Sergio Romero

At 37 years old, Sergio Romero has this physical status:

Sergio Germán Romero (born 22 February 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Manchester United's and the Argentina national team as a goalkeeper. He made his debut with Racing Club in 2007 and then moved to AZ, the Dutch club of the same season.

He won the Economy in 2009 and two years later joined Italian side Sampdoria.

On a season-long loan, he joined Monaco in 2013.

In July 2015, he joined Manchester United. Romero has been the most captained goalkeeper in Argentina's national team's history, scoring more than 90 times since his debut in 2009.

He has represented Argentina in two World Cups and three Copa América tournaments, finishing as runner-up in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, as well as in the 2015 and 2016 Copa América tournaments.

He was also a member of the 2008 Olympic team that lost gold.

Personal life

Despite being 6 foot 4 inches (1.93 m) tall, Romero is nicknamed "Chiquito" because he is so short compared to his brothers, particularly his basketball-playing brother Diego, who is 6 foot (9 inches (2.06 m) tall.

He is married to Eliana Guercio, a fellow Argentina, and they have four children together.

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Club career

Romero, a native of Bernardo de Irigoyen, Argentina, began his youth at Almirante Brown and CAI before joining Racing Club.

Romero moved from the youth to the first team of -Racing Club in 2006, marking his debut in the Argentine Primera División. Throughout the 2005 season, Romero was in the substitute bench. He remained in the substitution bench throughout the 2006 season. Despite this, he signed his first professional deal with the club.

Romero found himself playing with José Luis Martnez Gullotta in the first-choice goalkeeper role in the 2007 season. In a 1–1 draw against Nueva Chicago, Romero made his Racing Club debut on Matchday 1 of Torneo Apertura. However, Romero lost his first-choice goalkeeper to Gustavo Campagnuolo in the following match and spent two months on the sidelines. Romero made his first appearance in two months against Colón on April 14th, 2007 in a 1–1 draw against Belgrano, a week after signing for AZ in the summer. Romero made his last game for the club on June 17, 2007, defeating Godoy Cruz in 4–2 victory. Campagnuolo suffered from an injury.

Romero signed for AZ Alkmaar, who were under the care of Louis van Gaal when he joined the club on July 1st. Romero had been set to contest for the first-choice goalkeeper position with Boy Waterman.

Romero made his Ethnic debut against Heracles Almelo on September 30th, losing by 2–1. He maintained his first clean sheet for the team in his second match of the season against Twente on February 23, 2008, winning by 0–0 draw. Romero joined the team from the start, with AZ finishing 11th.

Following the transfer of Waterman to Den Haag, Romero established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper at AZ in 2008–2009. From November 2008 to February 2009, Romero maintained a 950-minute clean sheet for AZ. Romero signed a new deal with the club, keeping him on file until 2012. As AZ were defeated 2–1, he made a mistake that allowed Breda's Nourdin Boukhari to score in the quarterfinals of the KNVB Cup on March 5, 2009. He cracked the bones in his hand by punching the door and walls of his team's changing room in rage, resulting in his expulsion from the team at a crucial time of the season. AZ won the Erie in the 2008–09 season despite being on the sidelines. Joey Didulica was hospitalized in a match against Luis Suárez on April 26, 2009, when he tied for 16 minutes against Ajax in all competitions.

Van Gaal's move to Bayern Munich marked his departure from the 2009–10 season. Romero had been linked to a move away from AZ, with Juventus and Bayern Munich keen on acquiring him, but the club stayed at the club throughout the summer. Romero's season began well in the Johan Cruyff Shield, when AZ beat Heerenveen 5-1 to win the title. Romero, the first-choice goalkeeper, made his UEFA Champions League debut against Olympiacos on Matchday 1 of the Group Stage. However, he sustained a knee injury that sidelined him for a week a week later. In a 1–0 victory over Breda a week later, he returned to the first team from injury. Romero sustained a second injury, forcing him to be recalled in the first half of a 1–0 victory over Sparta Rotterdam on March 21, 2010. It was reported that Romero would be out for the remainder of the season, putting his spot in the 2010 World Cup in doubt. Despite his injuries, Romero had made 36 appearances in all competitions by the end of the 2009–2010 season.

