Sergio Romero

Racing Club

Romero passed from the youth to the first team of Racing Club de Avellaneda in 2006, making his debut in the Argentine Primera Division.

AZ

In 2007, Romero signed for AZ, managed by Louis van Gaal. Due to an injury to first-choice goalkeeper Boy Waterman, Romero made his Eredivisie debut on 30 September against Heracles Almelo, eventually becoming a regular as the team came 11th.

In 2008–09, Romero kept a 950-minute clean sheet for AZ from November to February. However, on 5 March 2009, he made a mistake which allowed NAC Breda's Nourdin Boukhari to score for a 2–1 defeat in the quarter-finals of the KNVB Cup; he responded after the game by punching the door and walls of his team's changing room, breaking bones in his hand and ruling himself out at a crucial stage of the season. He returned on 26 April after Joey Didulica got injured in a clash with Luis Suarez. As AZ won the Eredivisie, he made his debut with the club in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League in the following season.

Sampdoria

On 22 August 2011, Romero was signed by UC Sampdoria for €2.1 million in a 4-year contract, relegated the previous season to Serie B. He made his debut four days later at home against Calcio Padova. The season ended with Sampdoria in sixth place, and after victories over U.S. Sassuolo Calcio and AS Varese 1910 in the playoffs, they earned promotion to Serie A.

For the 2013–14 season, Romero was loaned to AS Monaco of Ligue 1. Second choice behind Danijel Subasic, he played three league games as the team finished as runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain. After his return to Sampdoria, he was most often the backup to Emiliano Viviano.

Manchester United

On 27 July 2015, Manchester United completed the signing of Romero on a free transfer. He penned a three-year contract, with the option to extend for a further year, and reunited with his former AZ manager Van Gaal. With David de Gea withdrawn from the squad amidst transfer speculation, and Victor Valdes out of favour with manager Louis van Gaal, Romero made his Premier League debut on 8 August as the season opened with a 1–0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford. His distribution was described as "nervy" but produced two crucial saves that helped United win the game. He did not concede in his first three league games for United.

International career

Romero represented Argentina at the 2007 South American Youth Championship in Paraguay and at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada where on 8 August 2007 Romero was first included in the Argentine selection for a friendly match against Norway and against Australia, which Argentina also went on to win. He replaced injured Oscar Ustari at the 2008 Summer Olympics football tournament.

Romero was called up to the full senior side by then coach Diego Maradona debuting on 9 September 2009 in a 1–0 win FIFA World Cup qualifier against Paraguay and playing in the win against Uruguay in Montevideo that saw Argentina qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He played in all five of Argentina's World Cup matches which ended at the quarter-final stage.

Romero was part of Sergio Batista's 2011 Copa America squad in which Argentina the hosts lost to Uruguay on penalties in the quarter-finals. He retained his position as number one choice under new coach Alejandro Sabella for the ongoing 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Romero was Argentina's starting goalkeeper at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In the semi-final, he earned himself Man of the Match by saving kicks from Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder as Argentina defeated the Netherlands 4–2 in a penalty shootout to reach the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final. On 11 July, Romero was named on the three-man shortlist for FIFA's Golden Glove award for the tournament's best goalkeeper due to his performances that led his team to the final.

At the 2015 Copa America, Romero saved from Juan Camilo Zuniga in the penalty shoot-out at the end of Argentina's goalless quarter-final against Colombia in Vina del Mar; although five takers did not score their penalties, this was the only save.

Career statistics

National team statistics

Club

International

Personal life

Despite being 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall, Romero is nicknamed "Chiquito" as he is relatively short compared to his brothers, in particular his professional basketball-playing brother Diego. He is married to model Eliana Guercio, with whom he has a daughter.