Height: 6ft 1in
Weight: 91Kg
Date Of Birth: Jan 12 1974
Place Of Birth: Cali, Colombia
Nationality: Colombian
Date Signed: February 1998
Middlesbrough Shirt Number: 19
Middlesbrough Club Record: 134 games; 43 goals
Bought By: Bryan Robson
Sold By: Steve McClaren
Transfer Fee In: £2 million from Deportivo Cali
Transfer Fee out: Free to CSKA Sofia
Previous Clubs: Deportivo Cali (Col), Middlesbrough (Eng)
International Honours: 20+ Colombia
Club Honours: Middlesbrough Player of The Year 1998-1999
Ricard was signed from Deportivo Cali during the promotion run in, Ricard looked every inch the archetypal striker and made his debut in a 3-0 demolition of Norwich City, but did not manage to score. In fact despite appearing in every game through to the end of the season Ricard was unable to produce the form suggested by his reputation, prompting fears about how he would fair in the Premiership. However he turned this form on it's head and established himself as Boro's key striker, with a tremendous goalscoring run in the first half of the 1998/99 season. Ricard who netted his first goal for boro a month after making his first apperance became a fan favourite largely due to his Premiership form and tricky Colombian skills in the box. Ricard scored 77 goals in 160 games for Deportivo and in his last season in Colombia he was the league's leading scorer with 32 goals. Ricard prefers to play right of centre, and he has a reputation as an excellent header of the ball. Things did not stay on this track however and Ricards form faded as his confidence did; with them went Boro's chances for silverware. Upon McClarens appointment Ricard was one of the first out the door, leaving on a free transfer to CSKA Sofia on the 28th of March 2002. Steve McClaren said: "Hamilton has enjoyed several very good seasons with Middlesbrough. He was always very popular with the players, coaches and fans but we felt the time had come for him to move on. We are delighted for him the move to Sofia has gone through and wish him and his family every happiness and success."
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