WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Railhawks sign former La Liga star Romero

Feb 5, 2009

(Cary, NC)  The Carolina RailHawks announced Thursday the signing of La Liga star and Uruguayan International midfielder Marcelo Romero Pending League, USSF approval and International clearance. Romero will be at training camp from the beginning, on February 9, and will make his debut in orange at the “Community Shield” on Saturday March 14, when the RailHawks host the New England Revolution.

“I am extremely happy to begin a new adventure in the United States,” said midfielder Marcelo Romero. “This is a market with great potential and I am excited to see this franchise grow and have an impact on the local community. I am hungry to have success here; we need to match these brilliant facilities with the team on the field.”

“It is great for the Carolina RailHawks to have signed a player that has the standing in the game that Marcelo Romero has,” said RailHawks Head Coach Martin Rennie. “Most players can only dream of playing in a top European league and representing their country in the World Cup, but Marcelo has done this and more. He has developed his skills against some of the best known players in the world and has worked under some fantastic coaches. It is important for us to have some experienced players in our squad and Marcelo certainly brings that.”

Marcelo Romero Silva was born in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1976 and began his career at the age of 18 with Defensor of Montevideo in Uruguay’s First Division. He then transferred to Peñarol in 1996 where he helped the team win three Uruguayan National Titles and participated in three Copa Libertadores, the equivalent of the UEFA Champions league.

In 2001 Marcelo transferred to Malaga of Spain’s La Liga Primera División (Spanish First Division) where he immediately became a star in his role as defensive midfielder culminating in the La Liga Best Player in his Role award in 2002 and 2005. At Malaga he played in 130 matches scoring five goals and played alongside or against great athletes like Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Ronaldinho. In addition Romero helped the team reach the quarter finals of the 2003-2004 UEFA Cup after leading them to victory in the UEFA Intertoto.

Romero was also a staple with the Uruguayan National Team. He made his debut in 1995 and participated in two Copa America’s and in the 2002 World Cup where he appeared against Thierry Henry, Trezeguet and other European greats.

After seven years at Malaga, Romero transferred to Andalusian club Lucena CF. At the end of the 2008 season Romero had the opportunity to stay in Europe but decided to come to the United States and embark on a new chapter of his professional career. Thanks to Score One Soccer, a local agency serving the needs of individual soccer players, clubs, and top level Professional Soccer Teams all over the world, Romero was acquired by the RailHawks and is sure to be a staple on the 2009 Carolina RailHawks roster.