José María Rivas facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | José María Rivas Martínez | ||
| Date of birth | 12 May 1958 | ||
| Place of birth | San Salvador, El Salvador | ||
| Date of death | 9 January 2016 (aged 57) | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1978–1984 | Independiente | ||
| 1985–1990 | Atlético Marte | ||
| 1990–1991 | San Pedro Dolphins | ||
| 1992 | Huracán | ||
| 1992 | Cojutepeque | ||
| National team | |||
| 1980–1989 | El Salvador | 47 | (19) |
|
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José María Rivas Martínez (born May 12, 1958 – died January 9, 2016) was a famous football player from El Salvador. He was known for being a powerful striker and a key player for his country.
Playing for Clubs
José María Rivas was often called Mandingo. He spent many years playing for two important clubs: Independiente De San Vicente and Atlético Marte.
He helped Atlético Marte win a major championship in 1985. That same year, he was the top goal scorer in the league. He also won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards, which are given to the best players.
Later in his career, in 1990, he played for San Pedro in Belize. After that, he had short periods with clubs in the Salvadoran second division, like Huracán and Cojutepeque, before he stopped playing professionally.
Playing for El Salvador
Rivas was a big part of the El Salvador national team. He was known for his mustache and strong play. His first official game for El Salvador was in March 1980 against Panama.
He played in 17 FIFA World Cup qualification matches, helping his country try to reach the World Cup. He also played in all three of El Salvador's games at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. This is a huge achievement for any footballer.
Between 1980 and 1989, he scored 19 goals for the national team in official matches. If you include all games, official and unofficial, he scored 42 goals in 97 matches. His last international game was in November 1989 against the United States.
Life After Football
After retiring from playing, José María Rivas continued to be involved in football. He managed C.D. Árabe Marte and also coached FAS in 1999 alongside José Luis Rugamas.
During his time as a player, he also studied hard and earned medical diplomas to become a doctor. He even worked as part of the medical staff for the El Salvador national football team.
Sadly, in June 2011, Rivas became very ill. He needed a special operation for his bone marrow. Many former players and friends came together to raise money to help him. José María Rivas passed away from leukemia on January 9, 2016, when he was 57 years old.
