Mikel Rico

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Mikel Rico

| image = SM-AB 2018 (1) (Rico).jpg

| caption = Rico in 2018

| fullname = Mikel Rico Moreno

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|11|4|df=y}}

| birth_place = Arrigorriaga, Spain

| height = 1.78m

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Padura

| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Danok Bat

| youthyears3 = 2000–2003 | youthclubs3 = Basconia

| years1 = 2001 | clubs1 = Basconia | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2003–2004 | clubs2 = Conquense B | caps2 = | goals2 =

| years3 = 2004–2005 | clubs3 = Conquense | caps3 = 44 | goals3 = 3

| years4 = 2005–2009 | clubs4 = Poli Ejido | caps4 = 55 | goals4 = 2

| years5 = 2005–2006 | clubs5 = → Conquense (loan) | caps5 = 35 | goals5 = 9

| years6 = 2007–2008 | clubs6 = → Huesca (loan) | caps6 = 35 | goals6 = 6

| years7 = 2009–2010 | clubs7 = Huesca | caps7 = 42 | goals7 = 5

| years8 = 2010–2013 | clubs8 = Granada | caps8 = 114 | goals8 = 7

| years9 = 2013–2019 | clubs9 = Athletic Bilbao | caps9 = 126 | goals9 = 10

| years10 = 2019–2022 | clubs10 = Huesca | caps10 = 104 | goals10 = 8

| years11 = 2022–2024 | clubs11 = Cartagena | caps11 = 68 | goals11 = 3

| totalcaps = 624 | totalgoals = 53

| nationalyears1 = 2011–2018 | nationalteam1 = Basque Country | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update =

}}

Mikel Rico Moreno ({{IPA|eu|mikel riko moɾeno}}; {{IPA|es|ˈmikel ˈriko moˈɾeno}}; born 4 November 1984) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central midfielder.

After spending much of his career in Spain's lower divisions with Conquense, Polideportivo Ejido and Huesca, he achieved promotion to La Liga with Granada in 2011, moving to Athletic Bilbao two years later. He amassed totals of 200 matches and 15 goals in the top division over eight seasons, before returning to Huesca in summer 2019.

Club career

=Early years=

Born in Arrigorriaga, Biscay,{{cite news|url=http://gara.naiz.eus/paperezkoa/20130823/419008/es/El-sueno-Mikel-hace-realidad|title=El sueño de Mikel se hace realidad|trans-title=Mikel's dream comes true|newspaper=Gara|first=Joseba|last=Vivanco|language=Spanish|date=23 August 2013|accessdate=29 January 2017}} Rico was schooled in football at local clubs Padura Club and Danok Bat CF as a child. He then joined the ranks of neighbouring CD Basconia, which acted as a farm team of Athletic Bilbao; in April 2001 he appeared as a late substitute in one Tercera División match, where Joseba Arriaga and Andoni Iraola also featured.{{cite web|url=http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/match-statistics/4_319/2000-01_basconia_upv.html|title=Basconia 3–0 UPV|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|date=11 April 2001|accessdate=29 January 2017}}

Rico moved to UB Conquense in 2003.{{cite news|url=http://granadacf.ideal.es/noticias/2011-12-31/346175-mikel-rico-despego-como-futbolista.html|title=Mikel Rico despegó como futbolista en la UB Conquense... con un look diferente|trans-title=Mikel Rico took off as footballer in UB Conquense... with a different look|newspaper=Ideal|language=Spanish|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=24 December 2013}} Most of the first season was spent in their reserves, but the second, also in the Segunda División B, saw him feature regularly, attracting the attention of Polideportivo Ejido who signed him in 2005.

Rico was loaned back to Conquense for 2005–06, which ended in relegation from the third level. He made his debut as a professional with Ejido in the following campaign,{{cite news|url=http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/2a_division/polideportivo_ejido/es/desarrollo/672750.html|title=El Poli Ejido presenta a Manolo y Rico|trans-title=Poli Ejido present Manolo and Rico|newspaper=Marca|language=Spanish|date=19 July 2016|accessdate=24 December 2013}} making 20 league appearances before being loaned out again, to SD Huesca.

In 2007–08, Rico helped Huesca achieve promotion to division two via the play-offs. Afterwards, he returned to the Estadio Municipal Santo Domingo for one more season, still in the third tier.

