Riko Simanjuntak

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Riko Simanjuntak

| fullname = Riko Simanjuntak

| image =

| image_size =

| height = {{height|m=1.58}}{{cite web |title=Riko Simanjuntak |url=https://www.pssi.org/national-team/mens-seniors/players/riko-simanjuntak|website=www.pssi.org|accessdate=30 September 2020}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1992|1|26}}{{cite web |title=Riko Simanjuntak |url=https://persija.id/tim/riko-simanjuntak |website=persija.id |accessdate=14 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221024141/https://persija.id/tim/riko-simanjuntak |archive-date=21 December 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/riko-simanjuntak/|title=Riko Simanjuntak: Profile |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |accessdate=10 October 2020}}

| birth_place = Pematangsiantar, Indonesia

| currentclub = PSS Sleman (on loan from Persija Jakarta)

| clubnumber = 20

| position = Winger

| years1 = 2012−2013

| clubs1 = PSMS Medan

| caps1 = 9

| goals1 = 3

| years2 = 2013–2014

| clubs2 = PS Bangka

| caps2 = 18

| goals2 = 7

| years3 = 2015

| clubs3 = Gresik United

| caps3 = 3

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2016−2017

| clubs4 = Semen Padang

| caps4 = 66

| goals4 = 4

| years5 = 2018−

| clubs5 = Persija Jakarta

| caps5 = 165

| goals5 = 9

| years6 = 2025−

| clubs6 = → PSS Sleman (loan)

| caps6 = 15

| goals6 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2018–2023

| nationalteam1 = Indonesia

| nationalcaps1 = 11

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| pcupdate = 24 May 2025

| ntupdate =

}}

Riko Simanjuntak (born 26 January 1992) is an Indonesian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga 1 club PSS Sleman, on loan from Persija Jakarta. Before he joined Persija, he had changed clubs four times. He is sometimes called Ucok and is often a mainstay player for the team in Indonesian competitions.{{cite web|url=

https://www.boombastis.com/perjalanan-karier-riko-simanjuntak/163282

|title=Berawal dari Jualan Mainan Anak-anak, Pemain Berdarah Batak Ini Sukses Tembus Timnas|last=Boombastis.com|publisher=}}

Club career

=PSMS Medan=

In 2010–12, before he joined PSMS Medan, Simanjuntak was an amateur futsal player in Pematangsiantar, North Sumatra. He and his brother Johan Simanjuntak always played together in one team. Simanjuntak plays as a right flank, and Johan as a left flank. Once, PSMS's Coach Suimin Diharja watched their futsal match together. Simanjuntak and Johan's speed, agility, and sharpness made the coach interested in recruiting him. Finally, Simanjuntak and Johan joined PSMS and played for PSMS Medan who were then playing in the Indonesia Super League. This was Simanjuntak's first football club.{{cite web|url=

https://sumut.idntimes.com/sport/soccer/arifin-alamudi/sebelum-masuk-timnas-ini-5-klub-yang-pernah-di-bela-riko-simanjuntak|title=Sebelum Masuk Timnas, Ini 5 Klub Yang Pernah Dibela Riko Simanjuntak|website=idntimes.com|accessdate=20 October 2019|language=Indonesian}}

=PS Bangka=

After the chaotic league dualism, a year later, Simanjuntak did not get a League 1 team. He finally joined and played for Liga 2 club PS Bangka. This is where he showed his abilities in the field. In the 18 games he played, Simanjuntak scored 7 goals.

=Gresik United=

In the 2015 season, Simanjuntak signed a year's contract with Persegres Gresik United. He made his debut in a 0–1 away win against Barito Putera on 11 April.{{cite web|url=https://milikbersama03.blogspot.com/2015/04/berita-hasil-skor-akhir-barito-putera.html?m=1|title=Barito Putera 0-1 Gresik United|website=milikbersama03blogspot.com|accessdate=20 October 2019|language=Indonesian}} He scored his first goal in a 2–1 home win against Borneo, scoring after 45 minutes.{{cite web|url=

https://gh.women.soccerway.com/matches/2015/04/05/indonesia/super-liga/gresik-united-fc/pusamania-borneo/2016886/|title=Gresik United 2-1 Borneo|website=soccerway.com|accessdate=20 October 2019|language=Indonesian}}

=Semen Padang=

In 2016 Simanjuntak signed with Semen Padang for the Indonesia Soccer Championship A. He made 66 league appearances and scored 4 goals for Semen Padang.{{cite web|url=https://kalteng.antaranews.com/berita/376302/kalteng-putra-kontrak-21-pemain-ini-daftar-namanya|title=Kalteng Putra kontrak 21 pemain, ini daftar namanya|website=kalteng.antaranews.com}}

=Persija Jakarta=

In 2018, Simanjuntak signed a contract with Indonesian Liga 1 club Persija Jakarta. He made his debut on 23 March 2018 in a match against Bhayangkara. On 8 June 2018, Simanjuntak scored his first goal for Persija against TIRA-Persikabo in the 85th minute at the Sultan Agung Stadium, Bantul.

