Nano (Spanish footballer)

Football player infobox|
playername = Nano


fullname = Victoriano Rivas Álvaro
nickname =
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1980|7|7|df=y
cityofbirth = Ciudad Real
countryofbirth = Spain
height = 1.86 m
nickname =
currentclub = Real Valladolid
clubnumber = 11
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1998–2000
2000–2002
2002–2005
2005–
2008–2009
clubs = Amorós CF
Atlético Madrid "B"
Getafe CF
Real Betis
Real Valladolid (loan)
caps(goals) = - (-)
50 (1)
98 (7)
41 (2)

nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 1 September 2008
ntupdate = 1 September 2008

Victoriano Rivas Álvaro, aka Nano (born 7 July 1980 in Ciudad Real), is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for Real Valladolid of "La Liga", as a left-footed central defender.

Club career

Nano spent three seasons in the Atlético Madrid's B team, playing 50 matches and scoring 1 goal.

In 2002-03, he was loaned to Getafe CF, then in the second level of Spanish football, before moving on a permanent deal in the summer of 2003. He made 98 appearances and scored 7 goals (37-4 in the first division, in 2004-05).

Nano was signed by Real Betis in 2005. He was set to have a promising season before being injured in the November 11 UEFA Champions League group stage match against Chelsea at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, in his only Champions League match to date, as he was ruled out of action for five months. He also appeared in one UEFA Cup match and made 14 league appearances in his first season. He played a further 21 league encounters for a team that finished 16th in 2006-07.

Established as first-choice stopper alongside veteran Juanito in 2007-08, 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 September 16, which made him miss six months of action. [ [http://es.eurosport.yahoo.com/24092007/21/nano-intervenido-rodilla-sera-baja-6-8-meses.html "Nano" undergoes knee surgery; to miss 6-8 months] es icon] Upon return from injury, he scored another important goal, in a 1-1 tie at former club Getafe, on May 18, 2008.

On September 1, 2008, a one-year loan deal was agreed, as he joined Real Valladolid for 2008–09.

References

External links

* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=7393 Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional] es icon
* [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/Players/Player=52900/index.html UEFA.com profile]