Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Mario Sebastián Viera Galaín | ||
Date of birth | 7 March 1983 | ||
Place of birth | Florida, Uruguay | ||
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
Club information | |||
Current team
|
Atlético Junior | ||
Number | 1 | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2003–2005 | Nacional | 58 | (0) |
2005–2009 | Villarreal | 75 | (0) |
2010 | AEL | 20 | (0) |
2011– | Atlético Junior | 252 | (3) |
National team | |||
2004–2009 | Uruguay | 15 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 May 2017 (GMT). |
Mario Sebastián Viera Galaín (born 7 March 1983) is an Uruguayan professional footballer who plays for Colombian club Atlético Junior as a goalkeeper.
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.
Eventually, Viera signed with Villarreal CF in Spain, moving alongside Mariano Barbosa (also a goalkeeper) on a four-year contract. He would be an undisputed starter in the following two seasons, although he missed both legs of the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League semifinals against Arsenal.
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. On 11 November he signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with Greek side AEL 1964 FC, being made eligible to play however only in January 2010; late into that year his contract was terminated, and he joined Junior F.C. shortly after, remainining in Colombia for several years.
Viera made his debut for Uruguay on 18 July 2004 in a Copa América quarterfinal 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.