Jason Romero (born February 27, 1995) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Liga 2 club Nusantara United.

Jason Romero
Personal information
Date of birth (1995-02-27) 27 February 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth San Jose, California, United States
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Nusantara United
Number 10
Youth career
Mohave
2012–2014 De Anza Force
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014 Yavapai Roughriders 23 (22)
2015 Pima Aztecs 23 (32)
2016 UCLA Bruins 11 (2)
2017 Portland Pilots 15 (3)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Ventura County Fusion 4 (1)
2017 Myrtle Beach Mutiny 5 (1)
2018 FC Tucson 0 (0)
2018–2019 St George City 13 (13)
2019 Nyköping 12 (5)
2019 Umeå 13 (3)
2020–2021 St George City 24 (27)
2021–2023 APIA Leichhardt 24 (11)
2023 Macarthur FC 5 (1)
2023 APIA Leichhardt 14 (6)
2024 St George City 25 (5)
2024– Nusantara United 9 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 November 2024

Early life

edit

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.[3]

Club career

edit

Youth and collegiate soccer

edit

Romero started playing soccer at the De Anza Force youth academy.[4] He committed to playing college soccer at the Yavapai College, where he went on to score 22 goals in 23 games.[4] He continued this prolific form when he transferred to the Pima Community College for 2015, scoring 32 in 23.[4][5] He transferred again for 2016, scoring twice in 11 games for the UCLA Bruins, before another transfer, this time to the Portland Pilots, where he scored three times in 15 appearances.[4][6]

FC Tucson

edit

On April 27, 2018, Romero signed with FC Tucson among 5 other new signings.[7] Romero helped Tucson advance to the second round of the U.S. Open Cup scoring a goal in a 2–1 win over Máquina.[8] Romero scored again in the second round but his side eventually lost 4–2 to Las Vegas Lights.[9]

St George FC

edit

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.[10]

Sweden

edit

On January 24, 2019, Romero signed with Swedish club Nyköpings BIS.[11] On April 8, 2019, He made his league debut against Gefle.[12] Romero was the clubs top goalscorer before departing mid-season, scoring 5 goals in the league and two goals in the Swedish Cup.[13]

On July 7, 2019, Romero signed with 1st Division rivals Umeå on a 1-year deal.[14] He made his club debut as substitute in a 2–1 win against Vasalunds, coming on in the 75th minute for Isaac Boye.[15] On October 21, 2019, Romero scored his first goal for the club against Rynninge.[16] 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.[17][18]

Return to Australia

edit

On March 4, 2020, Romero signed with St George City as a marquee player ahead of the 2020 season.[19][20] 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.[21]

On September 25, 2021, Romero signed with APIA Leichhardt after his impressive form with St George City.[22] 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.[23][24][25] At the end of the season, Romero was announced in the league's Team of the Year with APIA teammate Themba Muata-Marlow.[26]

Romero was announced to play in the 2023 NPL NSW season for APIA.[27] He started the season scoring 4 goals against South Sydney club Rockdale Ilinden in a 6–0 home win.[28]

Macarthur FC

edit

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.[29][30][31][32] Romero made his professional club debut on March 5, being substituted on, in a 3-2 league win against Brisbane Roar.[33] 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.[34] On May 18, a statement was released that Romero and five others were released by the club after their contracts expired.[35] In total, he made 5 appearances for Macarthur and 1 goal.[36]

Return to APIA

edit

On June 21, 2023, APIA announced Romero re-signing during their mid-season transfer window.[37]

Return to St George City

edit

On January 31, 2024, it was announced that Romero had departed the Leichhardt club for a return to St George City under Mirko Jurilj.[38]

Nusantara United

edit

On 4 September 2024, Romero officially signed a contract with Indonesian club Nusantara United. He was brought in during the initial transfer window of the 2024–25 Liga 2 season.[39]

Career statistics

edit

Club

edit
As of match played March 10, 2023[40]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ventura County Fusion 2016[41] USL PDL 4 1 0 0 0 0 4 1
Myrtle Beach Mutiny 2017[42] 5 1 0 0 0 0 5 1
FC Tucson 2018 0 0 2[b] 2 0 0 2 2
St George FC 2018 NPL NSW 2 13 13 13 13
Total 13 13 13 13
Nyköpings BIS 2019 Division 1 12 5 3 2 15 7
Total 12 5 3 2 15 7
Umeå 2019 Division 1 13 3 1 0 14 3
Total 13 3 1 0 14 3
St George City 2020 NPL NSW 2 7 7 7 7
2021 15 19 15 9
Total 22 26 22 26
APIA Leichhardt 2021 NPL NSW 0 0 3 2 3 2
2022 24 11 1 0 25 11
2023 3 4 3 4
Total 27 15 4 2 31 17
Career total 96 64 10 6 0 0 0 0 106 70
  1. ^ Includes U.S. Open Cup, Swedish Cup and Australia Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in the U.S. Open Cup

