1. Early Life
Nelson David Vivas was born on 18 October 1969, in Granadero Baigorria, a city located in the Santa Fe Province of Argentina. His early football development began with Somisa de San Nicolás, where he played in their youth system from 1989 to 1990 before embarking on his professional career.
2. Playing Career
Nelson David Vivas's playing career spanned over a decade, taking him from his native Argentina to some of Europe's top football leagues and allowing him to represent his country at the highest level.
2.1. Club Career
Vivas's club career saw him play for several major teams in Argentina and Europe, where he primarily established himself as a reliable right-back.
2.1.1. Career in Argentina
Vivas began his professional footballing career at Quilmes. He spent three years with the club from 1990 to 1994, making 93 appearances and scoring 3 goals. Following his tenure at Quilmes, he moved to Boca Juniors, a prominent Argentine club. Between 1994 and 1998, Vivas played 98 official games for Boca Juniors, scoring 3 goals for the club, known as Azul y Oro (Blue and Gold). After his extensive European experience, he returned to Argentina to play for River Plate in 2003, where he spent a solitary season, making 7 appearances. He eventually made a final return to Quilmes in 2004, where he played for two seasons, making 24 appearances and scoring 7 goals, before bringing an end to his playing days.
2.1.2. European Stint
Vivas made his move to Europe in 1997, joining Lugano of the Swiss League on loan. During his loan spell from 1997 to 1998, he made 22 appearances and scored 1 goal. His performances attracted attention, and in August 1998, Arsenal signed him from Boca Juniors for 1.60 M GBP.
At Arsenal, Vivas was initially utilized as a backup for established full-backs Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn. In his debut season at Highbury, he started 18 games and came on as a substitute in another 18 matches. He scored his first and only goal for the Gunners against Derby County in the League Cup. However, he experienced a setback when he missed a penalty in a shootout, leading to Arsenal's elimination from the 1999-2000 League Cup by Middlesbrough. By the summer of 1999, Arsenal had signed Oleh Luzhnyi and Sylvinho, which further limited Vivas's playing opportunities. As a result, he was loaned out to the La Liga club Celta de Vigo halfway through the 1999-2000 season, where he made 13 appearances. Unable to secure regular playing time, Vivas left Arsenal at the end of the 2000-01 season, having played a total of 69 games for the club (40 as a substitute) and scoring one goal.
Following his departure from Arsenal, Vivas joined Serie A team Inter Milan on a free transfer in 2001. At Inter, he found it challenging to break into the first team. After two seasons with the NerazzurriBlack and BluesItalian from 2001 to 2003, making 19 appearances, he concluded his time in European football and returned to his native Argentina.
2.1.3. Later Career and Retirement
After returning to Argentina and playing for River Plate for a single season, Vivas rejoined his first professional club, Quilmes, in 2004. He played there for two more seasons before officially retiring from professional football in 2005, marking the end of his active playing career.
2.2. International Career
As a solid and reliable defender, Nelson Vivas became a regular member of the Argentina national football team. He earned 39 caps for La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blue), scoring one goal. He represented Argentina in several major tournaments, including the 1995 Copa América and the 1997 Copa América. He also played a significant role in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, where Argentina reached the quarter-finals.
2.3. Career Statistics
The following tables summarize Nelson David Vivas's career statistics at both club and international levels.
| Club | Season | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quilmes | 1990-1994 | 93 | 3 |
| Boca Juniors | 1994-1998 | 98 | 3 |
| Lugano (loan) | 1997-1998 | 22 | 1 |
| Arsenal | 1998-2001 | 69 | 1 |
| Celta Vigo (loan) | 2000 | 13 | 0 |
| Inter Milan | 2001-2003 | 19 | 0 |
| River Plate | 2003 | 7 | 0 |
| Quilmes | 2004-2005 | 24 | 7 |
| Total (Club) | 345 | 15 |
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 1994 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1996 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1998 | 8 | 1 | |
| 1999 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 39 | 1 |
3. Managerial and Coaching Career
After concluding his playing career in 2005, Nelson David Vivas transitioned into the role of a football manager and coach, taking on various positions as both an assistant and a head coach.
3.1. Assistant Manager Roles
Nelson Vivas gained valuable experience as an assistant manager, notably serving under his compatriot Diego Simeone. Their collaboration included spells at Argentine clubs such as Estudiantes, River Plate, and San Lorenzo. Later in his career, Vivas also joined Simeone's coaching staff at Atlético Madrid in Spain starting from 2018, further solidifying his experience at a high level.
3.2. Head Coach Roles
Vivas took on his first head coach role for the 2013-14 season, returning to Quilmes, the club where he began and ended his playing career. However, his tenure at Quilmes was short-lived and marked by a notable incident. In October 2013, Nelson Vivas gained international headlines when he was involved in an altercation with a fan in the stands, leading to his subsequent resignation from the club on 22 October 2013.
After his departure from Quilmes, Vivas went on to manage other Argentine clubs. He served as the head coach of Estudiantes from 2015 to 2017. Following his time at Estudiantes, he took charge of Defensa y Justicia in 2017.
4. Honours
Nelson David Vivas achieved various titles and accolades during both his playing and managerial careers.
4.1. Player
Arsenal
- FA Charity Shield: 1998, 1999
- Premier League runner-up: 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01
- FA Cup runner-up: 2000-01
Celta Vigo
- UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2000
River Plate
- Primera División: 2003
4.2. Manager
- Argentina Manager of the Year: 2017