Mikel Rico
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mikel Rico Moreno | ||
| Date of birth | 4 November 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Basauri, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Athletic Bilbao | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Padura | |||
| 2000–2003 | Athletic Bilbao | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001 | Basconia | 1 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | Conquense B | ||
| 2004–2005 | Conquense | 44 | (3) |
| 2005–2009 | Poli Ejido | 55 | (2) |
| 2005–2006 | → Conquense (loan) | 35 | (9) |
| 2007–2008 | → Huesca (loan) | 35 | (6) |
| 2009–2010 | Huesca | 42 | (5) |
| 2010–2013 | Granada | 114 | (7) |
| 2013– | Athletic Bilbao | 87 | (9) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 May 2016 | |||
Template:Spanish name Mikel Rico Moreno (born 4 November 1984) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao as a central midfielder.
Football career
Born in Basauri, Biscay, Rico played lower league football for the vast majority of his early years as a senior. The exception to this was in the 2006–07 season when he played twenty games for Polideportivo Ejido in Segunda División, starting three times to help the Andalusians rank in 11th position;[1] he also represented during that timeframe CD Basconia, UB Conquense[2] (reserves included) and SD Huesca.
In the 2009 summer, Rico returned to Huesca and the second level. On 19 June 2010 he scored one of his five goals during the campaign in a 1–0 away win against Celta de Vigo, being crucial as the Aragonese side finally avoided relegation.[3]
Rico moved to fellow league club Granada CF on 31 August 2010, for €600.000 and four years.[4] He posted similar individual numbers in his first year – 40 matches, two goals,[5][6] nearly 3,500 minutes of action – and his team returned to La Liga after more than three decades; he displayed versatility in the process, featuring in several positions.[7]
Rico made his debut in the top flight on 27 August 2011 at neary 27 years of age, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–1 derby home loss against Real Betis.[8] He scored his first goal in the competition on 31 October, contributing to a 2–1 success at Sevilla FC through a 90th-minute strike;[9] during his spell, he played as a box-to-box midfielder as well as a defensive one.[10]
Rico joined Athletic Bilbao in late August 2013, penning a three-year deal with a €35 million buyout clause.[11] He played his first game with his new team on 1 September, the first half of a 1–3 away defeat to Real Madrid.[12]
Honours
- Athletic Bilbao
References
- ^ El Poli Ejido presenta a Manolo y Rico (Poli Ejido presents Manolo and Rico); Marca, 19 July 2006 Template:Es icon
- ^ Mikel Rico despegó como futbolista en la UB Conquense... con un look diferente (Mikel Rico took off as footballer in UB Conquense... with a different look); Ideal, 31 December 2011 Template:Es icon
- ^ Mikel Rico sella la permanencia del Huesca (Mikel Rico seals Huesca permanence); Diario de Sevilla, 20 June 2010 Template:Es icon
- ^ El Granada ficha a Mikel Rico (Granada signs Mikel Rico); Marca, 31 August 2010 Template:Es icon
- ^ El Granada mantiene su buena racha ante el Girona (2–1) (Granada continues streak against Girona (2–1)); Granada Hoy, 3 October 2010 Template:Es icon
- ^ Nàstic 0–3 Granada; Gimnàstic's official website, 8 May 2011 Template:Es icon
- ^ Mikel Rico vale para todo (Mikel Rico does it all); El País, 15 June 2011 Template:Es icon
- ^ Rubén Castro hace justicia (Rubén Castro does justice); El País, 27 August 2011 Template:Es icon
- ^ Sevilla slip up against Granada; ESPN Soccernet, 31 October 2011
- ^ La nueva responsabilidad de Mikel Rico (Mikel Rico's new responsibility); Ideal, 13 October 2012 Template:Es icon
- ^ La Liga: Athletic Bilbao sign midfielder Mikel Rico from rivals Granada; Sky Sports, 22 August 2013
- ^ Isco at the double to beat Bilbao; ESPN FC, 1 September 2013
External links
- Mikel Rico at Athletic Bilbao
- Mikel Rico at BDFutbol
- Mikel Rico at Soccerway
- 1984 births
- Living people
- People from Basauri
- Spanish footballers
- Basque footballers
- Association football midfielders
- La Liga players
- Segunda División players
- Segunda División B players
- CD Basconia footballers
- UB Conquense footballers
- Polideportivo Ejido footballers
- SD Huesca footballers
- Granada CF footballers
- Athletic Bilbao footballers