Fran Rico

Francisco Manuel "Fran" Rico Castro (born 3 August 1987) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a midfielder.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Rico and the second or maternal family name is Castro.

Fran Rico
Personal information
Full name Francisco Manuel Rico Castro
Date of birth (1987-08-03) 3 August 1987
Place of birth Portonovo, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1997–2001 Portonovo
2001–2005 Pontevedra
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 Pontevedra 60 (3)
2008–2011 Real Madrid B 50 (10)
2011–2019 Granada 111 (9)
2016–2018 → Eibar (loan) 17 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 June 2019

Formed at Pontevedra, he spent most of his career – riddled with injury problems – at Granada, appearing in 117 competitive matches.[1] In La Liga, he also played with Eibar.

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.[2]

Mainly a substitute in his first year, he became an important part of the Galicians' squad in the following seasons.

Real Madrid

Rico joined Real Madrid in summer 2008, 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.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5]

In the first round of 2010–11, Rico found the net against Coruxo FC in a 3–2 home win.[6] 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.[7] On 25 September, he scored his first La Liga goal in only his second league game for his new team: after replacing Moisés Hurtado at half-time, he netted the equaliser in an eventual 1–1 home draw against CA Osasuna.[8]

In April 2012, Rico was sidelined for the rest of the season after suffering another injury to his right knee.[9][10] He also missed the entirety of the following campaign.[11]

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.[12]

On 26 August 2016, Rico was loaned to fellow top tier side SD Eibar for two years.[13] He missed the entire 2017–18 season, due to the same ailment.[14][15]

Returning to Granada for 2018–19, Rico only appeared in one league match during the campaign for the runners-up.[16] On 16 July 2019, he terminated his contract.[17]

Career statistics
As of 3 July 2018[18]
Club Season League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Pontevedra 2005–06 31—31
2006–07 241—241
2007–08 36130—391
Total 6333000663
Real Madrid B 2008–09 31——31
2009–10 184——184
2010–11 316——316
Total 521100005211
Granada 2011–12 19210—202
2012–13 0000—00
2013–14 32210—332
2015–16 28231—313
Total 979610010310
Eibar 2016–17 17250—222
Total 1725000222
Career total 229251410024326
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References
  1. "El pulso de Fran Rico contra su rodilla" [Fran Rico's fight against his knee] (in Spanish). Ideal. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  2. El Pontevedra cobrará 250.000 euros por Fran Rico (Pontevedra will receive €250,000 for Fran Rico) Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine; Diario de Pontevedra, 3 July 2008 (in Spanish)
  3. El filial del Real Madrid comienza la Liga con buen pie (Real Madrid reserves start league on the right foot) Archived 7 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine; Real Madrid CF, 31 August 2010 (in Spanish)
  4. Fran Rico inicia su recuperación (Fran Rico starts rehabilitation) Archived 6 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine; Real Madrid CF, 6 October 2008 (in Spanish)
  5. 4–2: Querer es poder (4–2: When there's a will there's a way) Archived 25 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine; Real Madrid CF, 8 November 2009 (in Spanish)
  6. 3–2: The youth team takes the first three points at stake Archived 2 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine; Real Madrid CF, 29 August 2010
  7. Fran Rico ficha por el Granada (Fran Rico signs for Granada); Marca, 5 August 2011 (in Spanish)
  8. Granada and Osasuna share spoils; ESPN Soccernet, 25 September 2011
  9. Fran Rico, lesionado para el resto de temporada (Fran Rico, injured for rest of the season); Marca, 14 April 2012 (in Spanish)
  10. Fran Rico: "Estad tranquilos, que volveré" (Fran Rico: "Don't worry, i'll be back"); Ideal, 16 August 2012 (in Spanish)
  11. Fran Rico será baja toda la temporada tras su operación (Fran Rico will miss entire season after surgery); Ideal, 25 January 2013 (in Spanish)
  12. Fran Rico renueva por cinco temporadas (Fran Rico renews for five seasons) Archived 26 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine; Granada CF, 26 February 2015 (in Spanish)
  13. 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)
  14. El infierno de Fran Rico (The hell of Fran Rico); Marca, 18 September 2017 (in Spanish)
  15. Confirmado: Fran Rico no jugará esta temporada (Confirmed: Fran Rico will not play this season); Cadena SER, 10 January 2018 (in Spanish)
  16. "Fran Rico vuelve dos años y cuatro meses después" [Fran Rico returns two years and four months later] (in Spanish). Be Soccer. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  17. "Comunicado | El Granada CF y Fran Rico acuerdan su desvinculación del club" [Announcement | Granada CF and Fran Rico agree his release from the club] (in Spanish). Granada CF. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  18. "Fran Rico". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
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