Hamilton Ricard

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Hámilton Ricard Cuesta (born January 1, 1974 in Chocó) is a Colombian footballer who plays as a striker, and has played for Deportivo Cali, Middlesbrough, CSKA Sofia, Independiente, Emelec, Shonan Bellmare, Numancia and Danubio F.C.over the course of his career.

Ricard was signed by Bryan Robson for a fee of £2million in 1998, and scored 33 goals in 92 starts (with 23 substitute appearances) over a four-year Middlesbrough career. He was twice Middlesbrough's top scorer. When Steve McClaren took over the reins, Ricard was deemed surplus to requirements and allowed to move to CSKA Sofia on a free transfer.

Since leaving Middlesbrough, Ricard courted controversy both on and off the pitch. In 2002, he was involved in a car accident that killed a passenger, and was banned from football for twelve months for attacking a referee and making obscene gestures to the crowd while playing for Guayaquil side Emelec. The ban was reduced on appeal, and since then, Ricard attempted to move back to Europe to rejuvenate his career. He briefly played in Cyprus for APOEL, before signing a year's deal with Numancia for the 2005-2006 season. He played 16 times, scoring 2 goals. After he moved to Danubio F.C in Uruguay where he scored 12 goals and played a key role helping Danubio to win the Uruguayan 2006/07 season. In June 2007 he tried with Chinese Superleague team Shanghai Shenhua, subsequently signing a contract with the Chinese club.

Ricard has represented Colombia 27 times, scoring five goals.

On January 24, 2007, Ricard was sentenced to three years in prison for the 2002 car incident. His lawyers have indicated an appeal is likely.

v • d • e Colombia squad – 1997 Copa América 1 Mondragón • 2 Córdoba • 3 Aspirilla • 4 Santa • 5 Bermúdez • 6 Pérez • 7 Zuleta • 8 Estrada • 9 Aristizábal • 10 Mafla • 11 Asprilla • 12 Calero • 13 Cabrera • 14 Gaviria • 15 Mosquera • 16 Moreno • 17 Ricard • 18 Bonilla • 19 Escobar • 20 Pacheco • 21 Zapata • 22 Morantes • Coach: Gómez

v • d • e Colombia squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 O. Córdoba • 2 I. Córdoba • 3 Palacios • 4 Santa • 5 Bermúdez • 6 Serna • 7 de Ávila • 8 Lozano • 9 Valencia • 10 Valderrama • 11 Asprilla • 12 Calero • 13 Cabrera • 14 Bolaño • 15 Aristizábal • 16 Moreno • 17 Estrada • 18 Pérez • 19 Rincón • 20 Ricard • 21 Preciado • 22 Mondragón • Coach: Gómez

v • d • e Colombia squad – 1999 Copa América 1 O. Córdoba • 2 I. Córdoba • 3 Cortés • 4 Viveros • 5 Bermúdez • 6 Ramírez • 7 Congo • 8 Lozano • 9 Bonilla • 10 Morantes • 11 Zambrano • 12 Higuita • 13 Bolaño • 14 Betancourth • 15 Portocarrero • 16 González • 17 Montaño • 18 Quintana • 19 Ricard • 20 Grisales • 21 Yepes • 22 Julio • Coach: Álvarez