Kaku (footballer) explained

Kaku
Full Name:Alejandro Sebastián Romero Gamarra
Birth Date:1995 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Ciudadela, Argentina
Height:1.71 m
Position:Attacking midfielder, winger
Currentclub:Al Ain
Clubnumber:10
Youthclubs1:Huracán
Years1:2013–2017
Clubs1:Huracán
Caps1:94
Goals1:9
Years2:2018–2020
Clubs2:New York Red Bulls
Caps2:72
Goals2:13
Years3:2021–2023
Clubs3:Al Taawoun
Caps3:52
Goals3:16
Years4:2023–
Clubs4:Al Ain
Caps4:19
Goals4:5
Nationalyears1:2015
Nationalteam1:Argentina U20
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2018–
Nationalteam2:Paraguay
Nationalcaps2:13
Nationalgoals2:5
Club-Update:08:10, 26 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:27 January 2022

Alejandro Sebastián Romero Gamarra (born 11 January 1995), nicknamed Kaku, is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Emirati club Al Ain and the Paraguay national team.

Club career

Huracán

Born in Ciudadela, Kaku began his career in the youth ranks of Huracán. In 2013, Kaku made his professional debut for Huracán in the Primera B Nacional. He scored his first goal for the club on 12 October 2013 in a 4–1 victory over Aldosivi.[1] On 14 December 2014, Kaku helped Huracán return to the top flight after three seasons in the Primera B Nacional, scoring the decisive second goal in a 4–1 victory over Atlético Tucumán.[2] With the promotion to the top flight, Huracán concluded a very successful season, having won the 2013–14 Copa Argentina a few weeks prior in a penalty shoot-out over Rosario Central with Kaku appearing as a second-half substitute.[3] This was the club's first official title in 41 years.

On 3 February 2015, he scored his first goal in the Copa Libertadores against Peruvian club Alianza Lima in a 4–0 victory.[4] [5] On 1 March 2016, Kaku led Huracán to a historic victory in the Copa Libertadores over Peñarol at the Estadio Centenario, scoring the lone goal in the 1–0 triumph.[6] A few weeks later, on 24 March Kaku scored his first goal in the Argentine Primera División in a 2–0 victory over Aldosivi.[7] On 18 July 2016 he helped Huracán advance in the Copa Argentina scoring the opening goal in a 2–1 victory over Central Córdoba.[8]

On 27 May 2017, he scored an injury time equalizer from the penalty spot in a 1–1 draw with Boca Juniors.[9] On 1 June 2017, Kaku scored another important goal for his club, this time an injury time goal in a 4–0 victory over Deportivo Anzoátegui in the 2017 Copa Sudamericana. The goal helped Huracán advance to the next round by a 4–3 aggregate score after having lost the first leg by three goals.[10] On 16 June 2017, he scored the lone goal in a 1–0 victory over Unión de Santa Fe, helping his club to a crucial three points which helped Huracán avoid relegation.[11] On 28 October 2017, Kaku scored his club's second goal in a 4–0 victory over Lanús and celebrated the goal dedicating it to his recently deceased mother.[12]

New York Red Bulls

On 23 December 2017, it was announced by Huracán that they had agreed a deal to transfer Kaku to New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer for a fee of $6.25 million.[13] After resolving various issues that held up the transfer, on 16 February 2018, it was announced that he had signed with New York.[14] Red Bulls also sent $50,000 of General Allocation Money to Atlanta United, who owned his discovery rights.[15] On 1 March 2018, Kaku made his debut for New York in a 2–0 victory over Olimpia in the CONCACAF Champions League.[16] On 10 March 2018, he assisted Ben Mines on the opening goal of the match on his Red Bulls league debut in a 4–0 victory over Portland Timbers.[17] On 13 March 2018, Kaku scored his first goal for New York in a 3–1 victory over Club Tijuana in the CONCACAF Champions League, helping the club advance to semifinals of the Champions League for the first time.[18] On 14 April 2018, Kaku scored his first league goal for New York in a 3–1 victory over the Montreal Impact.[19] On 28 April 2018, Kaku helped New York to a 3–2 victory over LA Galaxy, assisting on two goals and scoring the game winner with an 84th-minute penalty-kick goal.[20] The following week, 5 May 2018, Kaku opened the scoring for New York in a 4–0 derby victory over New York City FC, he also assisted on two other goals.[21] On 6 December 2018, Kaku was named the New York Red Bulls Newcomer of the Year for 2018 after leading the team in assists throughout the season.[22]

