Sergio Rico

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rico and the second or maternal family name is González.

Sergio Rico
Rico with Sevilla in 2017
Personal information
Full name Sergio Rico González[1]
Date of birth (1993-09-01) 1 September 1993 (age 31)[2]
Place of birth Seville, Spain[2]
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Al-Gharafa
Number 15
Youth career
2006–2011 Sevilla
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Sevilla B 36 (0)
2014–2020 Sevilla 114 (0)
2018–2019 → Fulham (loan) 29 (0)
2019–2020 → Paris Saint-Germain (loan) 2 (0)
2020–2024 Paris Saint-Germain 11 (0)
2022 → Mallorca (loan) 14 (0)
2024– Al-Gharafa 0 (0)
International career
2016 Spain 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:25, 16 May 2022 (UTC)

Sergio Rico González (born 1 September 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper at Qatar Stars League club Al-Gharafa.

He began his career at Sevilla, where he twice won the Europa League while appearing in 170 competitive matches. He signed with Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, initially on loan and permanently in 2020.

Rico made his senior international debut for Spain in 2016, and was chosen for the year's European Championship.

Club career

Sevilla

Rico was born in Seville, Andalusia. He played youth football with Sevilla, spending several of his first seasons as a senior with the reserves, in Segunda División B. On 1 July 2013, he signed a new two-year deal with the club.[4]

On 14 September 2014, profiting from the injuries of both Beto and Mariano Barbosa,[5] Rico made his first-team – and La Liga – debut, starting in a 2–0 home win against Getafe.[6] He first appeared in the UEFA Europa League four days later, playing the full 90 minutes in a home victory over Feyenoord for the same scoreline.[7]

In December 2014, Rico was definitely promoted to the main squad, overtaking Barbosa in the pecking order.[8] He extended his contract with the Rojiblancos on the 16th, signing until 2017 and being awarded a place with the first team.[9] He finished the campaign with 37 appearances in all competitions, including 11 in the Europa League[10][11] which concluded with a 3–2 defeat of Dnipro in the final.[12]

In 2015–16, Rico played in Sevilla's UEFA Champions League group stage elimination but was replaced by fellow youth graduate David Soria as the team went on to win a third consecutive Europa League title.[13] He was still first choice during 2017–18, but was also involved in altercations with manager Vincenzo Montella and a group of supporters.[14]

On 9 August 2018, Rico was loaned to Fulham for one season.[15] He made his Premier League debut on 27 October, in a 0–3 home loss against Bournemouth.[16] He edged out homegrown player Marcus Bettinelli as the starter for the West London side, who were relegated to the Championship at the end of the campaign.[17]

Paris Saint-Germain

On 1 September 2019, Rico joined Paris Saint-Germain on a season-long loan deal which included an optional buyout clause.[18] His maiden appearance in Ligue 1 took place two months later in the 2–1 victory at Brest, when Keylor Navas withdrew injured before kick-off.[19]

On 29 June 2020, after the campaign had been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rico signed a two-month contract extension at the Parc des Princes.[20] On 12 August, he came on as a substitute for the injured Navas late into an eventual 2–1 win over Atalanta in the quarter-finals of the Champions League,[21] and kept his place the next round against RB Leipzig (3–0 victory).[22]

Rico signed a permanent four-year contract on 5 September 2020, the transfer fee being of €6 million.[23] Following the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma in July 2021, he was demoted to the role of third-choice.[24]

On 21 January 2022, Rico returned to Spain to join Mallorca on loan until the end of the season.[25] He made his debut on 2 February, in a 1–0 loss at Rayo Vallecano in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.[26] He quickly became the starter, overtaking veteran Manolo Reina;[27] however, after conceding six goals against relegation rivals Granada on 7 May, he returned to the bench.[28]

Rico played no minutes in any competition for PSG in 2022–23[29] and 2023–24.[30] On 29 June 2024, it was reported that he would be leaving at the end of the month.[31]

Al-Gharafa

On 29 September 2024, Rico moved to Qatar Stars League club Al-Gharafa.[32] He made his first appearance in 492 days against Al Ain in the league stage of the AFC Champions League Elite, a 4–2 home win.[33]

International career

On 26 May 2015, Rico and Sevilla teammate Aleix Vidal were the two players called up to the Spanish national team for the first time, ahead of a friendly with Costa Rica and a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Belarus,[34] but he did not play in either fixture. He was the third-choice goalkeeper for the final tournament behind Iker Casillas and David de Gea,[35] and made his debut on 1 June, replacing the former for the final 14 minutes of a 6–1 friendly win over South Korea in Salzburg.[36]

Personal life

In December 2016, Rico was given the Sport award at the Young Andalusia Prizes, receiving his honour from regional president Susana Díaz, a fan of city rivals Real Betis.[37]

During a match between PSG and Montpellier on 22 January 2021, Rico's home in Neuilly-sur-Seine was burgled.[38] His father died in March, and his teammate Navas dedicated a penalty save against Barcelona in the Champions League round of 16 to him.[39]

