Ricky Yacobi

Ricky Yacobi (born Ricky bin Yacub; 12 March 1963 – 21 November 2020) was an Indonesian football player. He usually played as a striker and was one of the most prominent Indonesian footballers of the 1980s. His nickname was the "Indonesian Paul Breitner". He made a name for himself at the 1986 Asian Games when he led the Indonesian national football team. In 1988, Japanese club Matsushita (currently known as Gamba Osaka) bought him, but he failed to make an impact with the team because of the climate and weather conditions. He only played 6 games for the side, scoring one goal.

Ricky Yacobi

Yacobi in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Ricky bin Yacub
Date of birth	(1963-03-12)12 March 1963
Place of birth	Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Date of death	21 November 2020(2020-11-21) (aged 57)
Place of death	Jakarta, Indonesia
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1979–1985	PSMS Medan
1986–1991	Arseto Solo	41	(23)
1988	Matsushita	6	(1)
National team
1985–1990	Indonesia	31	(5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

After retiring, he opened a football school called Sekolah Sepak Bola (SSB) Ricky Yacobi in Jakarta, which he operated. He also served as manager of one of the first Indonesian division clubs, Jakarta Matador FC.

On 21 November 2020 Yacobi died of a heart attack while playing football with several former national team players and journalists at Senayan A Field, Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex. One of his teammates said that Ricky suddenly fell when he was about to celebrate after scoring a goal. He was rushed to the nearby Mintohardjo Naval Hospital, but to no avail.[1]