#1
Born in Barcelona, Spain, Diego Rívera was destined to love football. His father had played for several lower league teams in Spain untill he finally married a French girl, ending his footballing career and settling down to start a family. At the age of 11 Diego's family moved to Saucats in the French country-side, where his mother had grown up, to look after her elderly parents. His father and mother took up jobs in downtown Bordeaux, which was a half-hour drive from their home, this is where Diego went to school and ultimatly where his love for football would flourish.
Encouraged by his father to join his school's team Diego began to play football, quickly developing and improving his skills far beyond those of his class mates. As the years went on Diego developed into a skilled and clinical midfielder, impressing his father as well as all who saw him play. At age 15 he was given the chance to take part in a youth academy training camp at the nearby FC Girondins de Bordeaux, after which he was offered a place in the youth team. Going on to play for the Under 18's Bordeaux side, making 16 starts and scoring 5 goals, Diego Rívera was looking like a player with a great amount of potential which was recognised by Javier Irureta, manager of Deportivo in 2004. Diego played for the Under 21 team at Deportivo for several years, then making his way up to the Reserve squad, yet never developing into a firt team player. Finally being dropped by Miguel Angel Lotina in 2007 when he took over Deportivo.
At this time Diego faced a similar fate as did his father years ago, now he had the descision to make, would he continue to play football or would he persue another career path. After speaking to family and friends he decided to move back to Barcelona where he would undertake a degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics at Universitat de Barcelona. In his graduating year of the course he became close friends with the son of Isidre Ramon Madir, the Technical Assistant at Barcelona 'B' team, who would go on to inviting Diego to undergo a Team Management course at the club which he did attend.
Graduating in late 2012 Diego began to apply for jobs as a Dietitian with a minor in Sport Science. 2012 turned into 2013 and still no jobs appeared to be available. Diego had narrowed the reason for this down to the current economic struggle in Europe at the time. By mid-June he decided that enough was enough; he began to apply for jobs as a football manager. With no experience in the role and no real hope of getting a reply from any clubs he decided to spread his name to as many clubs as he possibly could, all over the world.
It was now or never. It was his turn to make a move that could change his whole life.
