Ricardo López Felipe

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Ricardo
Personal information
Full name	Ricardo López Felipe
Date of birth	December 30, 1971 (1971-12-30) (age 37)
Place of birth	Madrid, Spain
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Osasuna
Number	1
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1991–1992 1992–1998 1994–1997 1998–2002 2002–2005 2003–2004 2005–	Real Ávila Atlético B Atlético Madrid Valladolid Manchester United → Racing Santander (loan) Osasuna	01 0(0) 53 0(0) 01 0(0) 34 0(0) 114 (0)
National team2
2001–2002	Spain	02 0(0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 May 2009. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 21 August 2002. * Appearances (Goals)

Ricardo López Felipe, known as Ricardo (born December 30, 1971 in Madrid), is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for CA Osasuna in La Liga, as a goalkeeper.

[edit] Club career

Ricardo began his professional career at Atlético de Madrid, working his way through the reserves and going on to represent the senior squad until 1998. Barred by José Francisco Molina, however, he only managed one first-team appearance, during 1996-97.

Subsequently, he was transferred to Real Valladolid. Ricardo spent four seasons at the club, becoming first-choice in 2001-02 (all 38 matches played), while also being selected as a member of the Spanish squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, though he did not play in the finals.

On 30 August 2002, Ricardo was signed by English club Manchester United in a three-year deal worth £1.5 million.^[1]

Signed to provide cover for the then injured Fabien Barthez and the inexperienced Roy Carroll, Ricardo found first-team opportunities rare, appearing in only four UEFA Champions League matches and once in the domestic one. During that league debut against Blackburn Rovers, his first touch conceded a penalty, which he saved.

On 23 August 2003, Ricardo agreed to a loan transfer to Racing de Santander, for the 2003-04 season. The deal included an option to make transfer permanent the following June. On his return to Spain, Ricardo was quoted in the Spanish sports daily AS as saying:

"It's not a backward step. When I received the offer I was delighted to have the chance to return to Spain. I missed the Spanish league ... All I feel is gratitude toward Manchester. The club treated me very well. It was a lovely experience which was well worth it."^[2]

After helping Racing barely avoid relegation, Ricardo returned to Manchester United and proclaimed his ambition to take the number one jersey from Barthez. However, he was never picked for the first team following the arrival of Tim Howard and Carroll's improvement.

He was eventually released by the club on a free transfer at the end of the 2004-05 season. Subsequently, Ricardo signed for CA Osasuna on a two-year deal,^[3]being the Navarrese outfit's automatic first-choice, making over 100 league appearances from 2005-09. He also helped the team reach the semifinals of the 2006-07 UEFA Cup, making 12 appearances,^[4]but lost his job midway through 2008-09 to newly signed Roberto.

[edit] International career

Ricardo played twice for Spain, his debut coming on November 14, 2001, in a friendly match against Mexico.

In a testimonial match for Ferenc Puskás the following summer, a 1-1 draw against Hungary in Budapest, he received his second and final cap. In both cases, he replaced Iker Casillas.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Osasuna profile (Spanish)
• Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• Ricardo López Felipe career stats at Soccerbase

v • d • e Spain squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Casillas • 2 Curro Torres • 3 Juanfran • 4 Helguera • 5 Puyol • 6 Hierro (c) • 7 Raúl • 8 Baraja • 9 Morientes • 10 Tristán • 11 de Pedro • 12 A. Luque • 13 Ricardo • 14 Albelda • 15 Romero • 16 Mendieta • 17 Valerón • 18 Sergio • 19 Xavi • 20 Nadal • 21 Luis Enrique • 22 Joaquín • 23 Contreras • Coach: Camacho