Roberto Merino

Roberto Merino
Personal information
Full nameRoberto Merino Ramírez
Date of birth19 May 1982
Place of birthChiclayo, Peru
Height1.67 m (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionAttacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
Pattaya United
Number10
Youth career
1997–1998Barcelona
1998–2000Mallorca
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2000–2002Mallorca B7(0)
2003–2004Málaga B55(8)
2004–2005Servette12(3)
2005Ciudad Murcia8(0)
2005–2006Akratitos8(0)
2006–2008Atromitos42(8)
2008–2011Salernitana47(5)
2011→ Al Nasr (loan)3(0)
2011Unión Comercio8(3)
2011Juan Aurich7(0)
2012→ Nocerina (loan)29(8)
2013Deportes Tolima8(2)
2013–2014Juan Aurich12(3)
2015–Pattaya United0(0)
National team‡
2000–2001Spain U189(3)
2009–Peru1(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 September 2013.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 June 2009
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Merino and the second or maternal family name is Ramírez.

Roberto Merino Ramírez (born 19 May 1982 in Chiclayo) is a Peruvian footballer who plays for Pattaya United, as an attacking midfielder.

He also holds Spanish citizenship, which makes him eligible as an EU player.

Club career

Having moved to Spain in his teens, Merino played youth football with FC Barcelona (only one year) and RCD Mallorca. He made his senior debuts with the latter's reserves, in Segunda División B.

In January 2003 Merino moved to Atlético Malagueño, being an important midfielder element as Málaga CF's B team retained its newly acquired Segunda División status, with the player having contributed with 20 games and five goals to the promotion (playoffs included). Subsequently, he moved to Switzerland and joined Servette FC but, with the club facing bankruptcy, left in the following transfer window and signed for Ciudad de Murcia – also in Spain's second level – alongside teammate João Paulo Daniel.

Merino was signed by Atromitos F.C. in January 2006, from fellow Greek side Akratitos FC.[1] In February 2009, after two full seasons and two halves, he changed teams (and countries) again, joining Salernitana Calcio 1919 in Italy.

On 8 January 2011 Merino signed with Al Nasr Sporting Club of the Kuwaiti Premier League, on loan from Salernitana.[2] Less than one month after, however, he left the Asian club;[3] according to the player, he decided to leave because he didn't feel comfortable, and he had other objectives for his football career.[4]

On 28 February 2011, Merino signed a half-season contract with newly promoted team Unión Comercio.[5] At almost 29, this marked the first time he would be playing in the Peruvian Primera División; he stated the his main reason for joining was to earn a regular starting spot on the Peruvian national team.[6]

International career

Merino represented Spain at under-18 level, having already spent several years living in the country.

As a senior he decided to play for Peru, making his official on 7 June 2009 in a 1–2 home loss against Ecuador for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Honours

Club

Juan Aurich

Personal

Merino's younger brother, Iván, is also a footballer. A defender, he too represented Mallorca B and Salernitana.

References

External links