Andrés Ricaurte Vélez (born 3 October 1991) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ecuadorian Serie A club Emelec.

Andrés Ricaurte
Personal information
Full name Andrés Ricaurte Vélez
Date of birth (1991-10-03) 3 October 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Medellín, Colombia
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
C.S. Emelec
Youth career
Belén Los Alpes
Estudiantil
Campoamor
2010–2011 Rionegro Águilas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2015 Rionegro Águilas 14 (2)
2016 Leones 36 (10)
2017 Atlético Huila 40 (1)
2018–2023 Independiente Medellín 90 (11)
2020–2021FC Dallas (loan) 40 (2)
2024– Emelec 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 December 2023

Club career

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Born in Medellín, Ricaurte graduated from the Rionegro Águilas youth academy.[1] He made his first team debut on 4 May 2011, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–2 Copa Colombia away loss against Independiente Medellín.

Ricaurte made his Categoría Primera A debut on 14 April 2012, playing the last four minutes in a 1–1 home draw against the same opponent. His first goal in the category occurred on 10 November, as he scored the opener in a 3–2 away defeat of Atlético Huila.

After being rarely used, Ricaurte moved to Categoría Primera B side Leones ahead of the 2016 season. He scored a career-best ten goals for the side, which included a hat-trick in a 4–1 away routing of Bogotá FC on 20 March.

In 2017, Ricaurte joined Atlético Huila back in the top tier. On 15 December of that year, after being an ever-present figure for the side, he agreed to a contract with Independiente Medellín.[2]

He scored his first goal of the 2018 season on 11 February, a game winner against Boyaca Chico.[3] On 15 October he scored another game winner against América de Cali,[4] and three days later he scored in a 2–0 victory against Atlético Bucaramanga. Medellin eventually made the final of the Finalizacion tournament, but lost 5–4 to Junior. The following year, Ricaurte was part of the Medellin squad that won the 2019 Copa Colombia, and scored a goal in the first leg of the semifinals against Deportivo Pasto.[5]

On 14 August 2020, MLS side FC Dallas officially confirmed Ricaurte's transfer, announcing the move as an initial loan with an option to make the deal permanent in December 2021.[6][7] On 12 September, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 victory against Houston Dynamo.[8] On 2 May 2021, he scored in a 4–1 victory over Portland Timbers.[9] On 30 November 2021, Dallas decided not to make the deal permanent, and he was released by the club, having made 42 appearances and scored two goals.[10]

He returned to Medellin for the 2022 season, where he was part of the squad that finished runner-up in the 2022 Finalizacion, making 28 appearances in the Finalizacion tournament and scoring once in a victory against Unión Magdalena at Estadio Sierra Nevada. For the 2023 season, he was also part of the Medellin squad which finished runner-up to Junior, but was used sporadically under Alfredo Arias, and his contract was not renewed for the 2024 season.[11]

Personal life

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Ricaurte's father Carlos was also a footballer and a midfielder who notably represented Atlético Nacional. His cousin Juan Guillermo, was also a professional player.[12]

Ricaurte has a bachelor's in Business Administration, a major he got during his early years playing in Colombia, and is currently pursuing his masters in Sports Management while being enrolled at Johan Cruyff Institute.[13]

Career statistics

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As of 2 December 2020[14]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rionegro Águilas 2011 Categoría Primera A 0 0 4 0 4 0
2012 6 1 6 0 12 1
2013 4 0 7 0 0 0 11 0
2014 1 0 7 0 0 0 8 0
2015 3 1 0 0 3 1
Total 14 2 24 0 0 0 38 2
Leones 2016 Categoría Primera B 36 10 5 0 41 10
Atlético Huila 2017 Categoría Primera A 40 1 2 0 42 1
Independiente Medellín 2018 Categoría Primera A 46 5 2 0 2[a] 0 50 5
2019 37 4 8 1 2[b] 0 47 5
2020 7 2 6[b] 1 13 3
Total 90 11 10 1 10 1 110 13
FC Dallas (loan) 2020 MLS 14 1 2[c] 0 16 1
2021 26 1 26 1
Total 220 26 41 1 10 1 2 0 273 28
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
  2. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs

References

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  1. ^ "La zurda que llevó a Ricaurte a cumplir su sueño" [The left foot which took Ricaurte to fulfill his dream] (in Spanish). Kienyke. 7 April 2018. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Andrés Ricaurte es nuevo jugador del Independiente Medellín" [Andrés Ricaurte is the new player of Independiente Medellín] (in Spanish). Caracol Televisión. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  3. ^ "Un ingenuo Boyacá Chicó cayó sobre la hora 1-2 contra Medellín". futbolred.com (in Spanish). 11 February 2018.
  4. ^ "América de Cali vs. Independiente Medellín 1-2". soccerway.com. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Deportivo Pasto vs. Independiente Medellín 1-2". soccerway.com. 25 September 2019.
  6. ^ "FC Dallas Signs Midfielder Andres Ricaurte On Loan from Independiente Medellin". fcdallas.com. 14 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Official: FC Dallas sign Colombian midfielder Andres Ricaurte". mlssoccer. 14 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Jara, Ricaurte score to help FC Dallas beat Dynamo 2-1". click2houston. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  9. ^ "FC Dallas - Portland Timbers 4:1 (Major League Soccer 2021, 2. Round)". worldfootball.net. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  10. ^ "FC Dallas announces contract options for 2022, releases designated player Bryan Acosta". Dallas News. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Primera consecuencia de subtítulo: talentoso que saldría del Medellín". futbolred.com (in Spanish). 14 December 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Andrés prolonga dinastía Ricaurte" [Andrés extends the Ricaurte dynasty] (in Spanish). El Colombiano. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  13. ^ "Andrés Ricaurte: A Student on and off the Pitch". FC Dallas. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  14. ^ Andrés Ricaurte at Soccerway. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
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