Honors

edit

St George FC

Individual

References

edit
  1. ^ Jason Romero at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ "Jason Romero". UCLA.
  3. ^ "CCS SOCCER: GHS boys bow out in quarterfinals". Gilroy Dispatch. 26 February 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d "UCLA Bruins - Jason Romero". uclabruins.com. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  5. ^ Gold, Jon (8 December 2015). "Pima College: Teams help soccer stars to top". tucson.com. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Portland Pilots - Jason Romero". portlandpilots.com. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  7. ^ "FC Tucson Signs Quintet from Pima Community College". FC Tucson.
  8. ^ Prezelski, Ted. "FC Tucson advances in U.S. Open Cup with win over La Máquina". TucsonSentinel.com.
  9. ^ "2018 US Open Cup round 2: Las Vegas Lights win USOC debut, 4-2 over upset-minded FC Tucson". thecup.us. 22 May 2018.
  10. ^ Devoy, Laura (20 September 2018). "Penalty shootout earns St George grand final win". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader.
  11. ^ "Jason Romero klar för Nyköping" (in Swedish). Nyköpings BIS.
  12. ^ "Nyköping vs. Gefle - 7 April 2019". Soccerway.
  13. ^ "Så är läget med Bissarnas skyttekung". sn.se.
  14. ^ "Jason Romero klar för Umeå FC" (in Swedish). Umeå FC. 7 July 2019.
  15. ^ "Vasalund vs. Umeå - 4 August 2019". Soccerway.
  16. ^ "Umeå vs. Rynninge - 20 October 2019". Soccerway.
  17. ^ "El Baad och Romero lämnar Umeå FC" (in Swedish). UFC. 25 November 2019.
  18. ^ Andersson, Björn (25 November 2019). "Ex-Bissaren får lämna nya superettanlaget". sn.se (in Swedish).
  19. ^ "PLAYER SIGNING | JASON ROMERO". St George City. 4 March 2020.
  20. ^ "Australian Football Services - ***GREAT NEWS*** AUSFS Sports Management family would like to welcome International & St George City FC marquee player JASON ROMERO. | Facebook". Facebook.
  21. ^ "Football NSW Cancel 2021 National Premier Leagues Season". MyFootball. 12 August 2021.
  22. ^ Stavroulakis, Mark (24 September 2021). "Jason Romero to spearhead APIA's 2022 attack". NPL NSW Men's. Football NSW.
  23. ^ "Superstar Romero slays Olympic". NPL NSW Men's. Football NSW. 1 May 2022.
  24. ^ Jackson, Ed (7 December 2021). "APIA screamer knocks Wanderers out of Cup". Border Chronicle.
  25. ^ Gallo, John (7 December 2021). "APIA Leichhardt beat Western Sydney Wanderers in FFA Cup" (in French). REDACAOEMCAMPO.
  26. ^ a b Stavroulakis, Mark (8 August 2022). "2022 NPL NSW Men's Team of the Year Announced". NPL NSW Men's. Football NSW.
  27. ^ "Romero seeking redemption as APIA look to build in 2023". NPL NSW Men's. Football NSW. 20 January 2023.
  28. ^ "Illinden smashed by ruthless APIA". NPL NSW Men's. Football NSW. 12 February 2023.
  29. ^ "Yanks very much: A-League Bulls bag prolific American striker". FTBL. 24 February 2023.
  30. ^ "Bulls sign American striker". Macarthur FC. 1 March 2023.
  31. ^ "Jason Romero swaps the NPL for A-League". NPL NSW Men's. Football NSW. 1 March 2023.
  32. ^ "Macarthur's Romero bids to make most of ALM chance". FTBL. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  33. ^ "What Sterjovski wants to see from Macarthur after a chaotic 95th-minute win". KEEPUP. 5 March 2023.
  34. ^ "Macarthur vs. Melbourne City - 19 March 2023". Soccerway. 19 March 2023.
  35. ^ "Six to depart the Bulls". Macarthur FC. 18 May 2023.
  36. ^ "Jason Romero (Forward, Macarthur FC): 2022-23". Ultimate A-League.
  37. ^ Stavroulakis, Mark (21 June 2023). "Romero returns to boost APIA Leichhardt FC's Premiership hopes". NPL NSW Men's.
  38. ^ Stavroulakis, Mark (30 January 2024). "ST GEORGE CITY SWOOP FOR JASON ROMERO". Football NSW.
  39. ^ "Kepingan 𝘱𝘶𝘻𝘻𝘭𝘦 terakhir kita 🧩 Ucapkan selamat datang untuk striker baru Nusantara United FC, Jason Romero! 🟢🟡 #nusantaraunited #nusantaraunitedfc #satuNUsasatubangsa #contiNU2grow". www.instagram.com (in Indonesian). 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  40. ^ Jason Romero at Soccerway
  41. ^ "2016 Statistics". uslleaguetwo.com. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  42. ^ "2017 Statistics". uslleaguetwo.com. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  43. ^ "Romero Named ACCAC Player of the Year; Four Tapped All-ACCAC/Region I". 27 October 2015.
edit