Riki (footballer, born 1980) explained

Riki
Fullname:Iván Sánchez-Rico Soto
Birth Date:11 August 1980
Birth Place:Aranjuez, Spain
Height:1.870NaN0
Position:Striker
Youthyears1:1986–1995
Youthclubs1:Loyola
Youthyears2:1995–1999
Youthclubs2:Ancora Aranjuez
Years1:1999–2000
Caps1:93
Goals1:60
Years2:2000–2002
Caps2:93
Goals2:64
Years3:2002–2004
Caps3:51
Goals3:20
Years4:2004–2006
Caps4:61
Goals4:10
Years5:2006–2013
Caps5:204
Goals5:52
Years6:2013–2015
Caps6:36
Goals6:2
Years7:2015–2016
Caps7:11
Goals7:4
Totalcaps:363
Totalgoals:88

Iván Sánchez-Rico Soto (born 11 August 1980), known as Riki, is a Spanish former footballer who played as a striker.

He spent most of his professional career with Deportivo, appearing in 226 competitive games and scoring 58 goals.

Club career

Early career

Riki was born in Aranjuez, Community of Madrid. After spending his youth career at amateur clubs in the area he played with both Real Madrid's reserve sides, C and B. In July 2004, after having signed an extension the previous year,[1] he was released and moved to another team from the capital, Getafe CF, making his La Liga debut on 12 September 2004 in a 1–2 home defeat to RCD Mallorca.[2]

On 13 March 2005, Riki scored against his former employer in a 2–1 home victory.[3] In his second season, he netted eight league goals.[4]

Deportivo

In late June 2006, Riki moved to Deportivo de La Coruña on a five-year contract.[5] During his first year he was an undisputed starter and, the following campaign, he featured less prominently, but scored two more goals (five).

In the first game of the 2008–09 season, against Real Madrid, Riki was stretchered off the pitch with a hamstring injury, ironically after having subbed in himself.[6] He was out of action for two weeks,[7] subsequently netting on 2 November 2008 in a 3–0 away defeat of Real Betis.[8]

Riki again suffered physical problems in the following season, but made the most of his 1,492 minutes as he scored eight goals, notably netting in the first round, a 2–3 loss at Real Madrid,[9] and in both matches against Xerez CD (3–0 away, 2–1 at home);[10] [11] the Galicians eventually finished in tenth position.

After his team's relegation in 2011, Riki scored 14 times as they bounced back as champions of the second division,[12] [13] including early strikes in home and away victories over RC Celta de Vigo in the Galician derby.[14] [15]

Later years

When Deportivo were immediately relegated, Riki ended his seven-year tenure to remain in the top flight at Granada CF for the next three seasons.[16] He did not score for the Andalusians until 14 December 2013 in a 2–0 win at Rayo Vallecano,[17] and added only one more goal in a 3–3 draw on his return to Getafe.[18]

On 31 August 2015, the 35-year-old Riki dropped down two levels to sign a two-year deal at CD Guadalajara.[19] He left at the end of the campaign, however, having been relegated from Segunda División B.[20]

International career

Riki was not capped by Spain at any level. He played for the Madrid autonomous team on their Football Federation's centenary on 7 June 2013, scoring a penalty in a 2–1 loss to Andalusia in Vallecas.[21]

Honours

Deportivo

2008

2011–12

Notes and References

  1. http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=115769.html Madrid tie up striking starlets
  2. News: El Mallorca amarga el debut del Getafe. Mallorca bitter Getafe's debut. El Mundo. es. 12 September 2004. 15 June 2018.
  3. http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=287685.html Riki rocks Madrid title dreams
  4. News: A Riki aún se le espera. Still waiting for Riki. El País. Xabier. R. Blanco. es. 18 March 2007. 6 November 2020.
  5. http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=431672.html Riki ripe for Deportivo
  6. https://archive.today/20120714082734/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/252961?cc=5739 Deportivo La Coruña 2–1 Real Madrid
  7. http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=746158.html Depor striker Riki ruled out for weeks
  8. https://archive.today/20120716020306/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/252767?cc=5739 Real Betis 0–3 Deportivo La Coruña
  9. https://archive.today/20120714060527/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/275652?cc=5739 Real Madrid 3–2 Deportivo La Coruña
  10. https://archive.today/20120714102124/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/275908?cc=5739 Xerez continue to struggle
  11. https://archive.today/20120713234920/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/275702?cc=5739 Early goals seal Depor victory
  12. News: Riki iguala su mejor marca goleadora en Primera con sus goles al Valencia. Riki equals best scoring numbers in Primera with his goals to Valencia. La Voz de Galicia. es. 27 January 2013. 6 November 2020.
  13. Web site: Riki y Portillo, modelos para los jóvenes de Aranjuez. Riki and Portillo, role models for Aranjuez youths. Campeones de Aranjuez. José Angel. Rodríguez. es. 29 January 2019. 6 November 2020.
  14. News: En Galicia manda el Dépor. Dépor rule in Galicia. Marca. Marcos. G. Merino. es. 13 November 2011. 26 January 2017.
  15. News: El Deportivo vence al Celta en un derbi gallego para el recuerdo. Deportivo defeat Celta in a Galician derby to remember. La Voz de Galicia. Miguel. Piñeiro. es. 16 April 2012. 25 January 2017.
  16. News: Riki jugará en el Granada las tres próximas temporadas. Riki will play the next three seasons at Granada. Marca. es. 22 June 2013. 25 January 2017.
  17. Web site: Granada too strong for Rayo. Sky Sports. 14 December 2013. 26 January 2017.
  18. News: Reparto de puntos entre Getafe y Granada en un partido loco. Getafe and Granada share the points in a crazy match. ABC. es. 15 March 2014. 25 January 2017.
  19. Web site: Riki, un refuerzo de Primera para el C.D. Guadalajara. Riki, Primera addition for C.D. Guadalajara. CD Guadalajara. es. 31 August 2015. 26 January 2017.
  20. Web site: El Deportivo Guadalajara pone punto y final a la peor temporada de los últimos 34 años. Deportivo Guadalajara bid farewell to worst season of last 34 years. Cadena SER. Kike. Pastor. es. 19 May 2016. 26 January 2017.
  21. News: de Juan . Manu . Un doblete de Barral amarga a Madrid la fiesta de su centenario. A Barral brace makes Madrid's centenary party bitter. 21 January 2021 . . 7 June 2013 . Spanish.