Diego Gabriel Rivarola Popón (born Mendoza, Argentina July 14, 1976) is a former Chilean-Argentine[1] footballer. He played as striker, and his last club was Universidad de Chile.
![]() Rivarola in 2018 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Diego Gabriel Rivarola Popón | ||
Date of birth | (1976-07-14) July 14, 1976 (age 45) | ||
Place of birth | Mendoza, Argentina | ||
Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Youth career | |||
Leonardo Murialdo | |||
River Plate | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1996–1997 | River Plate | 0 | (0) |
1997–1998 | Platense | 8 | (0) |
1999 | Santiago Morning | 23 | (13) |
2000–2001 | Universidad de Chile | 57 | (23) |
2002 | Atlas | 21 | (2) |
2003–2005 | Universidad de Chile | 100 | (37) |
2006 | Argentinos Juniors | 17 | (3) |
2006–2007 | Maracaibo | 14 | (6) |
2007 | Palestino | 20 | (5) |
2008 | Alki Larnaca | 12 | (1) |
2008–2009 | Santiago Morning | 55 | (29) |
2010–2011 | Universidad de Chile | 63 | (24) |
Total | 390 | (143) | |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
As a child, Rivarola was with Club Leonardo Murialdo in Mendoza,[2] next he was formed in the lower River Plate,[3] but did not debut with the first team. Later he moved to Platense, where he played eight games.[4]
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 6 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.
As of December 11, 2011[5]
Club | Season | League | Continental | Cup | Total | ||||
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Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Santiago Morning | Torneo 1999 | 23 | 13 | - | - | - | - | 23 | 13 |
Total | 23 | 13 | - | - | - | - | 23 | 13 | |
Universidad de Chile | Torneo 2000 | 27 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 30 | 12 |
Torneo 2001 | 30 | 12 | 4 | 2 | - | - | 34 | 14 | |
Apertura 2003 | 10 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 10 | 0 | |
Clausura 2003 | 16 | 11 | - | - | - | - | 16 | 11 | |
Apertura 2004 | 24 | 13 | - | - | - | - | 24 | 13 | |
Clausura 2004 | 16 | 4 | - | - | - | - | 16 | 4 | |
Apertura 2005 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 3 | - | - | 21 | 5 | |
Clausura 2005 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 23 | 7 | |
Total | 157 | 60 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 178 | 71 | |
Palestino | Clausura 2007 | 20 | 5 | - | - | - | - | 20 | 5 |
Total | 20 | 5 | - | - | - | - | 20 | 5 | |
Santiago Morning | Clausura 2008 | 18 | 7 | - | - | - | - | 18 | 7 |
Apertura 2009 | 18 | 9 | - | - | - | - | 18 | 9 | |
Clausura 2009 | 19 | 13 | - | - | - | - | 19 | 13 | |
Total | 55 | 29 | - | - | - | - | 55 | 29 | |
Universidad de Chile | Torneo 2010 | 31 | 16 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 17 |
Apertura 2011 | 18 | 5 | - | - | - | - | 18 | 5 | |
Clausura 2011 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 5 | |
Total | 66 | 24 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 87 | 27 | |
Career total | 321 | 131 | 32 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 353 | 144 |
From 2012 to 2022, Rivarola worked as an ambassador of Universidad de Chile,[6] at the same time he was in charge of the both business and marketing areas.[2] In February 2022, he joined ESPN Chile, along with the former footballer Jean Beausejour, as a football commentator and analyst.[1]
Chilean Primera División top scorers | |
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