Valero Rivera
Valero as a Spanish national team coach at the 2010 European Championships
As of January 15, 2014
Valero Rivera López ( born February 14, 1953 in Zaragoza / Spain ) is a spanuischer handball coach and former handball player. Rivera is considered the most successful club coach in the world.
Career
Valero Rivera devoted his entire career to the Handball FC Barcelona. Already in his youth played Rivera from the season 1966/67, in the club. For the 1971/72 season he made his debut as a player in the first team of Barca. He was elected team captain and remained so then the next eleven years. With FC Barcelona Rivera won a number of national titles. In 1980, he received a bachelor degree in sports at the Instituto Nacional de Educación Física de Cataluña ( INEFC ). In 1983, he ended his career with only 31 years. In the same year he was appointed by the then club president Josep Lluís Núñez in place of Jordi Petit to the coach. During the next 21 years Rivera exercised this office and was at that time the most successful handball coaches in the world. About 70 titles, including six Champions League success brought the team under his direction. Under Rivera 's event included Veselin Vujović, Iñaki Urdangarin and Rafael Guijosa. At the end of the season 2004/ 05 he first finished his career as a handball coach and was a players' agent. Since December 15, 2008 Rivera is coach of the Spanish national handball team of men. In 2013 he won the world championship in their own country.
Rivera is married to Isabel Martinez. With her he has two children together ( Cristina and Valero ). His son Valero Rivera Folch is also a handball player who plays for HBC Nantes and the Spanish national team.
Achievements
As a player
- 3 × Spanish Champion: 1972 /73 1979/80, 1981/82
- 3 × Copa del Rey de Balonmano: 1971/72 1972 /73 1982/83
- 2 × Liga Catalana de Balonmano (Catalan champion): 1981 /82 1982/83