Oriol Riera Magem (Catalan pronunciation: [uˈɾjɔl ˈrjeɾə]; born 3 July 1986) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a striker, currently a manager.

Oriol Riera
Riera playing for Western Sydney Wanderers in 2017
Personal information
Full name Oriol Riera Magem[1]
Date of birth (1986-07-03) 3 July 1986 (age 37)[1]
Place of birth Vic, Spain
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Osona
Vic
1998–2000 Espanyol
2000–2004 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Barcelona C 36 (12)
2004–2006 Barcelona B 31 (4)
2006–2008 Cultural Leonesa 66 (14)
2008–2010 Celta B 64 (22)
2010 Celta 5 (0)
2010–2011 Córdoba 37 (6)
2011–2013 Alcorcón 79 (24)
2013–2014 Osasuna 37 (13)
2014–2015 Wigan Athletic 13 (1)
2015Deportivo La Coruña (loan) 21 (4)
2015–2017 Deportivo La Coruña 22 (2)
2016–2017Osasuna (loan) 22 (4)
2017–2019 Western Sydney Wanderers 49 (25)
2019–2020 Fuenlabrada 33 (1)
Total 515 (132)
International career
2013–2016 Catalonia 2 (1)
Managerial career
2020–2021 Alcorcón B (assistant)
2022–2023 Tudelano
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

After starting out at Barcelona, he went on to amass La Liga totals of 102 matches and 23 goals over four seasons, with Osasuna and Deportivo. He added 148 games and 31 goals in the Segunda División for four clubs, and also competed professionally in England and Australia in a 16-year career.

Club career edit

Barcelona edit

Born in Vic, Barcelona, Catalonia, Riera played youth football with FC Barcelona, but spent the vast majority of his tenure with the club in representation of the C and B teams.[2] His official input with the main squad consisted of 13 minutes in a 4–0 away win against Ciudad de Murcia in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey – when he was still a junior – on 17 December 2003.[3]

Journeyman edit

After leaving the Camp Nou, Riera resumed his career in the Segunda División B, where he played with Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa and Celta de Vigo B.[4] He appeared in five Segunda División matches with the latter's main squad, four as a starter.[5]

Riera competed in the second tier from 2009 to 2013, with Córdoba CF[6] and AD Alcorcón.[7] He scored 18 goals in his second year with the latter side (including a hat-trick in a 3–1 victory at UD Las Palmas on 8 September 2012),[8][9][10] helping them to the promotion play-offs.[11]

Osasuna edit

On 5 July 2013, Riera signed for three seasons with CA Osasuna.[12] He made his La Liga debut on 18 August, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–2 home loss to Granada CF.[13] His first goal in the competition came on 20 September of the same year, in a 2–1 win over Elche CF also at the El Sadar Stadium.[14]

Wigan Athletic edit

On 28 June 2014, after Osasuna's relegation, Riera agreed to a three-year deal with Wigan Athletic of the Football League Championship, for a reported £2 million fee.[15] He scored his first goal for his new team on 23 August, the only against Blackpool in a 1–0 victory at the DW Stadium.[16]

Deportivo edit

Riera returned to his country's top division on 7 January 2015, signing on loan to Deportivo de La Coruña until the end of the season.[17] On 30 June he agreed to a permanent deal at the Estadio Riazor, having narrowly avoided relegation.[18]

On 12 August 2016, Riera returned to his former club Osasuna after agreeing to a one-year loan deal.[19] He scored his first goal for them on 10 September, but in a 5–2 away loss to Real Madrid.[20] He netted another in the 3–3 home draw with Valencia CF (adding an own goal),[21] in a relegation-ending campaign.

Western Sydney Wanderers edit

In July 2017, aged 31, Riera cut ties with Deportivo[22] and joined A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers FC as a marquee player shortly after.[23] He scored 15 times in his first season, but his team could only finish seventh.[24]

In April 2019, the club confirmed that Riera was not renewing his contract.[25]

Fuenlabrada edit

On 25 July 2019, free agent Riera agreed to a one-year contract with second division newcomers CF Fuenlabrada.[26] On 10 August of the following year, after just one goal in 35 competitive appearances, he announced his retirement at the age of 34 and the desire to remain associated to the sport as manager.[27] In October, he was named assistant coach of Alcorcón's reserves.[28]

Coaching edit

In October 2020, Riera was named assistant coach of Alcorcón's reserves.[29] He starting working as a manager in his own right in 2022, being appointed at CD Tudelano in the Segunda Federación[30][31] and being dismissed on 19 December 2023.[32]

International career edit

Riera played his first match for the representative Catalan national team on 30 December 2013, scoring the last goal in a 4–1 win over Cape Verde at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.[33]

Career statistics edit

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barcelona 2003–04[34] La Liga 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
2004–05[34] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Barcelona B 2003–04[34] Segunda División B 2 0 2 0
2004–05[34] 19 3 19 3
2005–06[34] 10 1 10 1
Total 31 4 0 0 0 0 31 4
Cultural Leonesa 2006–07[34] Segunda División B 33 5 0 0 33 5
2007–08[34] 33 9 0 0 33 9
Total 66 14 0 0 0 0 66 14
Celta B 2008–09[34] Segunda División B 36 10 22 10
2009–10[34] 28 12 23 12
Total 64 22 0 0 0 0 64 22
Celta 2009–10[35] Segunda División 5 0 1 0 6 0
Córdoba 2010–11[35] Segunda División 37 6 4 1 41 7
Alcorcón 2011–12[35] Segunda División 39 6 6 3 45 9
2012–13[35] 40 18 1 0 41 18
Total 79 24 7 3 0 0 86 27
Osasuna 2013–14[35] La Liga 37 13 4 0 41 13
Wigan Athletic 2014–15[35] Championship 13 1 0 0 13 1
Deportivo (loan) 2014–15[35] La Liga 21 4 0 0 21 4
Deportivo 2015–16[35] La Liga 22 2 3 1 25 3
Osasuna (loan) 2016–17[35] La Liga 22 4 2 0 24 4
Western Sydney Wanderers 2017–18[35] A-League 25 15 4 4 29 19
2018–19[35] 24 10 4 3 28 13
Total 49 25 8 7 0 0 57 32
Fuenlabrada 2019–20[35] Segunda División 33 1 2 0 35 1
Career total 479 120 32 12 0 0 511 132