Al-Taawoun

On 1 February 2021, it was announced by Al-Taawoun of the Saudi Professional League that they had agreed to a transfer for Kaku.[23] On 17 February 2021, Romero Gamarra's former club New York Red Bulls and Major League Soccer sought arbitration against Kaku and the MLS Players Association for breach of contract.[24] In April 2021 arbiter Shyam Das ruled against the MLSPA and Kaku and found that New York Red Bulls and Major League Soccer had exercised their unilateral contract option on Kaku prior to 31 December 2020.[25] On 12 May 2021, Major League Soccer and New York Red Bulls filed a petition in United States federal court seeking to have the arbitration decision enforced.[26] On 22 July 2021, MLS and New York Red Bulls filed suit in United States federal court against Kaku's agent Scott Pearson and Pearson's company Argentine Futbol Tours LLC, alleging "tortious interference" in Kaku's move to Al-Taawoun and seeking in excess of $6 million in damages.[27] On 16 September 2021, MLS and New York Red Bulls voluntarily dismissed their suit against Pearson.[28]

International career

Kaku was born in Argentina to Paraguayan parents. He was selected by Argentina's U-20 manager, Humberto Grondona to participate in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.[29] On 16 May 2018, Kaku announced his desire to file a one-time switch request with FIFA to play for Paraguay.[30] The move was approved by FIFA on 23 May 2018, and he was immediately called up to the Paraguay national team for a friendly against Japan.[31] He made his competitive debut for Paraguay on 12 June, as a substitute in the second half of the friendly match against Japan.

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Huracán2013–14Primera B Nacional16230192
2014630063
2015Argentine Primera División17000111281
20161612192274
2016–172723031333
2017–181210000121
Total94981002340012514
New York Red Bulls2018MLS306103140387
2019265104010325
202016210172
Total7213200071608714
Al-Taawoun2020–21Saudi Pro League11732149
2021–2215311164
2022–2326612278
Total5216550000005721
Al Ain2023–24UAE Pro League19520311143510
Career total23744176314196030460

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
Paraguay201820
201932
202011
202172
Total135

International goals

Scores and results list Paraguay's goal tally first.

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 10 September 2019 Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan align=center 4–2 align=center 4–2 Friendly
2. 13 October 2019 Tehelné pole, Bratislava, Slovakia align=center 1–1 align=center 1–1
3. 17 November 2020 Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay align=center 2–2 align=center 2–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
4. 14 June 2021 Estádio Olímpico Pedro Ludovico, Goiânia, Brazil align=center 1–1 align=center 3–1 2021 Copa América
5. 9 September 2021 Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay align=center 2–0 align=center 2–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
Correct as of 9 September 2021

Honours

Huracán

2013–14

2014

New York Red Bulls

2018

Al Ain

2023–24[32]

