Ricardo López Felipe
Encyclopedia
Ricardo López Felipe simply Ricardo, is a Spanish
footballer who plays for CA Osasuna
as a goalkeeper.
, working his way through the reserves
and going on to represent the senior squad until 1998. Barred by José Francisco Molina
, he only managed one first-team appearance which came during the 1996–97 season.
Subsequently, Ricardo was transferred to Real Valladolid
, also in La Liga
. He spent four seasons at the club, becoming first-choice in 2001–02 (all 38 matches played), while also being selected as a member of the Spanish
squad for the 2002 World Cup
, though he did not play in the finals.
On 30 August 2002, Ricardo was signed by English
club Manchester United
in a three-year deal worth £
1.5 million. Signed to provide cover for the then injured Fabien Barthez
and the inexperienced Roy Carroll
, he found first-team opportunities rare, appearing in only four UEFA Champions League
matches and once in the Premier League. In the debut in the latter, against Blackburn Rovers
, his first touch conceded a penalty
, which he saved.
On 23 August 2003, Ricardo agreed to a loan transfer to Racing de Santander
, for the 2003–04 season. The deal included an option to make transfer permanent the following June. On his return to Spain, Ricardo was quoted in the Spanish sports daily AS
as saying:
After helping Racing barely avoid top flight relegation, Ricardo returned to Manchester United and proclaimed his ambition to take the number one jersey from Barthez. However, he was never picked for the first team following the arrival of Tim Howard
and Carroll's improvement.
He was eventually released by the club on a free transfer at the end of 2004–05. Subsequently, Ricardo signed for CA Osasuna
on a two-year deal, being the Navarre
se outfit's automatic first-choice, making over 100 league appearances in his first three campaigns. He also helped the team reach the semifinals of the UEFA Cup in his second season, making 12 appearances, but lost his job midway through 2008–09 to newly signed Roberto.
Ricardo regained his first-choice status in the following top division seasons, rarely missing a game for Osasuna even though he was approaching his 40's.
, his debut coming on 14 November 2001, in a friendly match against Mexico
.
In a testimonial match
for Ferenc Puskás
the following summer, a 1–1 draw against Hungary
in Budapest
, he received his second and final cap
. In both cases, he replaced Iker Casillas
.
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 CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
as a goalkeeper.
Club career
Ricardo began his professional career at Atlético de MadridAtlético de Madrid
Club Atlético de Madrid, S.A.D., commonly known as Atlético Madrid, is a Spanish football club based in Madrid who play in La Liga. Atlético have won both La Liga and the Copa del Rey on nine occasions, including a double in 1996; in Europe, they won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1962, were...
, working his way through the reserves
Atlético Madrid B
Atlético Madrid B is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the namesake community. Founded in 1963, it is the reserve team of Atlético Madrid, and currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home games at Nuevo Cerro del Espino.-History:...
and going on to represent the senior squad until 1998. Barred by José Francisco Molina
José Francisco Molina
José Francisco Molina Jiménez is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.11 years of his extensive professional career were spent at Atlético Madrid and Deportivo de La Coruña, where he won a total of five titles combined...
, he only managed one first-team appearance which came during the 1996–97 season.
Subsequently, Ricardo was transferred to Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
, also in 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...
. He spent four seasons at the club, becoming first-choice in 2001–02 (all 38 matches played), while also being selected as a member of the Spanish
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
squad for the 2002 World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, though he did not play in the finals.
On 30 August 2002, Ricardo was signed by English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
club Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
in a three-year deal worth £
Pound sign
The pound sign is the symbol for the pound sterling—the currency of the United Kingdom . The same symbol is used for similarly named currencies in some other countries and territories, such as the Irish pound, Gibraltar pound, Australian pound and the Italian lira...
1.5 million. Signed to provide cover for the then injured Fabien Barthez
Fabien Barthez
Fabien Alain Barthez is a former French footballer goalkeeper who won honours with Manchester United and the French national team, with whom he won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000 and reached the final of the 2006 World Cup. He shares the record for the most World Cup finals clean sheets...
and the inexperienced Roy Carroll
Roy Carroll
Roy Eric Carroll is a Northern Irish footballer who is currently playing for Greek Superleague club OFI Crete. He is a goalkeeper and is best known for his spells at Wigan Athletic and Manchester United, where he won the 2004 FA Cup...
, he found first-team opportunities rare, appearing in only four UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
matches and once in the Premier League. In the debut in the latter, against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, his first touch conceded a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
, which he saved.
On 23 August 2003, Ricardo agreed to a loan transfer to Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
, for the 2003–04 season. The deal included an option to make transfer permanent the following June. On his return to Spain, Ricardo was quoted in the Spanish sports daily AS
Diario AS
Diario AS is a Spanish daily sports newspaper, concentrating particularly on football.It particularly covers news of the principal Madrid football teams, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, in which it competes directly with MARCA....
as saying:
"It's not a backward step. When I received the offer I was delighted to have the chance to return to Spain. I missed the Spanish league ... All I feel is gratitude toward Manchester. The club treated me very well. It was a lovely experience which was well worth it."
After helping Racing barely avoid top flight relegation, Ricardo returned to Manchester United and proclaimed his ambition to take the number one jersey from Barthez. However, he was never picked for the first team following the arrival of Tim Howard
Tim Howard
Timothy Matthew Howard is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Everton and the United States national team....
and Carroll's improvement.
He was eventually released by the club on a free transfer at the end of 2004–05. Subsequently, Ricardo signed for CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
on a two-year deal, being the Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
se outfit's automatic first-choice, making over 100 league appearances in his first three campaigns. He also helped the team reach the semifinals of the UEFA Cup in his second season, making 12 appearances, but lost his job midway through 2008–09 to newly signed Roberto.
Ricardo regained his first-choice status in the following top division seasons, rarely missing a game for Osasuna even though he was approaching his 40's.
International career
Ricardo played twice for SpainSpain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, his debut coming on 14 November 2001, in a friendly match against Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
.
In a testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
for Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás was a Hungarian footballer and manager. He scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, and 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues. He became Olympic champion in 1952 and was a World Cup finalist in 1954...
the following summer, a 1–1 draw against Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, he received his second and final cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
. In both cases, he replaced Iker Casillas
Íker Casillas
Iker Casillas Fernández is a Spanish football goalkeeper who plays for the Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, being the captain of both...
.