Sebastián Roco Explained

Sebastián Roco
Fullname:Sebastián Alejandro Roco Melgarejo
Birth Date:26 June 1983
Birth Place:San Felipe, Chile
Position:Centre back
Youthclubs1:Unión San Felipe
Years1:2002–2003
Clubs1:Unión San Felipe
Caps1:21
Goals1:1
Years2:2003–2007
Clubs2:Santiago Wanderers
Caps2:95
Goals2:12
Years3:2004
Clubs3:Deportes Temuco (loan)
Caps3:37
Goals3:0
Years4:2008–2009
Clubs4:Necaxa
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:2008
Clubs5:Audax Italiano (loan)
Caps5:19
Goals5:1
Years6:2008–2009
Clubs6:Gimnasia de Jujuy (loan)
Caps6:19
Goals6:0
Years7:2009
Clubs7:Everton (loan)
Caps7:13
Goals7:1
Years8:2010–2014
Clubs8:Cobreloa
Caps8:128
Goals8:7
Years9:2014–2016
Caps9:10
Goals9:1
Years10:2016–2017
Clubs10:Unión San Felipe
Caps10:9
Goals10:0
Years11:2018
Clubs11:Deportes Melipilla
Caps11:0
Goals11:0
Totalcaps:351
Totalgoals:23
Nationalyears1:2006–2007
Nationalteam1:Chile
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:1

Sebastián Alejandro Roco Melgarejo (born 26 June 1983) is a Chilean former footballer who played as a centre back.

Career

Roco began his football career aged 17 at the professional club of his city, Unión San Felipe of Chile's first division. In January 2003, he moved to Santiago Wanderers of Valparaíso, in where he was consecrated as centre back, scored 12 goals in 95 appearances and being many times in the nominations of the Chile national football team, but the end of this was when he was marginated of the team on 14 November 2007.[1]

However, despite his bad moment, in January 2008, his rights were acquired by the Mexican club Necaxa,[2] being immediately loaned to Audax Italiano for play the Copa Libertadores of that year. After a regular season in the club of La Florida, he moved to the Argentine Primera División club Gimnasia de Jujuy for an undisclosed fee. Roco made his debut in a 4–0 away loss against Boca Juniors at La Bombonera, playing the full 90 minutes. On 1 July 2009, was confirmed his return to the Chilean football, because Everton signed him for the Clausura Tournament of that season.[3]

The next season, was signed by Cobreloa, in where he was one of the key players of the runner-up earned in the 2011 Clausura Tournament lost against Universidad de Chile that in the season achieved the treble after of defeat to Cobreloa. On 2 March 2012, was reported that Flamengo would be interested in the services of the centre back.[4]

Roco played internationally against the Chile national football team in the 2007 Copa América in Venezuela, being call-up in that occasion by Nelson Acosta. He has played six times and scored one goal for the national team in his first match with Chile on 25 April 2006, in a 4–1 win over New Zealand on 24 April 2006.[5]

International goals

Personal life

Roco belongs to a football family from San Felipe since both his father, Marcial,[6] and his son, Bastián,[7] played for Unión San Felipe. In addition, the cousin of Marcial, Héctor Roco Lucero,[6] is a historical player of Unión San Felipe and was the assistant coach of his son, Héctor Roco Leiva,[8] from 2020 to 2021.[9]

Honours

Club

Cobreloa
Universidad de Concepción

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Roco: Siempre jugué a ganar con Stgo. Wanderers . Chileazul.cl . 14 November 2007 . Santiago .
  2. Web site: Sebastián Roco se unió a Necaxa y Mancilla fue transferido a Toluca . alairelibre.cl . . 2 January 2023 . es . 16 June 2008.
  3. News: Sebastián Roco es la nueva carta defensiva de Everton . Cooperativa.cl . 1 July 2009 . Viña del Mar.
  4. News: Flamengo evalúa contratar a Sebastián Roco . La Tercera.cl . 2 March 2012.
  5. News: Chile derrotó a Nueva Zelanda por 4-1 en Rancagua . Emol.cl . 25 April 2006.
  6. Web site: Reyes . Luis . Las dinastías del fútbol chileno que jugaron en un mismo club . . 18 July 2022 . es . 18 July 2017.
  7. Web site: Jeria . Diego . El hijo de Sebastián Roco es el nuevo y flamante jugador de Huachipato . RedGol . 18 July 2022 . es . 5 June 2020.
  8. https://www.ceroacero.es/treinador.php?id=49857 Héctor Roco Leiva
  9. Web site: Héctor Roco Leiva es el nuevo Director Técnico de Unión San Felipe . VTV . 18 July 2022 . es . 25 November 2020.