Rico suffered a head injury in a horse-riding accident in the Province of Huelva on 28 May 2023.[40] He was hospitalised at the Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío in Seville, with his condition being described as "serious".[41] Due to his injury, he fell into a coma for three weeks, and it was reported that per his medical report he had been "half a centimetre" from death.[42] He received numerous messages of support, notably from Paris Saint-Germain fans, players, directors and his former club Sevilla's players, who wore a shirt in his support prior to the Europa League final.[43] During PSG's final league match of the season on 3 June, fans unveiled a tifo in his honour, while players sported the player's name on the back of their shirts in the first half; at the 16th minute, in reference to Rico's number 16 jersey, he was applauded by the Parc des Princes, and following the match during the celebrations for having won the league title, captain Marquinhos lifted the trophy while sporting his teammate's name on his chest.[44][45]

On 18 August 2023, Rico was discharged from the hospital.[46]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 7 May 2022[47][48]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sevilla 2014–15 La Liga 21 0 5 0 11[a] 0 0 0 37 0
2015–16 La Liga 34 0 5 0 6[b] 0 0 0 45 0
2016–17 La Liga 35 0 1 0 8[b] 0 3[c] 0 47 0
2017–18 La Liga 24 0 6 0 10[b] 0 — 40 0
2018–19 La Liga 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 0 0 1 0
Total 114 0 17 0 36 0 3 0 170 0
Fulham (loan) 2018–19[49] Premier League 29 0 0 0 — 3[d] 0 32 0
Paris Saint-Germain (loan) 2019–20 Ligue 1 2 0 3 0 3[b] 0 2[e] 0 10 0
Paris Saint-Germain 2020–21 Ligue 1 10 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
2021–22 Ligue 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2022–23 Ligue 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023–24 Ligue 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 13 0 6 0 3 0 2 0 24 0
Mallorca (loan) 2021–22 La Liga 14 0 1 0 — — 15 0
Career total 170 0 24 0 39 0 8 0 241 0
  1. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ a b c d Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ One appearance in UEFA Super Cup, two appearances in Supercopa de España
  4. ^ Appearances in EFL Cup
  5. ^ Appearances in Coupe de la Ligue

