Tiko (footballer)

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Tiko
Tiko.jpg
Tiko in 2008
Personal information
Full name Roberto Martínez Rípodas [1]
Date of birth (1976-09-15) 15 September 1976 (age 48) [1]
Place of birth Pamplona, Spain [1]
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) [1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Osasuna
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1995–1997 Osasuna B 62 (7)
1997–1999 Osasuna 38 (7)
1999–2009 Athletic Bilbao 198 (21)
2008–2009 → Eibar (loan) 16 (0)
Total314(35)
International career
2002 Spain 1 (0)
2003–2006 Basque Country 3 (0)
Managerial career
2017–2019 Basconia (assistant)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Roberto Martínez Rípodas (born 15 September 1976), known as Tiko, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central or a defensive midfielder.

Contents

He was known for his powerful shots [2] and creative play, his long-range efforts being dubbed Tikotazo. He represented mainly Athletic Bilbao in a 14-year senior career, appearing in 230 competitive games for his main club over nine La Liga seasons and scoring 26 goals. [3] [4]

Tiko appeared once for the Spain national team.

Club career

Born in Pamplona, Navarre, Tiko was a product of his hometown club CA Osasuna's youth system, alternating between the main squad and the reserves for some time, with the former competing in the Segunda División. [5] His professional debut came on 10 May 1997, as he scored an injury time-winner away against CD Badajoz (1–0). [6] [7]

In 1999–2000, Tiko signed with neighbours Athletic Bilbao, making his La Liga debut on 12 October 1999 in a 4–3 away victory over Málaga CF. [8] He made 20 appearances in all competitions during the campaign, netting once. [9]

Tiko was an undisputed starter for the Basques from 2001 to 2006, often scoring from free kicks and dictating his team's play. In his final two seasons he was severely hampered by injuries [10] [11] and the emergence of Carlos Gurpegui and Javi Martínez, playing only seven league matches during this timeframe. [12]

In August 2008, deemed surplus to requirements, Tiko joined second-tier side SD Eibar on a one-year loan deal. [13] He was immediately released upon his return to Athletic following the former's relegation, and retired shortly after at the age of 33. [14]

Subsequently, Tiko embarked on a coaching career. In 2015, he joined the staff of Athletic's reserves under his former Osasuna teammate José Ángel Ziganda; [15] in 2017, he became assistant manager of CD Basconia (the former's farm team), working with Ander Alaña. [16]

International career

Tiko topped a successful 2001–02 season – 32 games, seven goals [17] – with his sole cap for Spain, [18] playing in a friendly with the Netherlands on 27 March 2002 as the nation lost 1–0 in Rotterdam. [19] [20]

Personal life

Tiko's younger brother, Francisco, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He played exclusively in the lower leagues, representing Osasuna B as well. [21]

Tiko's uncle Patxi was also involved in the sport, also being a midfielder and also beginning his career at Osasuna before moving to Athletic Bilbao. [22] [15] [21]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Roberto Martínez Rípodas TIKO". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  2. ↑ "Spain round-up: Tiko inspires win". UEFA. 12 January 2002. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Tiko gana su séptima caja de cerveza" [Tiko wins his seventh crate of beer]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 18 March 2002. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  4. ↑ "Goals with their own name: Tikotazos" (in Spanish). Athletic Bilbao. 6 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  5. ↑ Cirarda, Joserra (19 December 2009). "Dos de los nuestros" [Two of our own]. Deia (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  6. ↑ Masedo, Fernando (11 May 1997). "El Osasuna resucita en Badajoz" [Osasuna come back to life in Badajoz]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  7. ↑ "La cantera de Martín" [Martín's youth system]. Noticias de Navarra (in Spanish). 28 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  8. ↑ Barrero, Eduardo (13 October 1999). "El Athletic gana en Málaga un duelo que perdía 3–2 en el minuto 88" [Athletic win in Málaga clash they lost 3–2 in the 88th minute]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  9. ↑ "Málaga CF, un adversario incómodo en San Mamés" [Málaga CF, tough opponent at San Mamés]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 17 February 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  10. ↑ "Athletic dealt Tiko injury blow". UEFA. 9 October 2006. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  11. ↑ "El Athletic pierde a Tiko por seis meses" [Athletic lose Tiko for six months]. Sport (in Spanish). 10 October 2006. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  12. ↑ Olivares, David (4 July 2008). "Tiko asume su marcha del Athletic tras nueve años" [Tiko acknowledges Athletic departure after nine years]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  13. ↑ Ciordia, Fernando; Zuza, Santiago (27 December 2008). "Con las botas a otra parte" [Taking your boots elsewhere]. Diario de Navarra (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  14. ↑ Ugarte Lasagabaster, Amaia (3 June 2009). "Una regeneración completa, o casi, para una nueva etapa" [Complete regeneration, or nearly, for a new spell]. Gara (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  15. 1 2 "Tiko se incorpora al cuerpo técnico del Bilbao Athletic" [Tiko added to coaching staff of Bilbao Athletic] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  16. ↑ "Lezama technical chart". Athletic Bilbao. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  17. ↑ "Memoria de La Liga de Fútbol Profesional | Temporada 2001/2002" [Memory of the Professional Football League | 2001/2002 season](PDF) (in Spanish). La Liga . Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  18. ↑ García, Alberto (21 January 2010). "Tiko: "Se ha vuelto un equipo muy peligroso"" [Tiko: "They are now a very dangerous team"]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  19. ↑ "Tiko, Capi, De Pedro y César Martín, novedades de Camacho para el amistoso ante Holanda" [Tiko, Capi, De Pedro and César Martín, Camacho new faces for friendly against the Netherlands]. Libertad Digital (in Spanish). 22 March 2002. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  20. ↑ Gascón, Javier (28 March 2002). "Ensayo preocupante" [Worrying rehearsal]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  21. 1 2 Artexe, José Luis (22 October 2011). ""Aunque mamé Osasuna en casa, soy del Athletic: me enganchó por cómo se vive"" ["Even though I was weaned on Osasuna at home, I'm an Athletic fan: I was hooked by the way people live"]. Deia (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  22. ↑ "Tiko: "La crispación con el Athletic es más rentable para el gobierno navarro" (II)" [Tiko: "The tension with Athletic is more profitable for the Navarrese government (II)"] (in Spanish). Sentimiento Athletic. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
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