Jason Romero (soccer)

Jason Romero (born February 27, 1995) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for NPL NSW club APIA Leichhardt.[1]

Jason Romero
Personal information
Full name Jason Romero
Date of birth (1995-02-27) February 27, 1995[1]
Place of birth San Jose, California, United States[2]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 APIA Leichhardt
Number 9
Youth career
2012–2014 US Development Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Pima College[3] 22 (29)
2016 UCLA Bruins[2] 11 (5)
2017 Portland Pilots[4] 15 (8)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 FC Tucson 4 (0)
2018 St George FC 13 (13)
2019 Nyköpings BIS 12 (5)
2019 Umeå FC 13 (3)
2020–2021 St George City 22 (26)
2022–2023 APIA Leichhardt 31 (15)
2023 Macarthur FC 5 (1)
2023– APIA Leichhardt 7 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 September 2023

Early life

Romero was born in San Jose to Ignacio and Evangelina Romero where he grew up watching and playing soccer.[2] He attended Evergreen Valley High School and played for the school's soccer team, becoming their leading goalscorer in 2011.[5]

Club career

Youth career

As a youth, Romero trained under the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. During his time at the academy, he played against professional clubs preferably academies teams of the MLS where he would frequently score against.[6][7][8] In March 2013, he was called into the U.S. National Youth Camps after receiving player of the week in his previous match where he scored the game-winning goal.[9] Due to his goalscoring talent, it earned him a trial at the Colorado Rapids and interest from top clubs in the United States and Mexico.[10]

College career

Romero played in Arizona for Pima Community College. He was the top goalscorer for the college, breaking the record for most goals scored in a season and winning the ACCAC Division I Player of the Year.[11]Additionally, he was named in the NJCAA All-American soccer team.[12][13] The college finished third in the division and Romero left soon after to move back to California.[14]

On February 3, 2016, Romero moved to UCLA Bruins.[14]

FC Tucson

On April 27, 2018, Romero signed with FC Tucson among 5 other new signings.[15] Romero helped Tucson advance to the second round of the U.S. Open Cup scoring a goal in a 2-1 win over Máquina.[16] Romero scored again in the second round but his side eventually lost 4-2 to Las Vegas Lights.[17]

St George FC

Romero joined Australian club St George FC in 2018. He played in the NPL NSW 2 grand final where he scored a hattrick and eventually won the title on penalties against Mounties Wanderers.[18]

Sweden

On January 24, 2019, Romero signed with Swedish club Nyköpings BIS.[19] On April 8, 2019, He made his league debut against Gefle.[20] Romero was the clubs top goalscorer before departing mid-season, scoring 5 goals in the league and two goals in the Swedish Cup.[21]

On July 7, 2019, Romero signed with 1st Division rivals Umeå on a 1 year deal.[22] He made his club debut as substitute in a 2-1 win against Vasalunds, coming on in the 75th minute for Isaac Boye.[23] On October 21, 2019, Romero scored his first goal for the club against Rynninge.[24] On November 25, 2019, it was announced that Romero's contract was not to be extended and was allowed to leave the club as a free agent.[25][26]

Return to Australia

On March 4, 2020, Romero signed with St George City as a marquee player ahead of the 2020 season.[27][28] During his two years at the club, Romero helped his club go top of the league for the first time since getting promoted but due to COVID-19 the season was cancelled and no title was given.[29]

On September 25, 2021, Romero signed with APIA Leichhardt after his impressive form with St George City.[30] He remained prolific during the 2022 season, scoring a hat-trick against former NSL giant Sydney Olympic and helped his side defeat A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers in a 2-1 upset in the FFA Cup.[31][32][33] At the end of the season, Romero was announced in the league's Team of the Year with APIA teammate Themba Muata-Marlow.[34]

Romero was announced to play in the 2023 NPL NSW season for APIA.[35] He started the season scoring 4 goals against South Sydney club Rockdale Ilinden in a 6-0 home win.[36]

Macarthur FC

On February 24, 2023, Romero signed with Macarthur FC as an injury replacement for star player Ulises Dávila who was recovering from a knee injury.[37][38][39][40] Romero made his professional club debut on March 5, being substituted on, in a 3-2 league win against Brisbane Roar.[41] A week after starting his first game for the club, on March 19, he scored his first professional goal against Melbourne City at the 26th minute of the match.[42] On May 18, a statement was released that Romero and five others were released by the club after their contracts expired.[43] In total, he made 5 appearances for Macarthur and 1 goal.[44]

Return to APIA

On June 21, 2023, APIA announced Romero re-signing during their mid-season transfer window.[45]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played March 10, 2023[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC Tucson 2018 USL League Two4022——62
Total 4022——62
St George FC 2018 NPL NSW 21313———1313
Total 1313———1313
Nyköpings BIS 2019 Division 112532——157
Total 12532——157
Umeå 2019 Division 113310——143
Total 13310——143
St George City 2020 NPL NSW 277———77
2021 1519———159
Total 2226———2226
APIA Leichhardt 2021 NPL NSW0032——32
2022 241110——2511
2023 34———34
Total 271542——3117
Career total 9162106000010168
  1. Includes U.S. Open Cup, Swedish Cup and Australia Cup

