Enrique Fernández Romero (born 23 June 1971) is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played as a left-back.
He played for four clubs during his professional career over 16 seasons – notably Deportivo which he helped win four major titles, including its only La Liga championship – amassing top-division totals of 396 games and 14 goals.[2]
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[3] and contributing 34 and one goal[4] in the 1999–2000 campaign as Depor won its first national championship.[5]
In summer 2006, after being ousted by younger Joan Capdevila – although he was a very reliable defensive unit, sometimes being deployed as central defender[6]– Romero signed with Real Betis.[7] After a sole season, which coincided with the emergence of new signing Fernando Vega,[8] 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.[9] He represented the nation at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea, playing three times for the eventual quarter-finalists.[10][11][12]
^Toledano, Jesús (2 July 2015). ""Tuve una oferta del Real Madrid"" [I had an offer from Real Madrid]. Diario de Jerez (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 May 2016.
