Iván Sánchez Rico Soto
Encyclopedia
Iván Sánchez-Rico Soto, aka Riki (born 11 August 1980 in Aranjuez
, Community of Madrid), is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Deportivo de La Coruña
in Segunda División
, as a striker or winger.
's reserve sides, C
and B
. In July 2004, after having signed an extension with the merengues the previous year, he was released and moved to another capital
team, Getafe CF
, making his La Liga
debut on 12 September 2004, in a 1–2 home defeat to RCD Mallorca
. On 13 March 2005, he scored against his former employer, in a 2–1 home success and, in his second season
, netted eight league goals.
On June 2006, Riki moved to Deportivo de La Coruña
in a five-year contract. During his first season he was an undisputed starter. In the following one, he featured less prominently, but scored two more goals (five).
In the first match of the 2008–09 season, against Real Madrid, Riki was stretchered off the pitch with a hamstring
injury, ironically after having subbed in himself. He was out of action for two weeks, subsequently netting on 2 November 2008, in a 3–0 success at Real Betis
.
Riki again suffered physical problems in the following season
, but made the most of his minutes (1,492) as he scored a career-best – at Deportivo – eight goals, notably netting in the opener, a 2–3 loss at Real Madrid, and in both matches against Xerez CD
(3–0 away, 2–1 at home); the Galicians eventually finished in 10th position.
Aranjuez
Aranjuez is a town lying 48 km south of Madrid, in the southern part of the Community of Madrid. It is located at the confluence of the Tagus and Jarama rivers, 48 km from Toledo. As of 2009, it has a population of 54,055.-History:...
, Community of Madrid), is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays for Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
in Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, as a striker or winger.
Football career
After his youth career in amateur clubs in the Madrid area, Riki played with both Real MadridReal Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
's reserve sides, C
Real Madrid C
Real Madrid C is a Spanish association football team that plays in the Tercera División. It is the second reserve team of Real Madrid. They play their home games at La Ciudad del Real Madrid in Valdebebas outside the city of Madrid...
and B
Real Madrid Castilla
Real Madrid Castilla is a Spanish football team that plays in the Segunda División B. It is the reserve team of Real Madrid. They play their home games at Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium....
. In July 2004, after having signed an extension with the merengues the previous year, he was released and moved to another capital
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
team, Getafe CF
Getafe CF
Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
, making his La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
debut on 12 September 2004, in a 1–2 home defeat to RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
. On 13 March 2005, he scored against his former employer, in a 2–1 home success and, in his second season
2005–06 La Liga
* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Betis* Cádiz CF* Celta de Vigo* Deportivo Alaves* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Málaga CF* RCD Mallorca* CA Osasuna* Racing de Santander* Real Madrid* Real Sociedad* Sevilla FC...
, netted eight league goals.
On June 2006, Riki moved to Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
in a five-year contract. During his first season he was an undisputed starter. In the following one, he featured less prominently, but scored two more goals (five).
In the first match of the 2008–09 season, against Real Madrid, Riki was stretchered off the pitch with a hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
injury, ironically after having subbed in himself. He was out of action for two weeks, subsequently netting on 2 November 2008, in a 3–0 success at Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
.
Riki again suffered physical problems in the following season
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
, but made the most of his minutes (1,492) as he scored a career-best – at Deportivo – eight goals, notably netting in the opener, a 2–3 loss at Real Madrid, and in both matches against Xerez CD
Xerez CD
Xerez Club Deportivo, S.A.D., usually just Xerez, is a Spanish football team based in Jerez de la Frontera, Province of Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia...
(3–0 away, 2–1 at home); the Galicians eventually finished in 10th position.