Enzo Roco

Enzo Pablo Roco Roco (born Enzo Pablo Andía Roco; 16 August 1992) is a Chilean professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Saudi Professional League side Al-Tai and the Chile national team.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Roco and the second or maternal family name is Roco.
Enzo Roco
Roco playing for Chile in 2016
Personal information
Full name Enzo Pablo Roco Roco[1]
Date of birth (1992-08-16) 16 August 1992
Place of birth Ovalle, Chile
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Al-Tai
Number 5
Youth career
2000–2007 Academia Municipal Ovalle
2008–2011 Universidad Católica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2015 Universidad Católica 92 (8)
2014–2015 → Elche (loan) 32 (1)
2015–2016 O'Higgins 0 (0)
2015–2016 → Espanyol (loan) 33 (2)
2016–2018 Cruz Azul 51 (3)
2018–2020 Beşiktaş 17 (0)
2020–2021 Fatih Karagümrük 30 (3)
2021–2023 Elche 52 (1)
2023– Al-Tai 4 (0)
International career‡
2009 Chile U17 3 (1)
2012– Chile 32 (1)
Medal record
Men's Football
Representing  Chile
Copa América Centenario
Winner2016 USA
FIFA Confederations Cup
Runner-up2017 Russia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 August 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:42, 6 March 2022 (UTC)

Club career

Born in Ovalle, Roco joined Universidad Católica's youth setup in 2008 from the Academia Municipal de Fútbol Ovalle (Municipal Football Academy of Ovalle), aged fifteen.[2] He was definitely promoted to the first-team in 2011, and played his first match as a professional on 8 May 2011, starting and being sent off in a 0–0 home draw against Unión Española.

On 24 September Roco scored his first professional goal, but in a 3–2 loss at Santiago Morning.[3] He established himself as a starter in the following campaigns, being an ever-present figure during the club's Primera División and Copa Chile titles.

On 31 July 2014, Roco joined La Liga side Elche CF on loan with a buyout clause.[4] He made his debut in the competition on 31 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 home draw against Granada CF.[5]

On 31 July 2015, Roco moved to fellow league club RCD Espanyol, on loan from O'Higgins for one year with an option to buy.[6][7]

On 28 June 2016, Eduardo de la Torre announced the arrival of Enzo along with Chilean teammate Francisco Silva.[8] After, the municipal council of Ovalle declared him an Hijo Ilustre ('Honoured son') of the community.[2]

Roco joined Turkish side Beşiktaş on a four-season contract on 27 July 2018.[9] The contract between Beşiktaş and Roco was mutually terminated grounded upon conclusion that Roco to be paid his pending receivables worthing €700,000, on 6 September 2020.[10] On 7 September 2020, another Süper Lig contestant Fatih Karagümrük S.K. announced that Roco joined their team.[11]

On 9 July 2021, it was announced that Roco would rejoin Elche on a two-year deal, coming back after six years to play for former manager Fran Escribá.[12]

On 28 July 2023, he signed with Al-Tai in the Saudi Professional League.[13]

International career

After appearing with the under-17 squad in 2009, Roco made his debut with the main squad on 15 February 2012, starting and playing the full 90 minutes of a 2–0 loss against Paraguay.[14] He scored his first international goal on 22 March, netting his side's second of a 3–1 home win against Peru.[15]

On 13 May 2014, Roco was named in Jorge Sampaoli's 30-man list for 2014 FIFA World Cup,[16] but was one of the seven players cut from the final list.

Personal life

On 8 July 2014 Roco changed his surname Andía to Roco, honoring his mother and grandfather.[17]

Career statistics
As of match played on 24 June 2021
Scores and results list Chile's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Roco goal.
List of international goals scored by Enzo Roco
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
121 March 2012Estadio Carlos Dittborn, Arica, Chile Peru2–13–1Friendly

Honours

Universidad Católica U18

  • Campeonato Fútbol Joven: 2009[2]

Universidad Católica

Chile

Individual

  • Hijo Ilustre de Ovalle: 2016[2]

References
  1. "Enzo Roco". Sitio oficial de Cruz Azul Fútbol Club A.C. Archived from the original on 15 June 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  2. "Declaran Hijo Ilustre de Ovalle a Enzo Roco". El Observatodo (in Spanish). 6 July 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  3. "Santiago Morning aplicó duro cachetazo 3-2 a U. Católica en Santa Laura" [Santiago Morning gives hard shock, 3–2 in U. Católica at Santa Laura] (in Spanish). El Dínamo. 24 September 2011. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  4. "El Elche C.F. cierra la cesión de Enzo Roco" [Elche C.F. completes loan of Enzo Roco] (in Spanish). Elche's official website. 31 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  5. "Elche snatch last-gasp equalsier". ESPN FC. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  6. "Enzo Roco, quart fitxage" [Enzo Roco, fourth signing] (in Catalan). Espanyol's official website. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  7. "Declaración pública O'Higgins FC". Archived from the original on 3 August 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  8. "Cruz Azul confirma a Enzo Roco y Francisco Silva como refuerzos". 28 June 2016.
  9. "Enzo Roco resmen Beşiktaş'ta" (in Turkish). NTV Spor. 27 July 2018. Archived from the original on 6 September 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  10. "Son Dakika: Beşiktaş'ta Enzo Roco ile yollar ayrıldı!" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. 6 September 2020. Archived from the original on 6 September 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  11. "Enzo Roco, Fatih Karagümrük'te!" (in Turkish). Fanatik. 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 8 September 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  12. "OFICIAL | Enzo Roco, segundo fichaje del Elche CF". OFICIAL | Enzo Roco, segundo fichaje del Elche CF | Elche - Web Oficial (in Spanish). 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  13. ""Muy feliz por esta oportunidad": un chileno da el salto a la "liga del momento"". www.24horas.cl (in Spanish). 24 Horas. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  14. "Un irregular Chile cayó por 2-0 en duelo amistoso ante Paraguay" [An irregular Chile lost 2–0 in a friendly match against Paraguay] (in Spanish). Emol. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  15. "Peru loses to Chile 3–1". Peru This Week. 22 March 2012. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  16. "Sampaoli names provisional Chile squad". FIFA.com. 13 May 2014. Archived from the original on 16 July 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  17. "Enzo Andía se cambió el apellido y ahora es Enzo Roco" [Enzo Andía changed his nickname an now is Enzo Roco] (in Spanish). Triunfo. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
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