Enrique Romero

Club career Born in Jerez de la Frontera, Province of Cádiz, Romero started his professional career with La Rioja's CD Logroñés. He totalled only three La Liga games in his first two seasons but was first-choice in 1993–94, with the team again managing to retain their division status.

After having represented Valencia CF and RCD Mallorca, never appearing in less than 30 league matches during his spell at both clubs, Romero joined Deportivo de La Coruña in 1998. There, he blossomed into an attacking left-back, notably playing 50 UEFA Champions League matches for the Galicians and contributing 34 and one goal in the 1999–2000 campaign as Depor won its first national championship.

In summer 2006, after being ousted by younger Joan Capdevila – although he was a very reliable defensive unit, sometimes being deployed as central defender – Romero signed with Real Betis. After a sole season, which coincided with the emergence of new signing Fernando Vega, he opted to retire from professional football at the age of 36, having appeared in more than 500 competitive matches (nearly 400 in the Spanish top division).

International career Romero won ten caps for Spain, his first appearance coming on 23 February 2000 in a friendly with Croatia, in Split. He represented the nation at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea, playing three times for the eventual quarter-finalists.

Honours Deportivo La Liga: 1999–2000 Copa del Rey: 2001–02 Supercopa de España: 2000, 2002

Mallorca Copa del Rey runner-up: 1997–98