Name: Osvaldo Riva
Country:
ItalyClub: S.P.A.L.
Position: *DMF, SB, CB
Side: RF/BS (mainly left)
Age: 23-25 years (01/09/1937)
Height: 173 cm
Weight: 73 kg
Attack: 57
Defence: 84
Balance: 84
Stamina: 81
Top Speed: 78
Acceleration: 77
Response: 82
Agility: 76
Dribble Accuracy: 70
Dribble Speed: 70
Short Pass Accuracy: 72
Short Pass Speed: 71
Long Pass Accuracy: 72
Long Pass Speed: 74
Shot Accuracy: 55
Shot Power: 79
Shot Technique: 55
Free Kick Accuracy: 55
Curling: 59
Header: 73
Jump: 79
Technique: 72
Aggression: 60
Mentality: 82
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 73
Injury Tolerance: C
Condition: 6
Weak Foot Accuracy: 4
Weak Foot Frequency: 4
Consistency: 6
Growth type: Early/Peak
CARDS:
S07 - Man Marking
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Marking
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Defence Minded
INFO:
Osvaldo Riva was a wing-half, side-back and centre-half. His career started in 1956 at Cesena. In 1960, he signed for Spal where he made 126 appearances in five seasons. Initially an essential player in Spal's defence, a series of injuries relegated him to the reserves during the club's 1964-65 Serie B season where he played as sweeper out of necessity. Those injuries forced him to retire from professional football at the end of said season.
Considered one of the best defenders in Spal's history, Riva was an extremely versatile player. The positions he covered the most were left-half or left-back and centre back mainly on the left. He occasionally played as right-half or right-back and centre-half. Riva was distinguished for his physical strength and persistent man marking ability. In fact, he was often in charge of controlling dangerous strikers such as José Altafini, Eddie Firmani, Nené, Gerry Hitchens and Paolo Barison. As he was only focused in his defensive duties, he didn't join the attack and never scored a goal.