=Huesca and Granada=

In summer 2009, Rico was signed permanently by Huesca. On 19 June 2010, he scored one of his five goals during the campaign in a 1–0 away win against RC Celta de Vigo, being crucial as the Aragonese finally avoided relegation.{{cite news|url=http://www.diariodesevilla.es/article/deportes/729518/mikel/rico/sella/la/permanencia/huesca.html|title=Mikel Rico sella la permanencia del Huesca|trans-title=Mikel Rico seals Huesca permanence|newspaper=Diario de Sevilla|language=Spanish|date=20 June 2010|accessdate=24 December 2013}}

Rico joined fellow league side Granada CF on 31 August 2010, for €600,000 on a four-year deal.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2010/08/31/futbol/equipos/granada/1283280519.html|title=El Granada ficha a Mikel Rico|trans-title=Granada sign Mikel Rico|newspaper=Marca|language=Spanish|date=31 August 2010|accessdate=24 December 2013}} He posted similar individual numbers in his first year – 40 matches, two goals,{{cite news|url=http://www.granadahoy.com/article/deportes/803371/granada/mantiene/su/buena/racha/ante/girona.html|title=El Granada mantiene su buena racha ante el Girona (2–1)|trans-title=Granada continue good streak against Girona (2–1)|newspaper=Granada Hoy|language=Spanish|date=3 October 2010|accessdate=24 December 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gimnasticdetarragona.com/cat2/es/act-noticia.php?id=3771|title=Nàstic 0–3 Granada|publisher=Gimnàstic Tarragona|language=Spanish|date=8 May 2011|accessdate=24 December 2013}} nearly 3,500 minutes of action – and his team returned to La Liga after more than three decades via the play-offs; he displayed versatility in the process, featuring in several positions.{{cite news|url=http://deportes.elpais.com/deportes/2011/06/15/actualidad/1308122518_850215.html|title=Mikel Rico vale para todo|trans-title=Mikel Rico does it all|newspaper=El País|first=Rodrigo|last=Carretero|language=Spanish|date=15 June 2011|accessdate=24 December 2013}}

Rico made his debut in the top flight on 27 August 2011 at nearly 27 years of age, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–1 derby home loss against Real Betis.{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/deportes/2011/08/28/actualidad/1314516112_850215.html|title=Rubén Castro hace justicia|trans-title=Rubén Castro does justice|newspaper=El País|first=Rafael|last=Pineda|language=Spanish|date=28 August 2011|accessdate=14 November 2020}} He scored his first goal in the competition on 31 October, contributing to a 2–1 victory at Sevilla FC through a 90th-minute strike;{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/327697/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739|title=Sevilla slip up against Granada|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=31 October 2011|accessdate=24 December 2013}} during his spell, he played as a box-to-box midfielder as well as a defensive one.{{cite news|url=http://granadacf.ideal.es/noticias/2012-10-13/nueva-responsabilidad-mikel-rico-201210131141.html|title=La nueva responsabilidad de Mikel Rico|trans-title=Mikel Rico's new responsibility|newspaper=Ideal|first=Rafael|last=Lamelas|language=Spanish|date=13 October 2012|accessdate=24 December 2013}}

=Athletic Bilbao=

Rico joined Athletic Bilbao in late August 2013, penning a three-year deal with a €35 million buyout clause.{{cite web|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11848/8882547/la-liga-athletic-bilbao-sign-midfielder-mikel-rico-from-rivals-Granada|title=La Liga: Athletic Bilbao sign midfielder Mikel Rico from rivals Granada|publisher=Sky Sports|date=22 August 2013|accessdate=24 December 2013}} He played his first game with his new team on 1 September, the first half of a 3–1 away defeat to Real Madrid.{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/373187/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739|title=Isco at the double to beat Bilbao|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=1 September 2013|accessdate=24 December 2013}} He featured in 94 matches in all competitions over his first two seasons – starting the vast majority – including all of his team's matches in the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League campaign, and culminating in the final defeat to FC Barcelona in the Copa del Rey.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurosport.com/football/copa-del-rey/2014-2015/barcelona-v-athletic-bilbao-live_sto4760579/story.shtml|title=Lionel Messi stars as Barcelona win Copa Del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao|publisher=Eurosport|date=30 May 2015|accessdate=18 July 2017}} Thereafter, he was used less frequently by head coach Ernesto Valverde, appearing in 30 fixtures during 2015–16 and 23 during 2016–17 but often as a late substitute.