International career

Riko played for the Indonesia national team at the 2018 AFF Championship and the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.

In March 2023, Riko was named to Indonesia's squad by Manager Shin Tae-Yong for two friendly matches against Burundi. The selection was met with surprise, as it marked his return to the national side after four years.{{cite web|url=

https://www.bolasport.com/read/313728310/si-anak-hilang-comeback-ke-timnas-indonesia-dipanggil-shin-tae-yong-untuk-lawan-burundi|title= Si Anak Hilang Comeback ke Timnas Indonesia, Dipanggil Shin Tae-yong untuk Lawan Burundi|website=bolasport.com|accessdate=15 March 2023|language=Indonesian}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup{{efn\|Includes Piala Indonesia}} !colspan="2"\|Continental{{efn\|Appearances in AFC Cup}}{{efn\|Appearances in AFC Champions League}} !colspan="2"\|Other{{efn\|Appearances in Indonesia President's Cup}} !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
PS Bangka \|2014 \|Indonesia Premier Division \|18	7	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	0	0	18	7
Gresik united \|2015 \|Indonesia Super League \|3	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	0	0	3	1
rowspan="3"\|Semen Padang \|2016 \|ISC A \|32	2	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	0	0	32	2
2017 \|rowspan="1"\|Liga 1 \|34	2	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	7	1	41	3
colspan="2"\|Total !66	4	0	0	0	0	7	1	73	5
rowspan="8"\|Persija Jakarta \|2018 \|rowspan="1"\|Liga 1 \|27	3	0	0	8	0	7	0	42	3
2019 \|rowspan="1"\|Liga 1 \|32	0	8	0	8	1	3	0	51	1
2020 \|rowspan="1"\|Liga 1 \|2	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	0	0	2	0
2021–22 \|rowspan="1"\|Liga 1 \|29	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	8{{efn\|Appearances in Menpora Cup}}	1	37	1
2022–23 \|Liga 1 \|30	5	0	0	colspan="2" \|–	2	0	32	5
2023–24 \|Liga 1 \|31	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	0	0	31	1
2024–25 \|Liga 1 \|14	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	4	1	18	1
colspan="2"\|Total !165	9	8	0	16	1	24	2	77	6
rowspan="1"\|PSS Sleman (loan) \|2024–25 \|rowspan="1"\|Liga 1 \|15	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	0	0	15	0
colspan=3\|Career total !267	21	8	0	16	1	31	3	322	25

=International=

National team	Year	Apps
class=wikitable style=text-align:center \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan="3"\|Indonesia \|2018	5	0
2019	4	0
2023	2	0
colspan=2\|Total\|\|11\|\|0

Honours

=Club honors=

;Persija Jakarta

Liga 1: 2018{{cite web |url = https://sport.detik.com/sepakbola/liga-indonesia/d-4335587/persija-juara-liga-1-2018 |title = Persija Juara Liga 1 2018 |publisher = detik |date = 9 December 2018 |accessdate = 9 December 2018}}
Indonesia President's Cup: 2018{{cite web |url = https://bola.kompas.com/read/2018/02/17/21544538/tumbangkan-bali-united-persija-juarai-piala-presiden-2018?page=all |title = Tumbangkan Bali United, Persija Juarai Piala Presiden 2018 |publisher = kompas |date = 17 February 2018 |accessdate = 17 February 2018}}
Menpora Cup: 2021{{Cite web|last=Ridwan|first=Muhammad|date=25 April 2021|title=Persija Jakarta Juara Piala Menpora 2021|url=https://www.goal.com/id/amp/berita/persija-jakarta-juara-piala-menpora-2021/1vnjxb26qc65w15uatr5bfa4ck|access-date=26 April 2021|website=goal.com|publisher=Goal}}

= Individual =

Liga 1 Best XI: 2018{{cite web |title=Tim Terbaik Go-Jek Liga 1 2018 |url=https://liga-indonesia.id/berita/tim-terbaik-go-jek-liga-1-2018 |website=liga-indonesia.id |accessdate=22 December 2018}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
ASEAN Football Federation Best XI: 2019{{cite web|url=https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/aff-awards-quang-hai-pitsamai-claim-top-honours/|title=AFF AWARDS: Quang Hai, Pitsamai claim top honours|publisher=ASEAN Football Federation|date=8 November 2019|accessdate=12 November 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109115204/https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/aff-awards-quang-hai-pitsamai-claim-top-honours/|archivedate=9 November 2019}}
AFC Cup All-time XI: Wide midfielders{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-cup/latest/news/afc-cup-all-time-xi-wide-midfielders|title = AFC Cup All-time XI: Wide midfielders | Football | News | AFC Cup 2021}}