Enrique Romero

Enrique Fernández Romero (born 23 June 1971) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a left back.

For the Spanish swimmer, see Enrique Romero (swimmer). For the Spanish comics artist, see Enrique Badía Romero.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Fernández and the second or maternal family name is Romero.
Enrique Romero
Personal information
Full name Enrique Fernández Romero
Date of birth (1971-06-23) 23 June 1971
Place of birth Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
Flamenco Jerez
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1991 Sanluqueño 32 (0)
1991–1993 Logroñés B 65 (6)
1992–1994 Logroñés 32 (4)
1994–1997 Valencia 91 (5)
1997–1998 Mallorca 38 (3)
1998–2006 Deportivo La Coruña 218 (2)
2006–2007 Betis 17 (0)
Total 493 (20)
National team
2000–2004 Spain 10 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He played for four clubs during his professional career over 16 seasons – notably Deportivo which he helped win four major titles, including its only La Liga championship – amassing top division totals of 396 games and 14 goals.[1]

Romero represented Spain at the 2002 World Cup.

Club career

Born in Jerez de la Frontera, Province of Cádiz, Romero started his professional career with La Rioja's CD Logroñés. He appeared in only three La Liga games in his first two seasons combined but was first-choice in 1993–94, with the team again managing to retain their division status.

After having represented Valencia CF and RCD Mallorca, never appearing in less than 30 league matches during his spell with both clubs combined, Romero joined Deportivo de La Coruña in 1998. There, he blossomed as a very attacking left-back, notably playing in 50 UEFA Champions League matches for the Galicians and contributing with 34 games and one goal[2] in the 1999–2000 campaign as Depor won its first national championship.

In summer 2006, after being ousted by younger Joan Capdevila – although he was a very reliable defensive unit, never making less than 17 appearances and sometimes playing as central defender[3]– Romero signed with Real Betis.[4] After a sole season, which coincided with the emergence of new signing Fernando Vega, he opted to retire from professional football at the age of 36, having played in more than 500 official matches (nearly 400 in the Spanish top division).

International career

Romero won ten caps for Spain, his first appearance coming on 23 February 2000 in a friendly match with Croatia, in Split.[5] He represented the nation at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea, playing three matches for the eventual quarter-finalists.[6]

Honours

Deportivo

Mallorca

References
  1. Toledano, Jesús (2 July 2015). ""Tuve una oferta del Real Madrid"" ["I had an offer from Real Madrid"]. Diario de Jerez (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  2. Hermida, Xosé (22 November 1999). "Goles del Depor para la fiesta gallega" [Depor goals for Galician party]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  3. "Romero, otro lateral reconvertido" [Romero, another reconverted fullback]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 7 May 2003. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  4. Torres, G.; García, E. (8 July 2006). "Enrique Romero ya pasó el reconocimiento médico" [Enrique Romero has already passed medical]. ABC (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  5. Gascón, Javier (24 February 2000). "Molina, héroe por un día" [Molina, heroe for a day]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  6. Enrique Romero – FIFA competition record
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