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Oriol Riera". As. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Debe ser el número 23" [Must be number 23] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 18 November 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  3. ^ Martínez, Roberto (18 December 2003). "Overmars entra y decide" [Overmars comes in and decides]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Oriol Riera afirma que se decidió por el Celta por su proyecto deportivo" [Oriol Riera says he chose Celta because of their sporting project]. Atlántico Diario (in Spanish). 21 May 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Oriol Riera: "El Celta es un equipazo en todas las líneas"" [Oriol Riera: "Celta are one hell of a team overall"]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 17 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  6. ^ "El delantero Oriol Riera que procede del Celta ficha por el Córdoba" [Forward Oriol Riera who comes from Celta signs for Córdoba]. Marca (in Spanish). 16 July 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Oriol Riera, tercer refuerzo del Alcorcón" [Oriol Riera, third Alcorcón addition]. Marca (in Spanish). 11 July 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  8. ^ Expósito, Pablo (8 September 2012). "Oriol Riera impulsa al Alcorcón en Las Palmas" [Oriol Riera thrusts Alcorcón in Las Palmas]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  9. ^ Garteizgoxeascoa Gil, Aimara (10 January 2013). "Oriol Riera: "Con el Alcorcón quiero hacer cosas importantes"" [Oriol Riera: "I want to make it big with Alcorcón"]. As (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  10. ^ Mena, Roberto (21 July 2019). "Oriol Riera, en la recámara" [Oriol Riera, backup plan]. El Correo de Burgos (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  11. ^ García, Gregorio (16 June 2013). "El Girona, por la vía rápida" [Girona, through the fast lane]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  12. ^ "Oriol Riera, tercer fichaje rojillo para la próxima campaña" [Oriol Riera, third red signing for next season]. As (in Spanish). 5 July 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  13. ^ "Granada hold on for victory". ESPN FC. 18 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  14. ^ "Rojillos get first win". ESPN FC. 20 September 2013. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  15. ^ "Latics sign Oriol Riera". Wigan Athletic F.C. 28 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  16. ^ "Wigan Athletic 1–0 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  17. ^ "Oriol Riera: Deportivo La Coruna sign Wigan Athletic striker on loan". BBC Sport. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  18. ^ "El Deportivo confirma el fichaje de Oriol Riera" [Deportivo confirm the signing of Oriol Riera]. Marca (in Spanish). 30 June 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  19. ^ "Oriol Riera vuelve a Osasuna" [Oriol Riera returns to Osasuna] (in Spanish). CA Osasuna. 12 August 2016. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  20. ^ "Real Madrid 5–2 Osasuna". BBC Sport. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  21. ^ "3–3. Osasuna y Valencia empatan en un partido con tres remontadas locales" [3–3. Osasuna and Valencia draw in match with three local comebacks] (in Spanish). EFE. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  22. ^ "El Real Club Deportivo rescinde el contrato de Oriol Riera" [Real Club Deportivo terminate the contract of Oriol Riera] (in Spanish). Deportivo La Coruña. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  23. ^ Bossi, Dominic (5 July 2017). "Western Sydney Wanderers sign La Liga regular Oriol Riera as first marquee player". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  24. ^ Rugari, Vince (15 October 2018). "Riera reveals Spanish offer but sticks by Wanderers in bid for A-League title". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  25. ^ Adno, Carly (27 April 2019). "Alexander Baumjohann and Oriol Riera won't return to the Western Sydney Wanderers". Fox Sports. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Oriol Riera ficha por el CF Fuenlabrada" [Oriol Riera signs for CF Fuenlabrada] (in Spanish). CF Fuenlabrada. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  27. ^ "Oriol Riera se retira: "Se va el Oriol jugador y empieza el Oriol entrenador"" [Oriol Riera retires: "Oriol the player leaves and Oriol the manager begins"]. Marca (in Spanish). 10 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  28. ^ "Oriol Riera regresa a la A.D. Alcorcón" [Oriol Riera returns to A.D. Alcorcón] (in Spanish). AD Alcorcón. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  29. ^ "Oriol Riera regresa a la A.D. Alcorcón" [Oriol Riera returns to A.D. Alcorcón] (in Spanish). AD Alcorcón. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  30. ^ Rodríguez Gorena, Fernando (2 July 2022). "Oriol Riera, nuevo entrenador del Tudelano" [Oriol Riera, new manager of Tudelano]. Diario de Navarra (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  31. ^ "Oriol Riera amplía su vinculación con el Tudelano hasta 2024" [Oriol Riera extends his link to Tudelano until 2024] (in Spanish). CD Tudelano. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  32. ^ "El CD Tudelano destituye a Oriol Riera" [CD Tudelano dismiss Oriol Riera] (in Spanish). CD Tudelano. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  33. ^ "Catalonia beats Cape Verde 4–1 in friendly". Taiwan News. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i Oriol Riera at BDFutbol
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Oriol Riera at Soccerway

External links edit