Octavio Rivero

PROFILE
A talented young striker with experience playing in the top leagues in Chile and his native Uruguay, Octavio Rivero joined the club on December 25, 2014 as a Young Designated Player. He scored a goal in each of his first three MLS matches, earning MLS Player of the Month honours for March 2015. He won the 2015 Domenic Mobilio Golden Boot Award after leading the ‘Caps with 10 goals in his first year in Vancouver. 

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
2016: In Week 2 of the 2016 MLS season, Rivero drew a foul inside the box to set up a penalty kick goal for Pedro Morales in the 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City. Similarly, Rivero drew a foul on May 22 for another penalty kick to be taken by Pedro Morales in the 4-2 loss against Portland. He scored his first goal of 2016 37 seconds into the 3-2 Week 9 loss at New York City FC. Rivero recorded his second goal of the season in Week 12 to secure the 1-1 draw against Houston. 2015: Rivero won the 2015 Domenic Mobilio Golden Boot Award after finishing his first MLS season with 10 goals, three more than the next top scorer. Five of his goals were game-winners and the ‘Caps were hard to beat in the 10 games he found the net with an 8W-1L-1D record. Rivero, who also had three assists, was selected to the MLS 24 Under 24 list as one of the league's top young talents, and was named the MLS Player of the Month for March. The lone Whitecaps FC player to appear in all 34 regular season matches, Rivero led all Vancouver players in minutes played. 
 
AMWAY CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
2016: In the second leg of Whitecaps FC's ACC semifinal series against Ottawa Fury FC, Rivero scored one of the 'Caps three goals, and added an assist, to help the team to a 3-2 aggregate win. 2015: Rivero tapped in the match-winner in the second leg of the ACC final versus Montreal Impact to steer the 'Caps to their first-ever Voyageurs Cup.

CHILE
2014: During the Torneo Apertura, Rivero played 18 times for Chilean Primera Divisón side O’Higgins FC, including 14 starts in 16 league appearances and two starts in the Copa Chile. The Uruguayan finished the Apertura season with 10 goals, scoring at a rate of 0.70 goals per 90 minutes, including two game winners. The Uruguayan netted two goals in a match on three occasions. Rivero also started twice for O’Higgins in the Copa Chile. At the conclusion of the season, Rivero was named the best striker in the Chilean Primera Division for the 2014 Torneo Apertura season by newspaper El Mercurio, as voted by his peers.
 
URUGUAY
2013-14: Before departing for Chile, Rivero started 14 of his in 17 matches for Rentistas and led the team with 10 goals while adding two assists. Four of his 10 goals were game winners. The young goalscorer recorded his first hat-trick on March 16, 2014, scoring all three goals in a 3-1 win against Cerro Largo, helping Rentistas qualify for the 2014 Copa Sudamericana. 2012-13: Rivero started his professional career with Central Español, where he made 16 starts in 18 appearances, scoring three goals and recording one assist. He made his professional debut against Defensor Sporting on October 28, 2012 as a substitute. Rivero made his first start the following week against Danubio. In his third match, he scored his first professional goal against Cerro. 
 
INTERNATIONAL
Rivero represented Uruguay at the 2009 U-17 South American Championships in Chile, where Uruguay finished third. Rivero also represented Uruguay on the U-17 national team at the 2009 Copa UC tournament.
 
YOUTH/AMATEUR  
Rivero started his career at Uruguayan side Huracán de Trienta y Tres, where he also played as an attacking midfielder. In 2008, Rivero moved to Montevideo to play for Defensor Sporting, playing four years in the club’s youth program.
 
PERSONAL
He was born Raúl Octavio Rivero Falero in Treinta y Tres, Uruguay.
 
INTERESTING FACTS
Rivero played with current Whitecaps FC midfielder Nicolas Mezquida when both players represented Uruguay at the U-17 level.