Romell Quioto joined the Houston Dynamo on December 23rd, 2016 on a TAM deal. He arrived from Honduran club CD Olimpia, where he scored 38 goals across three seasons. Quioto was 25 years old at the time of the transfer, he had played in various clubs located in his home country of Honduras, as well as a short loan stint in Poland. Once Quioto arrived in Houston, he made an immediate impact. Just 42 minutes into his debut against Seattle, he hit an exquisite curler into the right side-netting from long-range. He won MLS Goal of the Week and made Team of the Week for the performance. Just over one minute into his second match against Columbus, he intercepted an errant before scoring another goal. In Quioto's third match, Alberth Elis found him at the back post for a quick touch and finish. He scored three goals in his first three matches with the club, a flying start.
In May, Quioto scored a goal reminiscent of his first goal against Seattle, this time he curled one in versus Orlando City. In September, he scored against the United States in a 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier with Honduras. Quioto burned Omar Gonzalez before neatly placing his shot off the far post and in. He has made 64 caps for his country, scoring 13 goals. In October, Quioto scored a match-winner in a massive upset victory over Mexico. Back in MLS, he scored on Decision Day after running half the pitch to score the goal. Houston finished fourth, but eventually got shutout by Seattle in the Western Conference Final.
The Dynamo struggled for results at the beginning of 2018, but Quioto provided a goal and 2 assists in a 5-1 victory over Toronto FC in April to help put the team back on track. Two games later, he scored on a direct free kick while hosting LA Galaxy, with some assistance from a deflection. Houston were making a surging run in the US Open Cup during the 2018 season as well. In the quarters, Quioto scored a brace, including this beautiful curling free kick over the wall. Houston advanced to the US Open Cup Final, setting up a home matchup against Philadelphia. The Dynamo glided to victory against the Union, with a brace from Mauro Manotas and an own goal from now Sheffield United CB Auston Trusty. Quioto scored on Decision Day for the second consecutive year, dragging Galaxy defenders side to side before casually putting it away. LA had to win to make the playoffs, the Dynamo were already eliminated. The Galaxy led 2-0, but gave up three unanswered goals to Houston, who spoiled the party. Quioto finished the season with an impressive 6 goals and 12 assists.
In 2019, Quioto had an off year. He played less than 800 minutes on the season after having a knee injury towards the start of the year. He was also mostly being used as a substitute when he did play. His two goals came in two consecutive matches, in losses against FC Cincinnati and LAFC. Houston missed the playoffs again. Romell Quioto played his last match for the Houston Dynamo on August 8th against NYCFC. The manner in which he left was interesting, to say the least. In that match, he was red carded for an elbow to the head on Ronald Matarrita. Quioto was suspended and fined, then was practically kicked off the team, needless to say his time in Houston was over.
On November 20th, 2019, Quioto was traded to the Montreal Impact in exchange for defender Victor Cabrera and $100K GAM. Just as Quioto did in Houston, he scored a first-half debut goal for Montreal. The goal came in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions League tie against Saprissa. His first MLS goal was scored in an MLS is Back Tournament edition of the Canadian Classique. In September, Montreal played Vancouver twice, three days apart due to the strange scheduling of 2020. In both matches, Quioto scored a goal. He steered home a Piette cross in the first match, a win, then showed his strength to score in the second match, a loss. He also scored in the next match against the Philadelphia Union, curling a deep free kick around the wall. Montreal qualified for the play-in matches of the playoffs against New England. Quioto even scored a power header against Matt Turner, but it was nullified by a late Gustavo Bou winner.
In the first match of 2021, Romell Quioto scorched the Toronto FC defense and blasted a shot into the roof of the net in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Yes, you read that right. In January, the team changed its name from Montreal Impact to CF Montreal, so this was the first match played with the rebrand. Quioto continued to star for his national team, he scored a brace against Panama in a 3-2 Gold Cup win in July. In his return to MLS from international play, he scored against Toronto FC on an assist from Djordje Mihailovic. The guy just loves to score against Montreal's rival. In September, Quioto scored in three straight matches. The first came in Orlando, seconds after Nani was sent off. In October, he dropped a brace on Atlanta United. His first of the night was one of his signature strike from a seemingly impossible angle, the second a penalty. Montreal missed the playoffs in heartbreaking fashion, by just two points.
In 2022, Romell Quioto absolutely went off. CF Montreal were firing on all cylinders, all season long. His first MLS goal of the season was a penalty kick in a 3-3 draw at Atlanta. In April, Quioto scored a goal off a hilariously bad mistake from Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, allowing him to virtually dribble into the net. Known for their wild matchups, FC Cincinnati and CF Montreal faced off on May 28th. Montreal defeated Cincy 5-4 and 4-3 in two of the prior three fixtures. In this match, Montreal won 4-3 again, and Quioto scored twice. He rung the bell in first half stoppage time after glitching through three FCC players. He barely scored on a PK later on that trickled in to secure the win. Just 45 seconds into a road match at DC United, Quioto robbed Donovan Pines and scored the first half of another brace. In August, he went on a stretch of scoring 6 goals in 4 matches. In an early August match against Inter Miami, Piette launched a cross into the box that Quioto was able to finish on the first time, following with his signature fingers in the ears celebration. He also beat Drake Callender with a low penalty. In a blowout win against New England at State Saputo, it was another brace for Romell Quioto. Lassi Lappalainen set up his first goal. He then absolutely toasted Andrew Farrell to grab another. CF Montreal finished second in the Eastern Conference, only behind Philadelphia. They defeated Orlando in round one, but the great season ended there, as they lost 3-1 to NYCFC, Quioto only playing 36 minutes.
The 2023 version of Romell Quioto has been an injured one. In total, he has missed 20 matches due to his hamstring issues. He missed the month of April due to an original hamstring problem before returning in May. Prior to the injury, Quioto scored a brace against the Philadelphia Union. He beat Joe Bendik on a penalty early on, but his second goal was more impactful. After a long VAR situation that saw the game tied at two, Quioto broke free and headed home a 98th minute winner that had all the emotions flowing at Olympic Stadium. The most recent Romell Quioto goal came on May 6th against Orlando City. His more serious injury has seen him out since May, though he is finally starting to make his way back. Quioto appeared for the first time in four months, a 13 minute cameo against Chicago Fire on Saturday, September 16th. Montreal hope he will be available for a playoff push here in the final stretch. Romell Quioto is one of those guys that always seems to be in the right place at the right time, smashing in meaningful goals, and for that he comes in at #83 in the ranking.
YEAR | CLUB | MINUTES | GOALS | ASSISTS |
2023 | MTL | 477* | 3* | 0* |
2022 | MTL | 2,054 | 15 | 6 |
2021 | MTL | 1,240 | 8 | 6 |
2020 | MTL | 1,483 | 8 | 6 |
2019 | HOU | 794 | 2 | 2 |
2018 | HOU | 2,252 | 6 | 12 |
2017 | HOU | 1,281 | 7 | 3 |
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