Richi (footballer)

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Richi, full name Ricardo Pérez de Zabalza Goytre, (born 14 April 1977 in Madrid) is a Spanish former footballer who played mainly as an attacking midfielder. He is 1.87 m tall and started playing organized football at age 23 with CF Rayo Majadahonda in Madrid, after beginning as a striker. He then spent two seasons with Atlético Madrid’s reserve team.

In 2002 he joined Real Murcia CF, helped them win promotion, and made his La Liga debut on 31 August 2003 in a 1–1 draw with RC Celta de Vigo. He became a regular starter as Murcia returned to the top flight in 2007. In August 2008 he moved to CD Tenerife in the Segunda División, scoring six goals in 36 matches as Tenerife earned promotion to La Liga. The following season he played less and Tenerife were relegated in 2010. In the summer of 2010 he returned to Murcia, who were also relegated to the second tier.

Richi spent most of his career with Real Murcia, totaling about 308 appearances and 36 goals in Spain’s top two divisions. He studied energy engineering at the Technical University of Madrid.