Sergio 'Chiquito' Romero retires from professional football and launches his coaching career

At 39 years old and after his last experience at Argentinos Juniors, Sergio “Chiquito” Romero decided to end his career as a professional soccer player and is already planning his immediate future as technical director.

The missionary evaluated some proposals to continue working during the last pass market, but he had one clear condition: not to move from Buenos Aires. As the offers he received did not end up convincing him and family issues also weighed on him, the idea of hanging up the gloves began to gain strength in recent weeks

.

Romero had already been preparing for that step. In 2023, while playing in Boca, he became a coach and built his own coaching staff. Even months ago, I had anticipated that I would not rule out starting a new phase off the court. “If it doesn't happen, I'm ready to cross the line and start a career that will surely be beautiful,” he said in an interview with dSports Radio

.

The now former goalkeeper had also speculated about the possibility of returning to Racing, the club where he formed, after the departure of Gabriel Arias. However, his relationship with Avellaneda's management did not end on good terms and coach Gustavo Costas decided

to look for other alternatives.

With the decision taken, Romero is already clear about the role he wants to play. “I have everything planned and put together for the moment I decide. I'm going to take the plunge without any problem. I watch a lot of soccer, I like to watch it in all countries and leagues, until promotion. My style as a coach? As Menotti said, football is about moments, names and adapting to your squad. Playing in Europe and being led by Van Gaal, Mourinho, Tata Martino and Alejandro Sabella gave me tools to find my way,” he explained

months ago.

Romero thus closes an extensive career of almost 500 matches between clubs and national teams. Emerging in Racing, he made the leap to European football with AZ Alkmaar and then went to Sampdoria, Monaco, Manchester United and Venezia before returning to the country to wear the Boca shirt. In 2025, he briefly spent time with Argentinos Juniors, where he played the last games of

his career.

With the Argentine National Team he left a historic mark: with 96 appearances, he is the goalkeeper who defended the Albiceleste goal the most times. He was champion of the 2007 Under-20 World Cup in Canada and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, as well as starting in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and a key figure in the team that reached the final in Brazil 2014

.

Now, after closing his stage under three sticks, Romero is preparing to start a new story in football, this time from the bench

of substitutes.

The final numbers of Romero's career Over the

course of almost 20 years of his career, the Bernardo de Irigoyen native played 33,184 minutes at club level, spread over 371 games, in which he scored 351 goals and kept the fence undefeated 150 times.

In terms of titles, he won 7: Eredivisie (2008/09), Netherlands Super Cup (2009), FA CUP (2015/16), Community Shield (2016), Europa League (2016/17), EFL Cup (2016/17) and Argentine Super Cup (2022).

In parallel, during his career with the Argentine national team, Chiquito played 8,697 minutes, spread over 96 games, in which he conceded 69 goals and was undefeated 47 times. With Albiceleste, despite the multiple finals played with the largest, it was only crowned twice in youth: 2007 U-20 World Cup

and 2008 Olympic Gold.