Julio César Romero

Football player infobox
playername = Romerito


fullname = Julio César Romero
height =
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1960|8|28
cityofbirth = Luque
countryofbirth = Paraguay
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = creative midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1977-1979
1980-1983
1983-1988
1988-1989
1989-1990
1990-1991
1992
1993-1994
1995
1995
1996
clubs = Sportivo Luqueño
New York Cosmos
Fluminense
FC Barcelona
Puebla
Sportivo Luqueño
Olimpia Asunción
Sportivo Luqueño
Deportes La Serena
Club Cerro Corá
Sportivo Luqueño
caps(goals) = ? (?)
88 (28)
78 (19)
7 (1)
? (?)
? (?)
? (?)
? (?)
3 (1)
? (?)
? (?)
nationalyears = 1979-1990
nationalteam = Paraguay
nationalcaps(goals) = 32 (13)
pcupdate = July 2007

Julio César Romero "Romerito" (born August 28, 1960 in Luque, Paraguay) was a Paraguayan football midfielder considered among the best players in Paraguayan football history. He was the only Paraguayan footballer 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 Romerito'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, Romerito played the Copa América which was eventually won by Paraguay.

In 1980 he joined now defunct New York Cosmos where he played alongside such greats as Carlos Alberto and Franz Beckenbauer.

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.

After a short spell with FC Barcelona in Spain and a stint in Mexico with CF Puebla 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 more than 400 goals.

Titles

Awards

*South American Footballer of the Year in 1985
*Paraguayan 1st Division topscorer in 1990
*FIFA top 125 greatest living footballers

Facts

*Romero is the equal 3rd highest goalscorer in the history of the Paraguay national team with 13 goals.
*Romerito is a politician for the Colorado Party in his native city of Luque and works as a city counselor. [ [http://www.infoluque.com.py/deportes/04romerito.htm Infoluque article] ]
*In September 2006 Romerito 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. [ [http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/barcelona/es/desarrollo/689651.html Marca article] ]

References

External links

* [http://futbolfactory.futbolweb.net/index.php?ff=historicos&f2=00001&idjugador=570 Romerito Bio (in Spanish)]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofoI7dAqtjQ Romerito's debut as a rock singer (video)]
* [http://www.midfielddynamo.com/cups/ca/10_heroes.htm#SectionRomero Midfield Dynamo's 10 Heroes of the Copa América] Romerito listed in the top 10