Full name Mikel Rico Moreno 2000–2003 Athletic Bilbao Weight 78 kg Number 17 Height 1.78 m | Playing position Role Footballer Place of birth Basauri, Spain Name Mikel Rico Career start 2002 | |
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Date of birth (1984-11-04) 4 November 1984 (age 31) Current team Athletic Bilbao (#17 / Midfielder) | ||
mikel rico 17 our resistance athletic club andonilivefootball hd
Mikel Rico Moreno (born 4 November 1984) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao as a central midfielder.
Contents
- mikel rico 17 our resistance athletic club andonilivefootball hd
- Golazo de mikel rico 2 0 en el athletic club ud almeria
- Early years
- Huesca Granada
- Athletic Bilbao
- International career
- Honours
- References
Golazo de mikel rico 2 0 en el athletic club ud almeria
Early years
Born in Arrigorriaga, Biscay, Rico was schooled in football at local clubs CD Padura 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.
Rico moved to UB Conquense in 2003. Most of the first season was spent in their reserves, but the second, also in 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 in the following campaign, starting in three of his appearances to help Ejido finish in 11th position in Segunda División.
In 2007–08, Rico helped SD Huesca to promotion to division two in the play-offs. Afterwards, he returned to the Estadio Municipal Santo Domingo for one more season, still in the third tier.
Huesca / 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 Celta de Vigo, being crucial as the Aragonese finally avoided relegation.
Rico joined fellow league side Granada CF on 31 August 2010, for €600.000 on a four-year deal. He posted similar individual numbers in his first year – 40 matches, two goals, 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.
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. He scored his first goal in the competition on 31 October, contributing to a 2–1 success at Sevilla FC through a 90th-minute strike; during his spell, he played as a box-to-box midfielder as well as a defensive one.
Athletic Bilbao
Rico joined Athletic Bilbao in late August 2013, penning a three-year deal with a €35 million buyout clause. He played his first game with his new team on 1 September, the first half of a 1–3 away defeat to Real Madrid.
International career
Rico never earned any caps for Spain at any level. He did feature for the unofficial Basque Country regional team.