Jackie Marrero Hoping To Take Opportunity At Puerto Rico FC

Jackie Marrero is one of the young players on Puerto Rico FC, an island native who is hoping to take advantage of professional soccer’s return.

After playing briefly for the Puerto Rico Islanders, an earlier NASL club unaffiliated with the new team, Marrero will again suit up for his local professional side. He appeared three times in the NASL in 2012 under the guidance of Adrian Whitbread, who is now the coach of Puerto Rico FC.

With Puerto Rico FC, Marrero, 22, can develop further and build chemistry with several national side teammates.

“At least for the players that are on the team we are going to be playing every week, training every day, and we’re going to be professionals,” Marrero told NASL.com “We’re going to be able to contribute immediately to the Puerto Rican national team.”

Marrero recently had an assist in a friendly against the United States, a 3-1 loss, and played in both Caribbean Cup qualification wins.

“It helped me mentally because it reminded me to think more during the game,” he said. “It was a tough experience because it was hot and I was playing against players of the quality of the U.S., so it helped a great deal.”

Marrero played recently in Finland with Kultsu FC, scoring six times in 21 league appearances during his one season with the club.

He said of his time abroad: “It was a learning experience. It was a beautiful experience in a beautiful country. It was a great league and very competitive. It allowed me to grow professionally.”

Marrero and Puerto Rico FC hope to develop and build chemistry as a unit heading into their first league game, on July 2, at home against Spring Season Champion Indy Eleven.

“We have big expectations, but we’re going to take it one game at a time,” he said. “Every week we’re going to try to get a win and then after we get that one, we’ll start working on the next.”