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.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Javier Rotunno Merino | ||
| Date of birth | (1976-02-02) 2 February 1976 (age 46) | ||
| 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 | |||
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]
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]