Rómulo Otero Vásquez (born 9 November 1992) is a Venezuelan footballer who plays for Criciúma. Mainly an attacking midfielder, he can also play as a winger.
Early life Otero is the son of former Colombian player Rómulo Otero Córdoba, and was born in Caracas during his father's stint at . His father died when he was three years old, and he started to live with another former footballer, Horacio "Chango" Cárdenas, in El Tigre.
Club career Caracas
Otero joined the youth sides of Caracas FC at the age of 15, and made his senior debut on 3 September 2009, coming on as a second-half substitute for Jesús Gómez in a 1–1 Primera División away draw against Llaneros. He spent most of the campaign playing for the B-team in Segunda División, but featured in another two first-team matches.
Definitely promoted to the first team in 2010, Otero scored his first professional goal on 12 December of that year, netting the opener in a 3–0 away win over Zamora. He subsequently started to become a regular starter for the club, becoming one of their captains in 2013.
Huachipato In August 2015, Otero moved abroad and was loaned to Chilean club Huachipato until July 2016, with a buyout clause. He made his debut with the club on 8 August, replacing Mikel Arguinarena and scoring the equalizer in a 2–1 home win over Deportes Iquique.
In February 2016, Otero's buyout clause was activated by Huachipato, and he finished the season with eight goals in just 21 appearances.
Atlético Mineiro On 19 July 2016, Otero was announced at Série A side Atlético Mineiro on loan. He made his debut for the club on 4 August, replacing Robinho in a 2–1 away win over São Paulo, and scored his first goal in Brazil on 12 September, netting his team's second in a 3–2 away loss to Fluminense.
On 4 April 2017, Galo acquired 50% of Otero's economic rights for a rumoured fee of US$ 1.5 million, with the player signing a contract until 2020.
Loan to Al-Wehda On 28 May 2018, after losing his starting spot, Otero joined Saudi club Al-Wehda on loan from Atlético. On 29 November 2018, the club expressed the intention of signing Otero on a permanent basis, but the deal ultimately did not go through.
Return from loan Back to Atlético in July 2019, Otero featured regularly for the remainder of the year, but saw his playing time being drastically reduced in the 2020 season. In July 2020, however, his contract with Galo was renewed.
Loan to Corinthians On 24 August 2020, Otero was loaned to fellow top tier side Corinthians until July 2021; he also became the first Venezuelan player to play for the club. He immediately became a starter for, but left on 1 July 2021 after losing his spot in the starting XI.
Cruz Azul On 3 August 2021, free agent Otero signed a one-year deal with Liga MX side Cruz Azul. He managed to start in only one league match for the club, and left after his contract expired.
Fortaleza On 2 July 2022, Fortaleza announced the signing of Otero until the end of the year. He scored once for the club, in a 1–1 home draw against Atlético Goianiense.
Aucas On 25 March 2023, Otero was announced at Aucas.
Santos
On 29 December 2023, Otero returned to Brazil after being announced at Série B side Santos on a one-year contract. He made his debut for the club the following 20 January, replacing Pedrinho and scoring the winner in a 1–0 away win over Botafogo-SP.
Nacional Montevideo On 30 December 2024, Otero switched teams and countries again, after being announced at Nacional Montevideo in Uruguay.
International career Otero received his first call-up for the Venezuela national team on 9 March 2013, for two 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Colombia. He made his full international debut thirteen days later, replacing Luis Manuel Seijas in a 3–0 loss against the former.
Otero scored his first goal for La Vinotinto on 10 September 2013, netting the third in a 3–2 win over Peru.
Career statistics Club
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalState LeagueOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCaracas B2009–10Venezuelan Segunda División124————124Caracas2009–10Venezuelan Primera División30————302010–1191—1Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores0——1012011–12151—20——1712012–13294—60——3542013–14306—20——3262014–15228—4Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana1——269Total10820—181——12621Huachipato2015–16Chilean Primera División2181010——238Atlético Mineiro2016Série A13251———1832017288418113Appearance(s) in Campeonato Mineiro32Appearance(s) in Primeira Liga155142018717320120—28420192032050——273202000101151—72Total68141951623042113526Al-Wehda (loan)2018–19Saudi Pro League25520———275Corinthians (loan)2020Série A242————242202100214011Appearance(s) in Campeonato Paulista1—172Total2422140111—414Cruz Azul2021–22Liga MX110004Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions Cup1—1Appearance(s) in Campeones Cup0161Fortaleza2022Série A7120———91Aucas2023Ecuadorian Serie A2520062——314Santos2024Série B375——143—518Nacional Montevideo2025Uruguayan Primera División000000——00Career total338612664965583147182
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsVenezuela2013412014312015202016113201761201830201940202040202150202230202340Total496
International goals
| 1. || 10 September 2013 || Estadio José Antonio Anzoátegui, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela || || 3–1 || 3–2 || 2014 World Cup qualification || |- | 2. || 5 March 2014 || Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras || || 1–1 || 2–1 || Friendly || |- | 3. || 24 March 2016 || Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru || || 1–0 || 2–2 || rowspan=4| 2018 World Cup qualification || |- | 4. || 29 March 2016 || Estadio Agustín Tovar, Barinas, Venezuela || || 1–0 || 1–4 || |- | 5. || 10 November 2016 || Estadio Monumental de Maturín, Maturín, Venezuela || || 5–0 || 5–0 || |- | 6. || 23 March 2017 || Estadio Monumental de Maturín, Maturín, Venezuela || || 2–0 || 2–2 ||
Honours Caracas Venezuelan Primera División: 2009–10
Atlético Mineiro Campeonato Mineiro: 2017
Santos Campeonato Brasileiro Série B: 2024
Individual Saudi Professional League Player of the Month: October 2018
References
External links