Marco Rojas facts for kids
Rojas playing for New Zealand at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Marco Rodrigo Rojas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 5 November 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Hamilton, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hamilton Wanderers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Hamilton Wanderers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Waikato | 13 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Wellington Phoenix | 20 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Melbourne Victory | 48 | (15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2016 | VfB Stuttgart | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2016 | VfB Stuttgart II | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | → Greuther Fürth (loan) | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | → Greuther Fürth II (loan) | 4 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | → Thun (loan) | 37 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Melbourne Victory | 25 | (12) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2019 | Heerenveen | 25 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | SønderjyskE | 30 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2022 | Melbourne Victory | 44 | (12) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Colo-Colo | 13 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Brisbane Roar | 8 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Wellington Phoenix | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | New Zealand U20 | 9 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | New Zealand U23 | 6 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011– | New Zealand | 45 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 March 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 March 2018 |
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Marco Rodrigo Rojas (born on November 5, 1991) is a professional footballer from New Zealand. He plays as a forward. Most recently, he played for Wellington Phoenix and the New Zealand national football team.
Contents
Early Life and Football Beginnings
Marco Rojas grew up in Hamilton, New Zealand. He went to Aberdeen Primary School and Maeroa Intermediate School. His family background is Chilean. Marco started his football journey at the Wynrs football academy, run by famous player Wynton Rufer.
Club Career Highlights
Playing for Wellington Phoenix
After training in Germany, Marco Rojas got a chance to try out for the Wellington Phoenix. He impressed the coach, Ricki Herbert, and was offered a two-year contract.
He made his first professional appearance in the A-League on September 13, 2009. He was only 17 years old. Marco scored his first goal for the Phoenix on December 18, 2010, in a big 4–0 win. He was named the NAB Young Player of the Month in February 2011. He also won the Wellington Phoenix Young Player of the Year award.
Joining Melbourne Victory
On March 11, 2011, Marco officially joined Melbourne Victory on a two-year deal. He played his first game for them in October 2011.
In the 2012–13 season, Marco really shined. He scored his first goal for Melbourne Victory in a game against Melbourne Heart. He ended up scoring 15 goals that season. For his amazing performance, he won two big awards: the Johnny Warren Medal and the A-League Young Footballer of the Year. In April 2013, Marco decided to leave Melbourne Victory to play football in Europe.
Moving to VfB Stuttgart in Germany
In May 2013, Marco signed a contract with VfB Stuttgart, a team in Germany's top league, the Bundesliga. He scored his first goal for them in a friendly match. However, he got a foot injury soon after, which kept him from playing for a few weeks.
Loan to Greuther Fürth
In August 2014, Marco was loaned to SpVgg Greuther Fürth. He played a few games for them before his loan ended in January 2015.
Loan to FC Thun
He then moved on loan to FC Thun in Switzerland in January 2015. He scored his first goal for FC Thun in his very first game. His loan was extended for another season until mid-2016.
Returning to Melbourne Victory (Again!)
On August 25, 2016, Marco came back to Melbourne Victory in the A-League. He signed a two-year contract. He quickly scored important goals, including a winning goal against Adelaide United.
Playing in the Netherlands and Denmark
In July 2017, Marco joined SC Heerenveen, a club in the Netherlands. After two years there, he moved to SønderjyskE in Denmark in January 2019. He played for them until the end of 2019.
Third Time with Melbourne Victory
On January 22, 2020, Marco Rojas signed with Melbourne Victory for a third time! He stayed with the club for two and a half years.
Playing in Chile and Australia Again
In July 2022, Marco moved to Chile, his father's home country, to play for Colo-Colo. He played there for about a year and a half.
In 2024, Marco returned to the A-League, joining Brisbane Roar for the second half of the 2023-24 season. Later in 2024, he rejoined Wellington Phoenix.
International Career for New Zealand
Marco Rojas has played for New Zealand's national football team, known as the All Whites. He first joined the team in March 2011. He made his debut against China.
He also played for the New Zealand U-20 team. He helped them win the 2011 OFC U-20 Championship, which meant they qualified for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In that World Cup, he helped New Zealand score a goal against Uruguay.
Marco was part of the New Zealand team for the 2012 Summer Olympics, though he did not play in any games. He has scored 5 goals for the senior national team.
Awards and Achievements
Marco Rojas has won several awards and titles throughout his career:
- Melbourne Victory
- FFA Cup: 2021
- New Zealand
- OFC Nations Cup: 2016
- OFC U-20 Championship: 2011
- Individual Awards
- Oceania Footballer of the Year: 2012
- Johnny Warren Medal: 2012–13 (This is like the best player award in the A-League!)
- A-League Young Footballer of the Year: 2012–13
- A-League PFA Team of the Season: 2012–13
- IFFHS OFC Men's Team of the Decade: 2011–2020
- IFFHS Oceania Men's Team of All Time: 2021
See also
In Spanish: Marco Rojas para niños
