Francisco Rotunno

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rotunno and the second or maternal family name is Merino.

Francisco Javier Rotunno Merino (born 2 February 1976) is a Chilean former professional footballer who played as a defender for clubs in Chile and Indonesia.

Francisco Rotunno

Personal information
Full name	Francisco Javier Rotunno Merino
Date of birth	(1976-02-02) 2 February 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth	Chillán, Chile
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
	Deportivo Nacional
	Coquimbo Unido
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1993–2001	Coquimbo Unido	88	(1)
1998	→ Deportes Antofagasta (loan)		(1)
2002	Cobresal	17	(0)
2003	Deportes La Serena		(0)
2003	→ Deportes Antofagasta (loan)		(0)
2003	Coquimbo Unido	7	(0)
2003–2007	Persekabpas Pasuruan		(1)
2007	Sriwijaya FC		(0)
2008	Persekabpas Pasuruan		(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Born in Chillán, Rotunno tried to join Ñublense at the age of 15, while he was a youth player of Club Deportivo Nacional.^[1] Then, he joined Coquimbo Unido youth system and made his professional debut in 1993 against Deportes La Serena, the traditional rival, at the age of 17, thanks to the coach José Sulantay.^[2] He stayed with the club until 2001, even facing the Chile national team led by Iván Zamorano and Marcelo Salas on 25 June 2000 in the Estadio Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso.^[3]

In Chile, he only played for clubs from North Zone: Deportes Antofagasta in 1998^[4] and 2003,^[5] Cobresal in 2002,^[6] Deportes La Serena in 2003,^[7] returning to Coquimbo Unido for the 2003 Torneo Clausura.^[8]

At the end of 2003, he went to Bali, Indonesia, and joined Persekabpas Pasuruan, staying for 6 seasons.^[1] He scored only a goal in the 2005 season,^[9] but he is considered one of the most important foreign players in the Indonesian football.^[10] He also played for Sriwijaya FC.^[11]

Personal life

Rotunno made his home in Coquimbo alongside his wife, Claudia Oteíza, and his sons Paolo and Renato. Renato has been with the Coquimbo Unido youth ranks.^[1]

References

1. Oses Pedraza, Rodrigo (2 August 2020). "Rotunno le ganó a la vida y triunfó con garra en Indonesia". La Discusión (in Spanish). Chillán, Chile: Empresa Periodística La Discusión S.A.: 30. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
2. Francisco Rotunno, futbolista que saltó del Club Deportivo Nacional de Chillán al profesionalismo evoca su debut en Coquimbo Unido. Dimensión Deportiva on Facebook (in Spanish)
3. Fernández, Felipe (28 July 2021). "El inédito partido entre Coquimbo Unido y la selección chilena de Zamorano y Salas". Asifuch (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 October 2022.
4. "Campeonato de Primera División "B" 1998". www.solofutbol.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 October 2022.
5. "Antofagasta sorprendió a U. de Chile y avanzó en la Presudamericana". alairelibre.cl (in Spanish). Radio Cooperativa. 13 July 2003. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
6. Cyberata (19 July 2018). "2002-2004 – Sin novedad en la era de los torneos cortos". cdcobresal.cl (in Spanish). Cobresal. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
7. "Los clubes chilenos mostraron sus cartas para el Torneo de Clausura". alairelibre.cl (in Spanish). Radio Cooperativa. 25 July 2003. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
8. "Coquimbo 2003 - Campeonato de Clausura". www.solofutbol.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 October 2022.
9. Istanto, Feri; Herfiyana, Novan; Stokkermans, Karel (22 February 2013). "Indonesia 2005". RSSSF. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
10. Satria, Abdi (14 November 2021). "Parade Striker Ganas Asal Chile di Liga Indonesia: Dari Oscar Aravena, Julio Lopez, hingga Cristian Carrasco". bola.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 24 October 2022.
11. Esteban Valencia en Persegi Bali FC y Francisco Rotunno Persekabpas Pasuruan. Futbolistas. Chilenos en el Exterior on Facebook (in Spanish)

External links

• Francisco Rotunno at BDFA (in Spanish)