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Mario Sebastián Viera Galaín (born, 7 March, 1983) is a Uruguayan former football player and coach who became a Colombian citizen. He played as a goalkeeper (like his father, Mario Viera). He is currently the coach of Real Cartagena in the second division of Colombia.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mario Sebastián Viera Galaín | ||
| Date of birth | 7 March 1983[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Florida, Uruguay[1] | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) [1] | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003-2005 | Nacional | 12 | (0) |
| 2005-2009 | Villarreal | 75 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Athlitiki Enosi Larissa F.C. | 20 | (0) |
| 2011-2023 | Atlético Junior | 481 | (11) |
| International career | |||
| 2004-2009 | Uruguay | 15 | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2024 | Real Cartagena | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Viera is the goalkeeper with the most free kick goals in the Categoría Primera A with 11 goals.[2]
Viera is considered one of the greatest idols in the history of the Junior de Barranquilla by the fans and by the institution itself.[3][4] He is the player who has played the most games with Junior de Barranquilla with 638 appearances. He is also the player who has won the most titles with the team. He has seven titles with the institution, including the Finalización tournaments 2011 and 2018, the Apertura 2019, the Copa Colombia in 2015 and 2017 and the Superliga in 2019 and 2020.[5]
Additionally, Viera is also one of the few goalkeepers who has had at least three confrontations with the star Lionel Messi and who has never received a goal from the Argentine, Messi could not score a goal in the Spanish League.[6]
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Born in Florida, Florida Department, Viera started his professional career with Club Nacional de Football. After one sole season he was expected to move to Premier League club Arsenal in August 2005, but its manager Arsène Wenger withdrew from the deal when the player did not pass his medical.[7]
Eventually, Viera signed with Villarreal CF in Spain, moving alongside Mariano Barbosa (also a goalkeeper) on a four-year contract.[8] He would be an undisputed starter the following two seasons, although he missed both legs of the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League semi-finals against Arsenal.[9][10]
Viera eventually lost his job midway through the 2007–08 campaign to newly signed Diego López, and never regained it again – no La Liga games in 2008–09 – being released in July 2009.[11] On 11 November he signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with Greek side Athlitiki Enosi Larissa FC,[12] being made eligible to play however only in January 2010; his contract was terminated in December,[13] and he joined Atlético Junior shortly after, remaining in Colombia for several years.[14][15][16]
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Viera made his debut for Uruguay on 18 July 2004 in a Copa América quarter-final match against Paraguay, having been called as a late replacement for injured starter Fabián Carini. He also featured in the penalty shootout loss to eventual winners Brazil.[17]
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Viera's father, also named Mario, was also a professional footballer – and a goalkeeper.[18]
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Nacional
Atlético Junior
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