Alexander Charles Luis "Aly" Borromeo[1] (born 28 June 1983) is an American-born Filipino retired footballer who played as a utility player. He is currently a team manager for Kaya-Iloilo.
![]() Borromeo in 2011 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Alexander Charles Luis Borromeo | ||
Date of birth | (1983-06-28) 28 June 1983 (age 39) | ||
Place of birth | San Francisco, California, U.S. | ||
Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
Position(s) | Centre back, Forward | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Kaya (team manager) | ||
Youth career | |||
1999–2003 | Kaya | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2003–2018 | Kaya | ||
2010–2011 | → Global (loan) | ||
National team‡ | |||
2000 | Philippines U-19 | 4 | (0) |
2005 | Philippines U-23 | 8 | (0) |
2004–2011 | Philippines | 42 | (4) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 01, 2014 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of May 01, 2014 |
Borromeo was a long-time captain of the Philippines national team. Previously a goalkeeper, he became a utility player, playing as a central midfielder or center forward for his club and mainly as a central defender for the national team.
Borromeo joined Kaya in 1999, and has been the captain of the first team for several years during his tenure.[2] He went on a loan to Global during the 2010–11 season and led the club to be the champions of the 2010 UFL Cup during that season.
On October 15, 2011, in his first match for Kaya in the 2011 UFL Cup against Diliman, Borromeo incurred an ACL injury, which sidelined him for the club and the national team.[3] After almost seven months, he made his return for the 2012 League season on May 12, 2012 as a substitute against Loyola Meralco Sparks, which ended a 2–2 draw. In the following match against Global F.C. on May 16, 2012, he scored an equalizer in second half injury time to end in a 1–1 draw.[4]
He was dropped in the Kaya lineup for the 2012–13 season due to a meniscus injury,[5] in which he acquired while training for the national team in mid-2012.[6]
Borromeo's recurring injury since 2011 made him consider retirement but eventually recovered to return playing with Kaya.[7] He played for Kaya at the 2016 AFC Cup and was a starter and captain for the team's first match against Hong Kong sides, Kitchee.[8] He was still playing for Kaya when the club joined the Philippines Football League in 2017 as Kaya–Makati (and later as Kaya–Iloilo). His return stint to Kaya as a player was brief but he remained with the club after he was appointed as its team manager.[7]
Borromeo first represented the Philippines at under-19 level during the 2000 AFC Youth Championship qualifiers and was also a goalkeeper at that time.[9] Four years later, Borromeo would make his full international debut playing in all four matches in the 2004 Tiger Cup. This time he was playing as a striker and he assisted both goals by Emelio Caligdong, to give the Philippines their first ever win in the competition, defeating Timor-Leste 2–1.[10]
He has also represented the Philippines at under-23 level. He captained the Philippines under-23 team during the 2005 Southeast Asian Games on home soil and was converted to a central defender.[11] He also scored in the 4–2 win against Cambodia.[12] However, the Philippines failed to progress to the knockout stage.
Borromeo is the biological son of prominent Australian business man, Marcus Blackmore. He did not meet his father until he was 27.[13] Borromeo has a step-sister, fashion designer Imogen Merrony, daughter of Furlong.[13]