Julio César Romero

For the Brazilian footballer, see Romero Mendonça Sobrinho.
Romerito
Personal information
Full name Julio César Romero Insfrán
Date of birth (1960-08-28) 28 August 1960
Place of birth Luque, Paraguay
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1979 Sportivo Luqueño ? (?)
1980–1983 New York Cosmos 88 (28)
1983–1988 Fluminense 78 (19)
1988–1989 FC Barcelona 7 (1)
1989–1990 Puebla 17 (2)
1990–1991 Sportivo Luqueño ? (?)
1992 Olimpia Asunción ? (?)
1993–1994 Sportivo Luqueño ? (?)
1995 Deportes La Serena 3 (1)
1995 Club Cerro Corá ? (?)
1996–1998 Sportivo Luqueño ? (?)
National team
1979–1990 Paraguay 32 (13)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of July 2007.


Julio César Romero Insfrán, nicknamed Romerito (born 28 August 1960 in Luque, Paraguay) is a former football midfielder from Paraguay, considered among the best players in Paraguayan football history. He is the only Paraguayan named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.

Career

Romero started his career at local club Sportivo Luqueño in 1977, by 1979 Romero's consistent performances had earned him a place in the Paraguay national football team that played in the FIFA World Youth Championship and was considered one of the best players of the tournament along with Diego Maradona. In the same year, Romero played a key role in Paraguay's win in the Copa América, scoring three goals.

In 1980 he joined now defunct New York Cosmos where he played alongside such greats as the Brazilian and German World Cup winning captains of 1970 and 1974 Carlos Alberto and Franz Beckenbauer. In the 1980 Soccer Bowl he scored the game-winning goal of a 3–0 victory over Ft. Lauderdale.[1]

Romero moved to Brazil to play for Fluminense where he was selected as the South American Footballer of the Year in 1985. He became a fan favorite after leading the team to a Campeonato Brasileiro.

In 1986 he was a key player in helping the Paraguayan national team return to the FIFA World Cup finals after a 28-year hiatus.[2][3] At the finals in Mexico, he scored against Iraq and the host nation in the first round.

After a short spell with FC Barcelona in Spain and a stint in Mexico with Puebla F.C. Romero returned to South America where he played out his career with Olimpia, Club Cerro Corá and Sportivo Luqueño in Paraguay and La Serena in Chile.

During his career, he scored a little more than 400 goals.

Titles

Season Team Title
1979Paraguay Paraguay Copa América
1980United States New York Cosmos NASL Champion
1982United States New York Cosmos NASL Champion
1984Brazil Fluminense Brazilian Championship
1984Brazil Fluminense Campeonato Carioca
1985Brazil Fluminense Campeonato Carioca
1989Spain FC Barcelona UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
1989-90Mexico Puebla F.C. Primera División
1989-90Mexico Puebla F.C. Copa Mexico
1992Paraguay Olimpia Torneo República

Awards

Facts

References

  1. ↑ http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1123797/1/index.htm
  2. ↑ World Cup 1986 qualifications by Karel Stokkermans, Sergio Henrique Jarreta and Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
  3. ↑ World Cup 1986 finals by Karel Stokkermans, Sergio Henrique Jarreta and Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
  4. ↑ Infoluque article
  5. ↑ Marca article
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