Marco Rojas

Marco Rojas

200px Rojas playing for Melbourne Victory in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Marco Rodrigo Rojas
Date of birth	(1991-11-05) 5 November 1991
Place of birth	Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand
Height
Position(s)	Winger / Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	FC Thun (on loan from VfB Stuttgart)
Number	10
Youth career
	Waikato
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2008	Hamilton Wanderers	10	(2)
2008–2009	Waikato	13	(1)
2009–2011	Wellington Phoenix	21	(2)
2011–2013	Melbourne Victory	50	(15)
2013–	VfB Stuttgart	0	(0)
2014–2015	VfB Stuttgart II	2	(0)
2014–2015	→ SpVgg Greuther Fürth (loan)	3	(0)
2014–2015	→ SpVgg Greuther Fürth II (loan)	4	(1)
2015-	→ FC Thun (loan)	25	(3)
International career‡
2011	New Zealand U20	9	(4)
2012	New Zealand U23	6	(1)
2011–	New Zealand	22	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 August 2015 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 November 2013

Marco Rodrigo Rojas (born 5 November 1991) is a New Zealand footballer of Chilean descent who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for FC Thun on loan from VfB Stuttgart.

Early life

Rojas attended Aberdeen Primary School and Maeroa Intermediate School during the late 1990s and early-mid-2000s.

Club career

Wellington Phoenix

Marco Rojas came through Wynton Rufer's Wynrs football academy. He also trialled with Caleb Rufer at Werder Bremen, Hannover 96 and B Monchengladbach. Neither player was successful but later on Rojas was awarded a trial with the Wellington Phoenix after winning the "Retro Ricki Youth Scholarship" from the Yellow Fever. Rojas impressed Wellington coach Ricki Herbert and put in some good performances in the Phoenix's warm up friendlies resulting in him getting offered a 2-year contract with the Hyundai A-League side.

On 13 September 2009 he made his senior debut in the A-League for the Wellington Phoenix against Melbourne Victory at the age of 17, coming off the bench as a 77th minute substitution for Daniel making him the second youngest player to play for the Phoenix behind Kosta Barbarouses. Rojas got his second appearance for the Phoenix when he was substituted on for Paul Ifill in the 73rd minute against Central Coast Mariners on 27 September 2009.

Rojas scored his first goal on his full debut for the Phoenix on 18 December 2010 in a 4-0 victory over the Newcastle Jets. His second goal was in the 72nd minute on 5 January against Melbourne Victory helping them secure a 2-0 win at Westpac Stadium. Rojas provided the assist for Chris Greenacre's opening goal in a 3-1 win over North Queensland Fury in the Phoenix's final home game of the 2010-11 season.

On 18 February 2011, Rojas was awarded the NAB Young Player of the Month. On 22 February 2011, He was awarded the Wellington Phoenix young player of the year.

On 27 February 2011, Wellington Phoenix announced that Rojas declined to sign a new contract with the club and wanted to move on. Following this announcement, some media outlets claimed unofficially that Rojas had signed for Melbourne Victory, however, officially, Melbourne Ernie Merrick denied this. It was believed at the time that Melbourne Victory, Adelaide United and a South American club were vying for the signature of the highly rated youngster.

Melbourne Victory

On 11 March 2011, Melbourne Victory ended weeks of speculation by officially confirming that they had indeed signed Rojas, securing him on a two-year deal.

On 8 October 2011, Rojas made his A-League debut for Melbourne Victory FC in the season opener against Sydney FC. It would not be until the following 2012-13 season, however, that he would score his first ever Melbourne Victory goal; it came in the Victory's 2-1 loss to crosstown rivals Melbourne Heart, after receiving a cross from Archie Thompson. His second Melbourne Victory goal came in the Victory's 2-1 win against Adelaide United two weeks later. Rojas scored goal number 15 for season 2012-13 on 31 March 2013 against Wellington Phoenix in a 2-3 win.

At the A-League end of season awards for the 2012-13 season, Rojas won both the Johnny Warren Medal and the A-League Young Footballer of the Year awards.

On 18 April 2013, Rojas quit Melbourne Victory to pursue a career in Europe. His contract with Melbourne expired on 30 April 2013.

VfB Stuttgart

File:Marco rojas.jpg

Marco Rojas training in 2014.

Rojas moved during the 2013–14 season to VfB Stuttgart. On 8 May 2013, Marco Rojas signed a contract until June 2017 with VfB Stuttgart. He joined the Bundesliga side on a free transfer from Melbourne Victory.

On 10 July 2013, Marco started his first game for Die Schwaben in a pre-season friendly match against the local Hohenlohe-Selection at the Schönebürgstadion, Crailsheim. Marco scored his first goal for his new club in this game to give VfB a 4-0 lead just before half time, VfB went on to win the match 5-0.

On 17 July 2013, Marco suffered an injury setback during training that has sidelined the Kiwi international for between four and six weeks. Media sources revealed Rojas has broken a bone in his foot. Rojas can however continue to swim, cycle and perform weight training but he is unable to continue football related activities until after the new 1. Bundesliga season has begun in early August.

Loan to SpVgg Greuther Fürth

On 21 August 2014 Rojas was loaned out to SpVgg Greuther Fürth. In January 2015 the loan deal was terminated.

Loan to FC Thun

He was loaned out to FC Thun on 3 January 2015 until the end of the 2014–15 season. On 8 February 2015, Rojas scored his first Swiss Super League goal on debut for FC Thun in Thun's 1-1 draw with FC Aarau match. On 12 June 2015 the loan deal was extended until the end of the 2015–16 season.

International career

On 8 March 2011, Rojas was called up to play to a 30-man squad for the upcoming games against China and Japan for New Zealand's national team the All Whites. He made his debut as a second-half substitute in the 1-1 draw with China on 25 March 2011 before he made any appearance for any other junior New Zealand sides. The scheduled match against Japan was called off due to logistics and safety concerns following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. He gained his 2nd International cap against Australia, 5 May 2011 he came on as a second-half substitute. Australia won the game 5-0

Rojas was selected for the New Zealand U-20 team to compete in the 2011 OFC U-20 Championship in April 2011 and the Suwon Cup in Korea. During the OFC U-20 championship he played in all four matches helping the Junior All Whites win the tournament and secure qualification to the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

During the junior All Whites game against Uruguay in the 2011 under-20 World Cup, Rojas contributed to the goal that put New Zealand in the lead at 54 minutes (the game finished in a 1-1 draw).

International career statistics

New Zealand national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2011	2	0
2012	11	1
2013	3	0
2014	9	1
2015	2	0
Total	28	2

Career Statistics

All-Time Club Performances

Club	Season	A-League		Finals Series		Asia		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Wellington Phoenix F.C. (A-League)	2009–10	4	0					4	0
	2010–11	17	2					17	2
	Club Total	21	2					21	2
Melbourne Victory (A-League)	2011–12	24	0					24	0
	2012–13	27	15					27	15
	Club Total	51	15					51	15
Career totals		72	17					72	17
Last updated 31 March 2013

External links

• Marco Rojas – FIFA competition record
• Melbourne Victory profile
• NZ Football Profile
• Wynton Rufer Soccer School Profile