Julio César Romero

Julio César Romero Insfrán (born 28 August 1960 in Luque, Paraguay), nicknamed Romerito, 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.[1][2]

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)
Position(s) Attacking Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1979 Sportivo Luqueño 113 (33)
1980–1983 New York Cosmos 104 (37)
1983–1988 Fluminense 211 (59)
1989 FC Barcelona 7 (1)
1989–1990 Puebla 81 (16)
1990–1991 Sportivo Luqueño 35 (11)
1992 Olimpia Asunción 24 (9)
1993–1994 Sportivo Luqueño 43 (13)
1995 Deportes La Serena 3 (1)
1995 Club Cerro Corá 1 (0)
1996–1998 Sportivo Luqueño 66 (33)
Total 626 (180)
National team
1979–1990 Paraguay 64 (26)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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.[3]

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.[4][5] 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.

Honours

Club
New York Cosmos
Fluminense
FC Barcelona
Puebla F.C.
Olimpia

International
Paraguay

Individual

Facts
  • Romero is the equal 3rd highest goalscorer in the history of the Paraguay national team with 13 goals.
  • Romero is a politician for the Colorado Party in his native city of Luque and works as a city counselor.[6]
  • In September 2006 Romero made his debut as a rock singer in the Paraguayan music festival called "Pilsen Rock". He took the stage as a guest of the popular local band Revolber and sang the opening words of the song "Siete hermanos, 1 misil" in front of a crowd of 40,000.[7]

References
  1. http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20140330/hemeroteca/25-anos-del-fichaje-poco-exitoso-de-romerito-por-el-barca_54405273089.html
  2. https://futbol.as.com/futbol/2015/03/21/primera/1426909310_951901.html
  3. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1123797/1/index.htm
  4. World Cup 1986 qualifications by Karel Stokkermans, Sergio Henrique Jarreta and Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
  5. World Cup 1986 finals by Karel Stokkermans, Sergio Henrique Jarreta and Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
  6. Infoluque article
  7. Marca article
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