He shone in Huracán and San Lorenzo, he is an idol in Mexico and reveals Maradona’s support when he was kidnapped for 65 days: “It was the most difficult moment of my life”

Ruben Omar Romano made his professional debut in 1978 with the jersey of Hurricane from Patricios Park. After going through various teams in Mexico (América, León, Necaxa, Puebla) and the now-defunct Los Angeles Aztecs of the United States (partly owned by Elton John), the midfielder returned to Argentina to wear the colors of Saint Lawrence of Almagrowhere he stood out for a season, being part of the “Cambodians” squad.

“We played for the people, not for ourselves,” says the former midfielder who wore the Barça shirt 31 times in the 1987/8 season, before returning to the country that adapted it. In Aztec lands he hung up his boots at the age of 35 because he “wanted to leave soccer before the ball left me.” In this way, and after his retirement, he was technical assistant of Ricardo La Volpe in Atlante, América, and Atlas, until in 1998 he started his career as a coach in Mexican soccer, where today he commands Mazatlán FC in the highest category.

“I would like to lead in the Argentine league, but coming from outside is complicated, since the circle is very closed,” he says. Beyond his past as a footballer and his present as a coach, he had to go through two adversities that marked his life forever. On July 19, 2005, he was the victim of a kidnapping when an armed group detained him as he left the Cruz Azul facilities, where he was the counselor for the Primera team, and held him for 65 days in a house located in the Agrarista neighborhood. Mexican, being rescued on September 21 of the same year. “It was the most difficult moment of my life, without a doubt,” he confesses in dialogue with infobae.

After having overcome that tragic event, fate put another hard stone in his path. Because on February 16, 2021 he had to undergo heart surgery at a hospital in Guadalajara, after suffering a heart attack. “It was because he smoked a lot,” the 64-year-old reveals.

– What is your life, Ruben?

– I have spent almost my entire life in Mexico, I have lived in this country for 43 years. I arrived in 1980 as a player and made my career as a coach. Currently, I am managing Mazatlán FC in Guadalajara. I am very comfortable and comfortable after so many years, always trying to direct in another part of the world, in search of other things. But doors don’t open that easily and Mexico is my home.

– A couple of years ago you underwent heart surgery. How is your health?

– I’m barbaric, I was spectacular. I am with all the strength to move on. He had clogged arteries because she smoked a lot. They had to uncover me and that’s why I went through the operating room. Since 2021 I don’t smoke anymore and I feel one hundred percent. It didn’t cost me anything to quit smoking because it was overnight, and it was the best thing I ever did. But I must do check-ups often to prevent.

– After living abroad for so long, do you miss being in Argentina?

– No, I already have a life made in this country. I often go to Argentina to visit part of my family. Here I have my mother and a brother, beyond the fact that a sister lives there. Until 1995 I was a player and three years later I started my career as a coach. I’m still Argentine because I never became a Mexican national. I am a permanent resident. I have a Mexican daughter and grandchildren. I miss a little because Argentina will always be my country, but I am already very adapted to life here.

– Do you keep any customs from your country of origin?

– Yes, I drink mate every day and eat roast brought from there. I have an Argentine restaurant “Parrillas Fona Argentina” in Guadalajara, and several other businesses. I live well, with several economic entries, in addition to what I receive as a coach.

– What is your style as DT?

– Always with possession of the ball. It is what characterizes me the most because I prioritize continually looking for the goal in front and being aggressive. We are going through a difficult moment, since we are in the last places of the top flight standings. The objective is to look for the results that take us out from the bottom of the table and avoid relegation. But always with the idea of ​​being offensive and not losing focus in that sense.

– Have you ever been called to direct in Argentine soccer?

– Yes, one day there was an approach to direct San Lorenzo de Almagro but finally it could not be given. They spoke to my agent, not me. And again they communicated from Colón de Santa Fe. I would like to fulfill the dream of directing in my country. Suddenly, coming from outside is very complicated, since the circle is very closed. But if the opportunity arises, I’m ready.

– How were your beginnings with the ball?

– In baby soccer, at the Sol de Plata club in Matadores. Then, with seven friends we went to try Huracán de Parque Patricios and I stayed. From that day on, I played in the Lower Divisions until I made my debut in the top flight in the 1977/8 season at the hands of Toscano Rendo. After eight years in Mexico, in 1987 I came to San Lorenzo on loan with Bora Milutinovic and then I was with Bambino Veira. I was very seduced by playing in a team that I knew well.

– Did you notice a change between playing in Huracán and in San Lorenzo in terms of the popularity of one over the other?

– No. At the Globo I shared the field with great figures like Carlos Babington, René Houseman, Jorge Carrascosa; a number of players of a spectacular level. Later, at Santo I played alongside Walter Perazzo, José Luis Chilavert, Lucho Malvárez, being part of a team that played very well and played a Liguilla final to qualify for the Copa Libertadores, and won it. One of my best goals was against Pato Fillol, at the Racing field in Avellaneda.