Romero missed the start of the season in 2010–11 due to international commitment and injuries, but later, in a 1–0 win over NEC, on 19 September 2010. In the Group Stage's UEFA Europa League debut against BATE Borisov on September 30, 2010, Romero made his UEFA Europa League debut with a 1–4 loss. Romero was out of the first squad for the second time this season, due to international service and ankle injury. Romero returned to the first team on April 2nd, 2011 after spending a month on the sidelines, defeating Feyenoord by 1–0. Romero made 31 appearances in all competitions during the 2010–11 season, assisting Arizona in their 4th place in the league and qualification into the Europa League.

Manager Gertjan Verbeek chastised Romero for his unprofessional attitude at the start of the 2011 Copa América, and the club suffered to return to the club following the 2011 Copa América. As a result, Romero was held in the AZ squad until the transfer window was complete. He joined Sampdoria on August 22, 2011 and was on the 22nd of August 2011.

Romero was signed to Serie B on August 22nd, 2011, but Sampdoria had been delegated the previous season to Serie B. Romero said upon joining the club, he hoped to help the club gain promotion to Serie A.

Romero made his debut four days later against Padova in the season's first match of the season, a 2–2 draw. Despite being a first team regular, Romero skipped several games by the first half of the season due to international service, injury, and suspension. Romero managed to return to his first choice goalkeeper position after suffering injury in April. Sampdoria's season ended with them in sixth position in the playoffs, and they gained promotion to Serie A after winning over Sassuolo and Varese 1910, which he played once due to their own international commitment. Romero completed his first season with Sampdoria, making 30 appearances in all competitions.

Romero's second season as a Sampdoria goalkeeper continued to be a first-choice goalkeeper this season after losing second choice goalkeeper Angelo da Costa Jnior. In a 1–0 victory over A.C. Milan, Romero made his Serie A debut in the first match of the season, where he kept a clean sheet. In a 1–2 loss, Romero was dismissed in the 34th minute for conceding a penalty in a match against Parma on October 21, 2012. Despite appearing on the substitute for the final three remaining league games amid rumors of leaving the club, Romero continued to make 33 appearances in all sports during the 2012–2013 season. However, Romero, who said he has promised to remain at the club, denied it.

Romero was loaned to Monaco, Ligue 1, for the 2013–14 season. Romero reflected on his move to Monaco later in life, saying he did not regret his decision. In a 0–1 loss to Stade de Reims on October 30, 2013, Romero made his Monaco debut in the third round of Coupe da La League in the third round. In a 1–0 victory over Rennes on April 12, he made his league debut on Sunday. Danijel Subasi, his second choice in the leagues when the team finished runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain, but first choice in the cup competitions, playing six times.

He was often the back-up to Emiliano Viviano after returning to Sampdoria. However, Romero missed out on his first appearance against Cagliari in October 2014 after Viviano's injury. Until Viviano's return in early 2015, Romero had just a handful of first team opportunities. Romero's lack of first team opportunities in January prompted him to leave the club in January, but this never happened. Romero was a second favorite goalkeeper and never played again from the start of his career as well as injuries, as he appeared on the replacement bench and injury. Romero made eleven appearances in all leagues between 2014 and 2015.

Following this, Romero was released by the club at the end of the 2014-2015 season, when his deal came to an end, which he announced on June 6, 2015. It came after the club permitted Romero to leave the club at the end of the season.

Manchester United completed the signing of Romero on a free transfer on July 27, 2015. He wrote a three-year deal, with the possibility of extending for a further year, and reunited with his former AZ boss Louis van Gaal. "There was a miscommunication between myself and the boss, Van Gaal, when he joined the club, and he was given the number 20 shirt." I asked him what squad number I wanted, and I said 22. However, he must have believed I'd said 21 because he told me if I wanted to know the number, I'd have to go and talk with Ander Herrera. Anyway, Nick Powell's birthday had recently risen to 22, so I guess no.20 will do fine."