Individual

Notes and References

  1. News: B Nacional: Huracán goleó al Aldosivi de Darío Franco. 12 October 2013. mundod.lavoz.com.ar. spanish. 12 October 2013.
  2. News: Huracán es pura fiesta: goleó a Atlético Tucumán y vuelve a Primera División. 14 December 2014. lanacion.com.ar. spanish. 14 December 2014.
  3. News: Huracán es campeón de la Copa Argentina, tras vencer a Rosario Central en una emotiva definición por penales. 26 November 2014. lanacion.com.ar. spanish. 26 November 2014.
  4. News: Huracán goleó a Alianza Lima 4-0. 3 February 2015. diariojornada.com.ar. spanish. 3 February 2015.
  5. Web site: Primera Fade Repechaje 1 Finalizado. Conmebol.com.
  6. News: Huracán festejó en el Centenario una valiosa victoria frente a Peñarol. 1 March 2016. lanacion.com.ar. spanish. 1 March 2016.
  7. News: Vuela hacia la punta. 24 March 2016. ole.com. spanish. 24 March 2016.
  8. News: Huracán-Central Córdoba, Copa Argentina: el Globo ganó 2-1 y sigue adelante. 18 July 2016. lanacion.com.ar. spanish. 18 July 2016.
  9. News: Huracán Amarga a Boca en el último aliento con un penal polémico (1 a 1). 27 May 2017. elpais.com. spanish. 27 May 2017.
  10. News: 4-0. Romero Gamarra consuma milagro para Huracán en el último minuto. 1 June 2017. efe.com. spanish. 1 June 2017.
  11. News: Que Alívio, Globo!. 16 June 2017. ole.com. spanish. 16 June 2017.
  12. News: Sólo pensé en llorar y mirar al cielo. 29 October 2017. codigoquemero.com.ar. spanish. 29 October 2017.
  13. News: Huracán acordó la venta de Romero Gamarra. 23 December 2017. cahuracan.com. spanish. 23 December 2017.
  14. News: New York Red Bulls Sign Alejandro 'Kaku' Romero Gamarra as Young Designated Player. 16 February 2018. newyorkredbulls.com. english. 16 February 2018.
  15. News: Atlanta United acquires $50K in GAM from New York Red Bulls. 16 February 2018. atlutd.com. english. 16 February 2018.
  16. News: Post-Match Notes: Red Bulls Defeat CD Olimpia, 2-0; Face Tijuana in CCL Quarterfinals. 1 March 2018. NewYorkRedBulls.com. english. 1 March 2018.
  17. News: New York Red Bulls 4, Portland Timbers 0 - 2018 MLS Match Recap. 10 March 2018. mlssoccer.com. english. 10 March 2018.
  18. News: Red Bulls Moving On to SCCL Semis, Defeat Tijuana, 3-1. 13 March 2018. newyorkredbulls.com. english. 13 March 2018.
  19. News: New York Red Bulls Bounce Montreal Impact, 3-1. 14 April 2018. newyorkredbulls.com. english. 14 April 2018.
  20. News: Red Bulls Win A 3-2 Thriller Over Galaxy. 29 April 2018. newyorkredbulls.com. english. 29 April 2018.
  21. News: Red Bulls Roll Past Rival NYCFC, 4-0. 5 May 2018. newyorkredbulls.com. english. 5 May 2018.
  22. News: New York Red Bulls Announce End of the Year Team Awards. 2018-12-06. 2020-06-05.
  23. News: Al-Taawoun presenta oficialmente al Kaku Romero. 2 February 2021. 2 February 2021.
  24. News: MLS, NYRB want arbitration to settle Kaku contract saga. 17 February 2021. 14 May 2021.
  25. News: MLS files petition against Kaku, MLSPA as transfer saga continues. 13 May 2021. 14 May 2021.
  26. News: MLS Says Player Must Return From Saudi Arabia Under CBA. 12 May 2021. 14 May 2021.
  27. News: MLS, New York Red Bulls sue agent over Kaku's Saudi club transfer saga. 22 July 2021. 18 August 2021.
  28. News: MLS, New York Red Bulls dismiss lawsuit against Kaku advisor. 16 September 2021. 3 November 2021.
  29. News: Grondona ya definió a los 21 mundialistas. 13 May 2015. afa.org.ar. spanish. 13 May 2015.
  30. News: Kaku Considering One time Switch to play for Paraguay National Team. 17 May 2018. mlssoccer.com. english. 17 May 2018.
  31. Web site: New York Red Bulls Midfielder Kaku Makes One-Time Switch to Paraguay National Team. 23 May 2018. 24 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180524081216/https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2018/05/23/new-york-red-bulls-midfielder-kaku-makes-one-time-switch-paraguay-national-team. dead.
  32. Web site: Al Ain claim historic second title. The AFC. 25 May 2024. 8 June 2024.