Under José Ángel Ziganda in 2017–18, it appeared Rico's spell at the club was coming to an end as he made no league appearances at all in the first portion of the campaign after recovering from some physical issues,{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/futbol/athletic/2017/09/26/59ca28b7e2704e3c5a8b46c8.html|title=De Marcos y Rico se apuntan a Europa|trans-title=De Marcos and Rico are targeting Europe|newspaper=Marca|first=Macu|last=Briones|language=Spanish|date=26 September 2017|accessdate=15 January 2018}} even as the new coach tried out various squad members to find the optimal personnel for his tactics. However, after finally being introduced to the team from the bench during a match against Villarreal CF (1–1) on 19 November 2017, shortly after his 33rd birthday,{{cite news|url=http://athletic.elcorreo.com/mikel-rico-decision-20180109222311-nt.html|title=Mikel Rico: la decisión que lo cambió todo|trans-title=Mikel Rico: the decision that changed everything|newspaper=El Correo|first=Jon|last=Agiriano|language=Spanish|date=9 January 2018|accessdate=15 January 2018}} he became a regular starter again,{{cite news|url=http://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/athletic-bilbao/20171214/433611059732/athletic-ziganda-mikel-rico-valverde-laporte-iturraspe.html|title=Los fichajes de Ziganda|trans-title=The signings of Ziganda|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Iñaki|last=Ugalde|language=Spanish|date=14 December 2017|accessdate=15 January 2018}} playing the entirety of the next eight league games and two in the Europa League in which Athletic remained undefeated.

On 2 February 2018, 33-year-old Rico signed a contract extension running until June 2019.{{cite web|url=http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/18705/mikel-ricos-contract-renewal.html|title=Mikel Rico's contract renewal|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|date=2 February 2018|accessdate=3 February 2018}} In early 2019, it was announced that he would leave at the end of the season when that contract ended. The club's final home match involved tributes to him, as well as fellow long-serving squad members Ander Iturraspe and Markel Susaeta who were also departing in similar circumstances.{{cite web|url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2019/05/10/farewell-tribute-to-susaeta-rico-and-iturraspe|title= Farewell tribute to Susaeta, Rico and Iturraspe|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|date=10 May 2019|accessdate=19 May 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2019/05/12/primera/1557696799_279994.html|title=Susaeta, Iturraspe y Mikel Rico, arropados y manteados|trans-title=Susaeta, Iturraspe and Mikel Rico, cheered and thrown in the air|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Javier|last=R. Beltrán|language=Spanish|date=12 May 2019|accessdate=19 May 2019}}

=Return to Huesca=

On 7 July 2019, Rico returned to Huesca as a free agent.{{cite web|url=https://www.sdhuesca.es/noticia/mikel-rico-vuelve-a-casa|title=Mikel Rico vuelve a casa|trans-title=Mikel Rico returns home|publisher=SD Huesca|language=Spanish|date=7 July 2019|accessdate=9 July 2019}} The 35-year-old scored seven goals from 42 appearances in the first season in his third spell, and the champions returned to the top tier after one year out.{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/deportes/futbol/sd-huesca/2020/07/21/mikel-rico-vamos-a-seguir-haciendo-historia-para-la-sd-huesca-1387282.html|title=Mikel Rico: "Vamos a seguir haciendo historia para la SD Huesca"|trans-title=Mikel Rico: "We will continue to write history for SD Huesca"|newspaper=Heraldo de Aragón|first=Emilio|last=Ralla|language=Spanish|date=21 July 2020|accessdate=14 November 2020}}

=Cartagena=

On 24 June 2022, Rico signed a one-year contract with FC Cartagena in the second division.{{cite web|url=https://www.fccartagena.es/noticia/mikel-rico-experiencia-y-equilibrio-para-el-centro-del-campo-albinegro|title=Mikel Rico, experiencia y equilibrio para el centro del campo albinegro|trans-title=Mikel Rico, experience and balance for the white-and-black centre of the midfield|publisher=FC Cartagena|language=Spanish|date=24 June 2022|accessdate=2 August 2022}} On 24 May 2024, he announced his retirement at the end of the season.{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/segunda/mikel-rico-anuncia-su-retirada-n/|title=Mikel Rico anuncia su retirada|trans-title=Mikel Rico announces his retirement|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Antonio|last=Ruiz|language=es|date=24 May 2024|accessdate=5 July 2024}}

International career

Rico never earned any caps for Spain at any level. He did feature for the unofficial Basque Country regional team.{{cite web|url=http://www.eff-fvf.eus/pub/verFichaPartido.asp?idioma=ca&idPartido=1261|title=Catalunya 0–1 Euskal Selekzioa|trans-title=Catalonia 0–1 Basque XI|publisher=Basque Football Federation|language=Spanish|date=26 December 2015|accessdate=29 December 2016}}