Honours

Sevilla

Paris Saint-Germain

References

  1. ^ "2018/19 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Sergio Rico". Eurosport. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Sergio Rico: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  4. ^ Parejo, Jaime (1 July 2013). "Sergio Rico renueva dos años y hará la pretemporada con el primer equipo" [Sergio Rico renews for two years and will make the pre-season with the first team]. ABC (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  5. ^ "Beto, Barbosa present Sevilla with keeping crisis". UEFA. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Sevilla FC 2–0 Getafe". ESPN FC. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  7. ^ "Quick-fire Sevilla catch Feyenoord cold". UEFA. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  8. ^ Quintero, Fede (3 December 2014). "Sergio Rico sí se queda" [Sergio Rico does remain]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  9. ^ López, José María (16 December 2014). "Sergio Rico renueva hasta 2017" [Sergio Rico renews until 2017]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  10. ^ Fernández, Alberto (26 May 2015). "Consejo de héroes" [Council of heroes]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  11. ^ Guevara, Rocío (30 July 2015). "'Kilómetro 0' para Sergio Rico y Beto en la portería del Sevilla" ['Kilometre 0' for Sergio Rico and Beto in Sevilla's goal]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  12. ^ a b Rose, Gary (27 May 2015). "Dnipropetrovsk 2–3 Sevilla". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Sevilla make it three in row at Liverpool's expense". UEFA. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  14. ^ Sánchez-Flor, Ulises (7 April 2018). "Sergio Rico y su insostenible situación en el Sevilla por el pulgar abajo de la afición" [Sergio Rico and his unsustainable situation at Sevilla for the supporters thumbs down]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  15. ^ "Sergio Rico se marcha cedido al Fulham FC" [Sergio Rico goes out on loan at Fulham FC] (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  16. ^ Holland, Kris (27 October 2018). "Fulham 0–3 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  17. ^ Muro, Giuseppe (2 August 2019). "Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli ready to get career back on track after frustrating year". Evening Standard. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Sergio Rico signs for Paris Saint-Germain". Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  19. ^ Le Dorze, Franck (9 November 2019). "PSG: la belle première de Sergio Rico à Brest" [PSG: Sergio Rico's beautiful debut at Brest]. L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  20. ^ "Thiago Silva, Eric Choupo-Moting and Sergio Rico extend PSG stays until end of season". beIN Sports. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  21. ^ Rostance, Tom (12 August 2020). "Atalanta 1–2 Paris Saint Germain". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  22. ^ Dawkes, Phil (18 August 2020). "RB Leipzig 0–3 Paris Saint Germain". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  23. ^ "Official | PSG sign Sergio Rico for €6m from Sevilla". Get French Football News. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Sergio Rico n'est pas inquiet par la forte concurrence au poste de gardien du PSG" [Sergio Rico not worried about PSG's strong goalkeeping competition]. L'Équipe (in French). 21 September 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  25. ^ "El RCD Mallorca incorpora a Sergio Rico" [RCD Mallorca add Sergio Rico] (in Spanish). RCD Mallorca. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  26. ^ Cabot, Ricard (3 February 2022). "El estreno de los fichajes del Mallorca: dos de cal y una de arena" [Debut for Mallorca's signings: two heads and one tails]. Diario de Mallorca (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  27. ^ Alzamora, Miquel (29 March 2022). "¿Oportunidad para Reina?" [Chance for Reina?]. Última Hora (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  28. ^ Moreda, Jaime (9 May 2022). "La grada estalla contra Sergio Rico" [Crowd erupts against Sergio Rico]. Última Hora (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  29. ^ "El emotivo mensaje de la mujer de Sergio Rico: "No me dejes sola, te estamos esperando"" [Sergio Rico's wife's emotional message: "Don't leave me alone, we are waiting for you"]. Infobae (in Spanish). 30 May 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  30. ^ "PSG. Après son accident à cheval, Sergio Rico pourrait bientôt faire son retour avec les Parisiens" [PSG. Following horse accident, Sergio Rico could return for Parisians soon]. Ouest-France (in French). 11 April 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  31. ^ Vichard, Thomas; Salomon, Bruno (29 June 2024). "INFO FRANCE BLEU – Le gardien Sergio Rico ne sera pas conservé par le Paris Saint-Germain" [FRANCE BLEU INFO – Goalkeeper Sergio Rico will not be retained by Paris Saint-Germain] (in French). France Bleu. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  32. ^ Sagorin, Yannick (29 September 2024). "Sergio Rico a trouvé un nouveau club" [Sergio Rico has found a new club] (in French). Football.fr. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  33. ^ Gabarró, Fernando (2 October 2024). "¡Sergio Rico vuelve a jugar 492 días después!" [Sergio Rico plays again 492 days later!]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  34. ^ "Sevilla duo Sergio Rico and Aleix Vidal handed Spain calls". beIN Sports. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  35. ^ "Euro 2016: Diego Costa, Juan Mata & Fernando Torres not in Spain squad". BBC Sport. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  36. ^ Le Miere, Jason (1 June 2016). "VIDEO Spain 6–1 South Korea: Highlights from Salzburg friendly ahead of Euro 2016". International Business Times. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  37. ^ López, José María (21 December 2016). "Susana Díaz: 'No hay bética que premie tanto a los sevillistas'" [Susana Díaz: 'There's no Betis fan who bestows so much awards on Sevilla players]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  38. ^ Constant, Julien; Courtine, Denis (23 January 2021). "Sergio Rico, gardien remplaçant du PSG, cambriolé à Neuilly pendant le match" [Sergio Rico, PSG backup goalkeeper, burgled in Neuilly during the match]. Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  39. ^ Baheux, Romain (11 March 2021). "PSG-Barça: l'hommage de Navas et Mbappé à Sergio Rico, touché par la mort de son père" [PSG-Barça: Navas and Mbappé's tribute to Sergio Rico, struck by the death of his father]. Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  40. ^ "Sergio Rico: Paris St-Germain goalkeeper in 'serious' condition after riding accident". BBC Sport. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  41. ^ "Sergio Rico's wife gives update on the goalkeeper's health: Little by little". Marca. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  42. ^ Gates, Emmet (13 July 2023). "Medical report reveals PSG goalkeeper Sergio Rico came within 'half a centimetre of death' in horse-riding accident". Goal. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  43. ^ "Sevilla FC players show their support for Sergio Rico". News in France. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  44. ^ Summerscales, Robert (3 June 2023). "Kylian Mbappe leads PSG players and fans in show of support for Sergio Rico". Fan Nation. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  45. ^ Jucobin, Raphaël (7 June 2023). "Sergio Rico's condition improving but goalkeeper remains in intensive care". Get French Football News. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  46. ^ Rai, Guillermo (18 August 2023). "PSG's Sergio Rico discharged from hospital". The Athletic. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  47. ^ a b "Sergio Rico". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  48. ^ Sergio Rico at ESPN FC
  49. ^ "Games played by Sergio Rico in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  50. ^ "Covid-19: la saison de Ligue 1 officiellement arrêtée, le PSG sacré champion" [Covid-19: with Ligue 1 season officially halted, PSG crowned champions] (in French). France 24. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  51. ^ Bosher, Luke; Whitehead, Jacob (23 April 2022). "PSG crowned Ligue 1 champions after draw against Lens". The Athletic. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  52. ^ "PSG edge ASSE for Coupe de France win!". Ligue 1. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  53. ^ Tessier, Côme (19 May 2021). "Monaco-PSG en direct: Paris garde sa coupe après une finale presque insipide" [Monaco-PSG live: Paris retain their cup after nearly unsavoury final] (in French). RMC. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  54. ^ "PSG beats Lyon on penalty kicks to win League Cup final". The Washington Post. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  55. ^ "Neymar and Icardi fire Pochettino to first title". Ligue 1. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
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