Fran Rico
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Manuel Rico Castro | ||
| Date of birth | 3 August 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Portonovo, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team |
Eibar (on loan from Granada) | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1997–2001 | Portonovo | ||
| 2001–2005 | Pontevedra | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2008 | Pontevedra | 63 | (3) |
| 2008–2011 | Real Madrid B | 52 | (11) |
| 2011– | Granada | 110 | (9) |
| 2016– | → Eibar (loan) | 17 | (2) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 May 2017. | |||
Francisco Manuel "Fran" Rico Castro (born 3 August 1987) is a Spanish footballer who plays for SD Eibar on loan from Granada CF as a midfielder.
Club career
Pontevedra
Born in Portonovo, Pontevedra, Rico joined local Pontevedra CF's youth ranks at the age of 14, making his senior debut on 18 December 2005 in a Segunda División B match against CD San Isidro.[1]
Mainly a substitute in his first year, he became an important part of the Galicians' squad in the following seasons.
Real Madrid
In the 2008 summer, Rico joined Real Madrid, being assigned to the reserve team also in the third division. He made his debut on 31 August, scoring the first goal in a 2–0 win at UD Vecindario.[2] On 14 September, in only his third appearance, against CD Alfaro, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury only eight minutes after the start of the match, being lost for the rest of the campaign.[3]
Thirteen months after his injury, Rico played his first game of the season, against RSD Alcalá. On 8 November 2009, less than one month later, he scored twice against Gimnástica de Torrelavega in a 4–2 home victory.[4]
In the first round of 2010–11, Rico found the net against Coruxo FC in a 3–2 home win.[5] He scored a career-best six goals during the campaign, including one in the unsuccessful promotion playoffs.
Granada
On 5 August 2011, Rico left Castilla and signed for Granada CF, with Real Madrid retaining an option for the player in case of a future transfer.[6] On 25 September, he scored his first La Liga goal in only his second league game for his new club: after replacing Moisés Hurtado at half-time, he netted the equalizer in an eventual 1–1 home draw against CA Osasuna.[7]
In April 2012, Rico was sidelined for the rest of the season after suffering another injury to his right knee.[8][9] He also missed the entirety of the following campaign.[10]
Rico was an ever-present figure for the Andalusians in 2013–14, with his side narrowly avoiding relegation. On 26 February 2015 he renewed his contract with the club, until 2020.[11]
On 26 August 2016, Rico was loaned to fellow top tier side SD Eibar for two years.[12]
Club statistics
- As of 23 January 2016[13]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Pontevedra | 2005–06 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | |||
| 2006–07 | 24 | 1 | — | 24 | 1 | ||||
| 2007–08 | 36 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 39 | 1 | ||
| Total | 63 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 66 | 3 | ||
| Real Madrid B | 2008–09 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 1 | ||
| 2009–10 | 18 | 4 | — | — | 18 | 4 | |||
| 2010–11 | 31 | 6 | — | — | 31 | 6 | |||
| Total | 52 | 11 | — | — | 52 | 11 | |||
| Granada | 2011–12 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 20 | 2 | |
| 2012–13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 33 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | 18 | 3 | ||
| Total | 97 | 9 | 6 | 1 | — | 103 | 10 | ||
| Career totals | 212 | 23 | 9 | 1 | — | 221 | 24 | ||
References
- ↑ El Pontevedra cobrará 250.000 euros por Fran Rico (Pontevedra will receive €250.000 for Fran Rico); Diario de Pontevedra, 3 July 2008 (in Spanish)
- ↑ El filial del Real Madrid comienza la Liga con buen pie (Real Madrid B starts league on the right foot); Real Madrid CF, 31 August 2010 (in Spanish)
- ↑ Fran Rico inicia su recuperación (Fran Rico starts rehabilitation); Real Madrid CF, 6 October 2008 (in Spanish)
- ↑ 4–2: Querer es poder (4–2: When there's a will there's a way); Real Madrid CF, 8 November 2009 (in Spanish)
- ↑ 3–2: The youth team takes the first three points at stake; Real Madrid CF, 29 August 2010
- ↑ Fran Rico ficha por el Granada (Fran Rico signs for Granada); Marca, 5 August 2011 (in Spanish)
- ↑ Granada and Osasuna share spoils; ESPN Soccernet, 25 September 2011
- ↑ Fran Rico, lesionado para el resto de temporada (Fran Rico, injured for rest of the season); Marca, 14 April 2012 (in Spanish)
- ↑ Fran Rico: "Estad tranquilos, que volveré" (Fran Rico: "Don't worry, i'll be back"); Ideal, 16 August 2012 (in Spanish)
- ↑ Fran Rico será baja toda la temporada tras su operación (Fran Rico will miss entire season after surgery); Ideal, 25 January 2013 (in Spanish)
- ↑ Fran Rico renueva por cinco temporadas (Fran Rico renews for five seasons); Granada CF, 26 February 2015 (in Spanish)
- ↑ Fran Rico se marcha al Eibar cedido por dos temporadas (Fran Rico goes out to Eibar on loan for two seasons); Granada CF, 26 August 2016 (in Spanish)
- ↑ "Fran Rico". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
External links
- Granada official profile (in Spanish)
- Fran Rico at BDFutbol
- Fran Rico at Futbolme (in Spanish)