Romero made his Premier League debut on August 8, 2015 against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, with David de Gea withdrawn from the team amid transfer rumors and Vyctor Valdés out of favour with boss Van Gaal. His appearance was described as "nervy," but United won the match thanks to two pivotal saves. In his first three league matches for United, he did not give up. After de Gea's failure to leave the club in the summer, he rejoined the first team, making Romero the second choice goalkeeper. Despite this, Romero was the first choice in cup competitions.

Romero continued to be the first choice goalkeeper in cup competitions, including the club's Europa League campaign, where new manager José Mourinho said he deserved to play in. Romero beat Zorya Luhansk 1–0 on September 29, 2016, giving him his first clean sheet of the season. Pundits lauded Romero's performance in a 4–0 win over Feyenoord. Following this, Romero kept three more clean sheets in the UEFA Europa League matches, in which he kept two in both legs against Saint-Étienne. Romero made a crucial save against Rostov's free-kick in the second leg of a match against Rostov, which helped Manchester United advance to the next round. In the January transfer window, Romero turned to his hometown with Boca Juniors. Romero defeated Ajax 2–0 in the 2017 Europa League final, where he kept a clean sheet in the 2–0 victory.

Romero was reported to have signed a new deal extension with the Manchester United until 2021 on July 16, 2017.

In a 4–0 victory over his former club AZ in a Europa League group stage match on December 12, he kept a clean sheet, bringing his total number of clean sheets to 62% of his matches for the club to 62%.

After being unable to play for the entirety of the 2020-2021 season, Romero is expected to become a free agent as a result of his deal's expiration. He played 61 games for the club during his six seasons, mainly as the second fiddle to De Gea and mainly as the goalkeeper for the cup matches, with 39 clean sheets.

Venezia made a free transfer to Romero on October 11, 2021.

Romero retired to Argentina after 15 years playing in Europe, and signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Boca Juniors on August 8, 2022.

International career

Romero represented Argentina at the 2007 South American Youth Championship in Paraguay and the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, where Romero was first included in Argentina's Argentine pick for a friendly match against Norway and against Australia, which Argentina also won.

He was recalled by Sergio Batista for the Olympics, and he replaced injured Oscar Ustari at the 2008 Summer Olympics football tournament. Romero competed in the 2006 Toulon Tournament, where they were eliminated in the Group Stage, prior to that.

Romero was elevated to the full senior team by then coach Diego Maradona's debut in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying against Paraguay and representing Uruguay in Montevideo, which saw Argentina qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He appeared in all five of Argentina's World Cup games, culminating in the disqualification of Romero, who was fighting for Juan Pablo Carrizo's first choice goalkeeper position.

Romero's place in the World Cup was in question prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup as a result of an injury, but not in Arizona. However, Romero recovered from injury and was included in the team. In a 1–0 victory, Romero won his first World Cup match against Nigeria, where he kept a clean sheet. Romero continued to be the first choice goalkeeper throughout the World Cup campaign until they were eliminated in a 0–4 loss against Germany.

Romero was a member of Sergio Batista's Copa América squad, in which Argentina, the hosts, lost on penalties to eventual champion Uruguay in the quarterfinals. Romero had two clean sheets against Colombia and Costa Rica during the tournament. He retained his position as the top pick under new coach Alejandro Sabella for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Despite a lack of first team opportunities whilst at Monaco, Romero was Argentina's starting goalkeeper at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Argentina defeated the Netherlands 4–2 to advance to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final on July 13th, where he earned himself Man of the Match by saving kicks from Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder. Romero was selected on the three-man shortlist for FIFA's Golden Glove award for the tournament's best goalkeeper, thanks to his contribution that led his team to the final on July 11.

Romero saved Juan Camilo Zaga in the penalty shoot-out at the end of Argentina's goalless quarter-final against Colombia in Via del Mar, 2015; although three takers did not score their penalties, this was the only save at the tournament.

Romero was included in Argentina's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia by Jorge Sampaoli on May 21, but the day after the announcement, she was later ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury.

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