Mikel Rico Moreno is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for SD Huesca. After spending much of his career in Spain's lower divisions with Conquense, Polideportivo Ejido and Huesca, he achieved promotion to La Liga with Granada in 2011, moving to Athletic Bilbao two years later. He amassed totals of 200 matches and 15 goals in the top division over eight seasons before returning to Huesca in summer 2019.
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 RC 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; he featured in 94 matches in all competitions over his first two season – starting the vast majority – including all of his team's matches in the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League campaign, and culminating in the final defeat to FC Barcelona for the Copa del Rey. Thereafter, he was used less frequently by head coachErnesto Valverde, appearing in 30 fixtures during 2015–16 and 23 during 2016–17 but often as a late substitute. Under José Ángel Ziganda in 2017–18, it appeared Rico's spell at the club was coming to an end as he made no league appearances at all in the first portion of the campaign after recovering from some physical issues, even as the new coach tried out various squad members to find the optimal personnel for his tactics. However, after finally being introduced to the team from the bench during a match against Villarreal CF on 19 November 2017, shortly after his 33rd birthday, he became a regular starter again, playing the entirety of the next eight league matches and two in the Europa League in which Athletic remained undefeated. On 2 February 2018, 33-year-old Rico signed a contract extension running until June 2019. In early 2019, it was announced that he would leave at the end of the season when that contract ended. The club's final home match involved tributes to him, as well as fellow long-serving squad members Ander Iturraspe and Markel Susaeta who were also departing in similar circumstances.