Honors

St George FC

Individual

References
  1. Jason Romero at Soccerway
  2. "Jason Romero". UCLA.
  3. "Jason Romero". Pima Community College.
  4. "Jason Romero - Men's Soccer". University of Portland Athletics.
  5. "CCS SOCCER: GHS boys bow out in quarterfinals". Gilroy Dispatch. February 26, 2011.
  6. "Defense carries De Anza Force to first place". ESPN.
  7. "Development Academy: De Anza Force U-18s take fifth against shorthanded Chivas USA". SoccerWire.
  8. "Academy: U16s draw with De Anza | San Jose Earthquakes". San Jose Earthquakes.
  9. "Development Academy Player of the Week". www.socceramerica.com.
  10. "Youth striker talks about trial in Mexico". TopDrawerSoccer.
  11. "Romero Named ACCAC Player of the Year; Four Tapped All-ACCAC/Region I". October 27, 2015.
  12. "Romero Named NJCAA All-American, Make Pima Soccer History". December 4, 2015.
  13. "2015 NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer All-America Teams". NJCAA.
  14. "Men's Soccer Player Romero Signs Leter to Play at UCLA". February 3, 2016.
  15. "FC Tucson Signs Quintet from Pima Community College". FC Tucson.
  16. Prezelski, Ted. "FC Tucson advances in U.S. Open Cup with win over La Máquina". TucsonSentinel.com.
  17. "2018 US Open Cup round 2: Las Vegas Lights win USOC debut, 4-2 over upset-minded FC Tucson". thecup.us.
  18. Devoy, Laura (September 20, 2018). "Penalty shootout earns St George grand final win". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader.
  19. "Jason Romero klar för Nyköping" (in Swedish). Nyköpings BIS.
  20. "Nyköping vs. Gefle - 7 April 2019". Soccerway.
  21. "Så är läget med Bissarnas skyttekung". sn.se.
  22. "Jason Romero klar för Umeå FC" (in Swedish). Umeå FC. July 7, 2019.
  23. "Vasalund vs. Umeå - 4 August 2019". Soccerway.
  24. "Umeå vs. Rynninge - 20 October 2019". Soccerway.
  25. "El Baad och Romero lämnar Umeå FC" (in Swedish). UFC. November 25, 2019.
  26. Andersson, Björn (November 25, 2019). "Ex-Bissaren får lämna nya superettanlaget". sn.se (in Swedish).
  27. "PLAYER SIGNING | JASON ROMERO". St George City. March 4, 2020.
  28. "Australian Football Services - ***GREAT NEWS*** AUSFS Sports Management family would like to welcome International & St George City FC marquee player JASON ROMERO. | Facebook".
  29. "Football NSW Cancel 2021 National Premier Leagues Season". MyFootball. August 12, 2021.
  30. Stavroulakis, Mark (September 24, 2021). "Jason Romero to spearhead APIA's 2022 attack". NPL NSW Men's. Football NSW.
  31. "Superstar Romero slays Olympic". NPL NSW Men's. Football NSW. May 1, 2022.
  32. Jackson, Ed (December 7, 2021). "APIA screamer knocks Wanderers out of Cup". Border Chronicle.
  33. Gallo, John (December 7, 2021). "APIA Leichhardt beat Western Sydney Wanderers in FFA Cup" (in French). REDACAOEMCAMPO.
  34. Stavroulakis, Mark (August 8, 2022). "2022 NPL NSW Men's Team of the Year Announced". NPL NSW Men's. Football NSW.
  35. "Romero seeking redemption as APIA look to build in 2023". NPL NSW Men's. Football NSW. January 20, 2023.
  36. "Illinden smashed by ruthless APIA". NPL NSW Men's. Football NSW. February 12, 2023.
  37. "Yanks very much: A-League Bulls bag prolific American striker". FTBL. February 24, 2023.
  38. "Bulls sign American striker". Macarthur FC. March 1, 2023.
  39. "Jason Romero swaps the NPL for A-League". NPL NSW Men's. Football NSW. March 1, 2023.
  40. "Macarthur's Romero bids to make most of ALM chance". FTBL. March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  41. "What Sterjovski wants to see from Macarthur after a chaotic 95th-minute win". KEEPUP. March 5, 2023.
  42. "Macarthur vs. Melbourne City - 19 March 2023". Soccerway. March 19, 2023.
  43. "Six to depart the Bulls". Macarthur FC. May 18, 2023.
  44. "Jason Romero (Forward, Macarthur FC): 2022-23". Ultimate A-League.
  45. Stavroulakis, Mark (June 21, 2023). "Romero returns to boost APIA Leichhardt FC's Premiership hopes". NPL NSW Men's.
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