According to Olé, former Argentina international goalkeeper Romero has officially retired and is now focusing on a coaching career. The most capped goalkeeper in the history of the Argentine national team said that he has always viewed football from the perspective of a future coach since his playing days, and that renowned coaches such as Simeone, Mourinho, Sabella, and Maradona have all influenced him.

The almost two-meter tall "shorty" Romero now has different identities.

He is a father, traveling all over the country with his daughter Jazmín to support her dream of becoming a professional tennis player. He is also someone who likes to research things on his own. When the Olé team came to his home for this exclusive interview, he tinkered with and carefully examined every piece of camera and lighting equipment brought by the staff.

"I bought a camera myself to record every one of my daughter's matches," he said.

Of course, the former professional player is still within him - the most capped goalkeeper in the history of the Argentine national team, with 96 appearances for the national team.

And now, another identity is gradually emerging: head coach.

The 39-year-old Romero has already dedicated himself to another great passion and is currently awaiting his first important opportunity in his coaching career. He has already declined some offers from Argentine professional league teams. He remains calm, whether analyzing matches or considering the first step in his coaching career. After all, taking the first step well is crucial...

Did you always plan to become a coach after retirement, or did this idea gradually emerge towards the end of your career?

"I had a very special experience because I witnessed the transformation of 'Simone' Simeone firsthand. At the time, he and I were teammates at Racing Club, and then when Mostaza Merlo left, Simeone became the team's head coach almost overnight.

"I saw firsthand the changes he made to the entire team and his former teammates after he transitioned from player to team leader. At that time, I said to myself, 'What does that feel like? I want to try it someday.'

"At that time, we trained twice a day. After training, Simeone would drive me to the hotel in his car. Along the way, he would drink water and talk to me non-stop about football. He had a pure passion for football, he was a complete 'war fanatic.'

"I can say that from that moment on, I have always looked at football from that perspective. My entire playing career was spent thinking about becoming a coach in the future. "

So, when you were very young, you were already observing games as a player and trying to think from the perspective of a future coach?

"Exactly. First, because you are a goalkeeper, you can see the positions of all your teammates from the back. I would always try to direct the defenders to occupy the correct space so that the opponents would have fewer shots on goal.

"Later, I was very fortunate to work with many excellent coaches, including Sabella, Maradona, Coco Basile, Martino, Van Gaal, Mourinho, and Ranieri. I was constantly absorbing knowledge from each of them."

Do you watch a lot of football matches usually? In your analysis, how do you define Argentine football?

"I watch a lot, but not to the point of obsession. Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, and a lot of Argentine football. Even when I played abroad, I would follow what was happening in Argentina in real time, and I even watched Argentine second division and women's football matches.

"Argentine football is very tough and requires extremely high physical confrontation. Some small clubs, relying on sacrifice and a desire for honor, have narrowed the gap in squad strength with powerhouses like Boca Juniors, CA River Plate (Arg), Racing Club, or Independiente.

"Not long ago, I went to Argentinos Juniors, and I was very surprised by the demands and training intensity that Nico Diez placed on the team every day. There is a work culture here where no one complains. Everyone understands that the only way is to keep working hard. Because if you don't have hunger, you can't play football."

Speaking of hunger, is Messi the most hungry for victory among the players you have worked with?

"Leo has a great desire to win, and also a great desire for the whole team to succeed.

"We went through some very difficult years together, such as the 2011 Copa América held in Argentina. At that time, people criticized him, and everyone expected him to be the savior of the team.

"But in a team, no one can save everything on their own.

"If you look at the Scaloni era, there are many 'hound-like' players in the team, such as De Paul, Enzo, Mac Allister, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, and Otamendi. All of them understand what sacrifices must be made to win a championship."

How has Messi's leadership changed over the years?

"He always understood that his role was not just about being on the ball.

"At first, the team had leaders like Sorín, Riquelme, Samuel, Ayala, and Zanetti. After 2011, we younger players stayed, and at the same time, there were key figures like Mascherano, Heinze, and Demichelis.

"From that time on, Leo truly took on his own responsibilities. If he said 'A', all of us would follow him.

"Moreover, he always set an example through his actions while maintaining the humility he always possessed. "

Were you surprised by Messi's retirement from the Argentine national team?

"Not really surprised. I had thought for a while that he would hold out until the next Copa América, especially after he extended his contract with Inter Miami.

"At the time, I still had a hope - of course, I didn't know anything for sure - that that Copa América could be held in Argentina.

"In the World Cup, he always led his teammates to compete at the highest intensity until the last day. If he wanted to, he could easily play for another five or six years.

"He could play like all traditional attacking midfielders: dropping back a bit, standing in midfield, and constantly providing assists or organizing ball movement.

"However, Leo's decision is completely understandable. Globally, only a handful of players can stay at the highest level of competition for 20 consecutive years, and at the same time, they can't even walk quietly on the street."

After so many years with the greatest player in history, what is your most cherished memory?

"Besides his phenomenal performance on the field, I cherish even more the Leo in the locker room.

"It's the Leo who still maintains the humility of a young boy. He would sit there and drink mate tea with everyone, or play the Argentine card game Truco.

"If you open the door to the room he shared with Agüero during training camps, you might see 15 players lying all over the floor watching a movie together.

"During training, I saw him do some incredible things with my own eyes. Once, in a five-a-side small-sided game, in the same attack, he nutmegged the same person twice and chipped the ball over him once.

"All of us turned our heads, completely disbelieving what we had just seen."

During the 2010 World Cup, you also played for the Argentine national team coached by Maradona. What was the combination of Maradona and Messi like?

"For Argentine football, that was an invaluable experience. Diego could convey extremely strong emotional power to you.

"In a training session before the match against Nigeria in the South Africa World Cup, he told us: 'Send the ball near the penalty spot, a curly-haired kid will come, and the blond Heinze will head the ball in, and then it will be a goal.'

"As it turned out, our goal was exactly as he said. After Heinze scored, he ran directly to the bench to hug him.

"During training camps, after dinner, Diego would also bring cards and organize Truco games. He didn't want to lose anything."

Maradona's coaching style was very special. So, what are your ideas for your future coaching career? Where do you want to start? And where do you hope to be in 10 years?

"I am a Racing Club fan. If I can start my coaching career at the club that nurtured me and that I deeply love, it would be the supreme honor.

"Of course, currently Racing Club has a very excellent head coach, and I sincerely hope he succeeds, because this is the common wish of all Racing Club fans: we all hope Racing Club can achieve good results like when Gustavo (Costas) was coaching, he once brought us a championship.

"But I also know very well that one day I must take the first step and gain my first coaching experience.

"No matter where the opportunity ultimately appears, I am convinced that we will work with the greatest dedication and implement our very clear and firm football philosophy."

So, what kind of football does Romero, as a coach, want his team to play?

"For me, commitment and hunger must be combined with talent.

"If you can combine these two things on the field, and not just for one game, but consistently, then the team can form a contagious force that makes everyone play with that state for 90 minutes.

"When I first became a professional player, my dream was to become a professional player in Argentina and then go to Europe. Now that I am a coach, I will not shy away from such goals either.

"My idea is to start coaching first, let things develop smoothly, and then at some point in the future, be able to take that step and go to coach in Europe.

"I have already assembled my coaching staff and am ready to start working at any time.

"And I am very much looking forward to it."

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