Riki
Riki playing with Deportivo in 2012
Personal information
Full name Iván Sánchez-Rico Soto
Date of birth (1980-08-11) 11 August 1980
Place of birth Aranjuez, Spain
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1986–1995 Loyola
1995–1999 Ancora Aranjuez
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2000 Aranjuez 93 (60)
2000–2002 Real Madrid C 93 (64)
2002–2004 Real Madrid B 51 (20)
2004–2006 Getafe 61 (10)
2006–2013 Deportivo La Coruña 204 (52)
2013–2015 Granada 36 (2)
2015–2016 Guadalajara 11 (4)
Total 363 (88)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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

References

  1. ↑ Madrid tie up striking starlets; UEFA, 3 October 2003
  2. ↑ "El Mallorca amarga el debut del Getafe" [Mallorca bitter Getafe's debut]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 12 September 2004. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  3. ↑ Riki rocks Madrid title dreams; UEFA, 13 March 2005
  4. ↑ R. Blanco, Xabier (18 March 2007). "A Riki aún se le espera" [Still waiting for Riki]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  5. ↑ Riki ripe for Deportivo; UEFA, 22 June 2006
  6. ↑ Deportivo La Coruña 2–1 Real Madrid; ESPN Soccernet, 31 August 2008
  7. ↑ Depor striker Riki ruled out for weeks; UEFA, 3 September 2008
  8. ↑ Real Betis 0–3 Deportivo La Coruña; ESPN Soccernet, 2 November 2008
  9. ↑ Real Madrid 3–2 Deportivo La Coruña; ESPN Soccernet, 29 August 2009
  10. ↑ Xerez continue to struggle; ESPN Soccernet, 23 September 2009
  11. ↑ Early goals seal Depor victory; ESPN Soccernet, 20 February 2010
  12. ↑ "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 (in Spanish). 27 January 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  13. ↑ Rodríguez, José Angel (29 January 2019). "Riki y Portillo, modelos para los jóvenes de Aranjuez" [Riki and Portillo, role models for Aranjuez youths] (in Spanish). Campeones de Aranjuez. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  14. ↑ G. Merino, Marcos (13 November 2011). "En Galicia manda el Dépor" [Dépor rule in Galicia]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  15. ↑ Piñeiro, Miguel (16 April 2012). "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 (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  16. ↑ "Riki jugará en el Granada las tres próximas temporadas" [Riki will play the next three seasons at Granada]. Marca (in Spanish). 22 June 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  17. ↑ "Granada too strong for Rayo". Sky Sports. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  18. ↑ "Reparto de puntos entre Getafe y Granada en un partido loco" [Getafe and Granada share the points in a crazy match]. ABC (in Spanish). 15 March 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  19. ↑ "Riki, un refuerzo de Primera para el C.D. Guadalajara" [Riki, Primera addition for C.D. Guadalajara] (in Spanish). CD Guadalajara. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  20. ↑ Pastor, Kike (19 May 2016). "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] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  21. ↑ de Juan, Manu (7 June 2013). "Un doblete de Barral amarga a Madrid la fiesta de su centenario" [A Barral brace makes Madrid's centenary party bitter]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2021.
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