– How did you pass to the Boedo team?

– I went on loan for a year, but I couldn’t stay to play the Libertadores 88 because América, the owner of my pass, sold me to Atlante. And I had to return to Mexican soccer.

– What balance do you make of your time at that institution?

– It was very good. I fought for the local championship until the last date, when Newells was crowned champion, and I played in the league to qualify for the Libertadores. It was a team that, beyond the internal problems that existed in the club, had a connection with the people and I was part of “the Cambodians”.

– What did it mean to be part of that historic team?

– We had many financial problems. We did not charge, we did not have a shower to bathe or facilities in the club with amenities like you can have now. But always the team gave everything. They were Riquelme, Bernuncio, Blas Giunta, Turco Marchi, Leonardo Madelón, among others; a strong team with a winning mentality, we made a great work group.

– What teaching did Bora Milutinovic leave you?

– He was the best coach I had in my career. Also, he was important, because he believed in me and offered me to become a Mexican national so that he could play in the 86 World Cup and represent Mexico, but I thanked him and told him no. Also, another one who was one of the best is Ricardo La Volpe, in terms of tactical conditions. I met him more than 30 years ago, when he arrived on Mexican soil, a season before me. I created a good friendship.

– Were you surprised by Bora’s departure as coach of San Lorenzo?

– Yes. We were waiting for him to eat a barbecue and we found out that he was on his way to the airport. It was another hard blow for the group but the story ended better, because when Bambino Veira arrived, it was different. He gave us an impressive psychic injection. I never ran with a trainer like I did with him.

-Was the Bambino extroverted as he is off the pitch, or was he more serious in the locker room?

– It was always the same, original inside the dressing room as outside. A spectacular character, very good. He made you feel like you were Pelé or Maradona. A great motivator, beyond his capacity as a technical director.

– What was it like playing for a club that didn’t have its own stadium, with all the limitations that this generates?

– We had to rent the pitch from Ferro, Racing or José Amalfitani, where we played the final. We also did it in the Hurricane. We had to play in several stadiums and we became strong in the face of adversity. It was strange and uncomfortable not having our own stadium, but it was what we had to go through so that later San Lorenzo could have its own stadium and I hope it will have it again where the Old Gasometer was located.

– Do you think it will be built again on Avenida La Plata?

– As Argentina is today, I see it as very difficult due to the economic situation, since you have to invest in dollars. But the illusion is the last thing that is lost.

– How were you treated when you were locals in the court of your lifelong rival?

– I did not see anything strange, they treated us wonderfully. I knew that stadium by heart since that was where I debuted. It didn’t surprise me, but perhaps the fan did.

– Did the Globo fans ever reproach you for your time in the Cyclone?

– No, not at all, because I went to Mexico very young and it took eight years for me to return to Argentine soccer. I played two seasons at the Globo, I grew up in that club, but it wasn’t such a strong rooting because I was never a Huracán fan, but I never went there.

– Why did your time in San Lorenzo mark you more than Hurricane?

– Because I’m a fan of San Lorenzo when I was little. In addition, he had cousins ​​and friends who were supporters of this club. But without being a fan, because once I played in a team I identified with those colors. Similarly, when I was part of the Cambodians I identified with the people, with my former colleagues and everything I experienced was very special. For this reason, my time in San Lorenzo was recorded forever. I was able to get to know the Old Gasometer, I’ve been there many times, but I don’t keep anything, I don’t even keep shirts from my time at that club.

– Why don’t you keep anything?

– Because I gave everything to my family and my friends. I don’t have any jackets from my debut in Huracán, nor from my time in Mexican soccer, nor from San Lorenzo de Almagro. I am not one to save anything. What’s more, I don’t have anything on Mexican lands because I moved everything I had to Argentina to give it to my relatives. I never asked to exchange shirts with the rivals, or to sign autographs. Beyond the fact that I met Diego Maradona in Mexico 86, I did not ask him for anything. What’s more, I went to visit him when he was directing in Dorados de Sinaloa. I only keep photos, but I never asked for an autograph.

– When was the last time you saw Fluff?

– When he came to lead Dorados de Sinaloa, that was the last time I saw him. Although what I remember the most about him was the day that during his television program in Canal 13 He called me to see how I was after the kidnapping I suffered in Mexico. Also, when I was kidnapped, he called part of my family to be available for whatever he needed.

– What do you remember about that kidnapping you suffered?

– It was the most difficult moment of my life, without a doubt, but the truth is that I don’t want to talk about it.

– At what age did you retire?

– I was 35 years old, and I retired at a great moment, with 12 goals scored in Atlante. I wanted to leave football and not for the ball to leave me. From that moment on, I started as an assistant to Ricardo La Volpe, and after three years, I started my career alone.

– Lastly, was your pending account wearing the jersey of the Argentine team?

– I couldn’t do it in the Major, but I did in the youth, although I didn’t participate in any tournament. I don’t have any pending bills in my life. I am very comfortable with what I did in my career and in my private life.

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