks ago and has played in the winter 2012 preseason for Guadalajara. He also tried out in September 2012, but did not end up playing.

Chivas USA

He spent with the 2013 season with Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.

FF Jaro

After a short spell with CD Irapuato in the Ascenso MX, Rivera returned to the Finnish top flight, signing a contract with FF Jaro in April 2015. He made his debut on April 23 in a defeat against Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho.

Career statistics

Club

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Finland			League		Finnish Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
2011	RoPS	Veikkausliiga	26	10							26	10
2012		Ykkönen	22	7							22	7
USA			League		U.S. Open Cup		League Cup		CONCACAF		Total
2013	Chivas USA	MLS	9	0							9	0
Total	Finland		48	17	0	0	0	0	0	0	48	17
Total	USA		9	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	10	0

External links

• José Manuel Rivera at Major League Soccer