Richard Morales
{{short description|Uruguayan footballer (born 1975)}}
{{family name hatnote|Morales|Aguirre|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Richard Morales
| image =
| fullname = Richard Javier Morales Aguirre
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|2|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = Las Piedras, Uruguay
| height = {{convert|1.96|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| position = Centre forward
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1996 | clubs1 = Platense | caps1 = 12 | goals1 = 1
| years2 = 1997–1998 | clubs2 = Basáñez | caps2 = 14 | goals2 = 7
| years3 = 1999–2002 | clubs3 = Nacional | caps3 = 98 | goals3 = 44
| years4 = 2003–2005 | clubs4 = Osasuna | caps4 = 50 | goals4 = 11
| years5 = 2005–2007 | clubs5 = Málaga | caps5 = 42 | goals5 = 3
| years6 = 2007–2008 | clubs6 = Nacional | caps6 = 25 | goals6 = 8
| years7 = 2008–2009 | clubs7 = Grêmio | caps7 = 6 | goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2009 | clubs8 = LDU | caps8 = 3 | goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2009–2010 | clubs9 = Fénix | caps9 = 5 | goals9 = 0
| totalcaps = 255 | totalgoals = 75
| nationalyears1 = 2001–2005 | nationalteam1 = Uruguay | nationalcaps1 = 27 | nationalgoals1 = 6
}}
Ríchard Javier Morales Aguirre (born 21 February 1975) is a Uruguayan retired footballer who played as a centre forward.
Nicknamed Chengue, he was mostly known for his tremendous physical strength and volatile temperament.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1676563.stm|title=Morales makes his mark|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 November 2001|access-date=21 July 2010}} He played professionally in four countries – mainly Spain – his heyday coming at Nacional.
Morales represented Uruguay at the 2002 World Cup, as well as in two Copa América tournaments.
Club career
Morales was born in Las Piedras, Canelones Department. After starting his professional career with Club Atlético Platense and Basáñez, he transferred to Club Nacional de Football in 1999. There, he helped the capital club to the 1998 Primera División title.
In January 2003, Morales moved to Spain, reuniting with Pablo García at CA Osasuna.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=48124.html#osasuna+look+morales|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024101024/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=48124.html#osasuna+look+morales|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 October 2012|title=Osasuna look to Morales|publisher=UEFA|date=5 January 2003|access-date=22 June 2010}} After spending his first two and a half seasons as a rarely used attacking option (his first goals came in late April-early March 2004 in two consecutive 1–1 draws, against Real Valladolid and Málaga CF),{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/29/deportes/1080511211_850215.html|title=Osasuna regresa a los puestos europeos|trans-title=Osasuna return to European zone|work=El País|language=es|date=29 March 2004|access-date=11 October 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2004/04/04/liga/1081101098.html|title=Insúa mata a Osasuna al final|trans-title=Insúa kills Osasuna in the end|publisher=El Mundo|language=es|date=4 April 2004|access-date=11 October 2017}} he scored nine La Liga goals in the 2004–05 campaign, being instrumental in the Navarrese side's narrow escape from relegation.
Morales signed for Málaga subsequently, but would only net once in 2005–06 as the Andalusians went on to rank last, adding just two in the following season's second division.
On 5 August 2008 Morales, after a brief return stint with Nacional, agreed to a contract with Clube de Regatas do Flamengo for the rest of the campaign, with the option to renew the contract for another year.{{cite web|url=http://esportes.terra.com.br/futebol/brasileiro/2008/interna/0,,OI3056325-EI11421,00-Flamengo+acerta+com+atacante+uruguaio.html|title=Flamengo acerta com atacante uruguaio|trans-title=Flamengo sign Uruguayan forward|publisher=Terra|language=pt|date=5 August 2008|access-date=5 August 2008}} However, the following day, after club players were violently attacked by its fans, he decided not to join the Rio de Janeiro team.{{cite web|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/Times/Flamengo/0,,MUL714239-9865,00-PREOCUPADA+COM+ATAQUE+AOS+ATLETAS+FAMILIA+PROIBE+MORALES+DE+JOGAR+NO+FLA.html|title=Preocupada com ataque aos atletas, família proíbe Morales de jogar no Fla|trans-title=Worried with attack on athletes, family forbids Morales to play for Fla|publisher=Globo Esporte|language=pt|date=6 August 2008|access-date=6 August 2008}}
On 31 August 2008, Morales signed with Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense. The following 16 February he moved to L.D.U. Quito, but left the squad on 2 April due to his father's poor health;[http://www.elcomercio.com/solo_texto_search.asp?id_noticia=172709&anio=2009&mes=4&dia=3 Richard 'Chengue' Morales deja a Liga (Q) (Richard 'Chengue' Morales leaves Liga (Q))]; El Comercio, 2 April 2009 {{in lang|es}} before retiring the following year, he played a few matches for Centro Atlético Fénix.
International career
Having first appeared for Uruguay at 26, during the 2001 Copa América – where he scored in the 1–2 semi-final loss to Mexico{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1454927.stm|title=Mexico win stormy semi|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 July 2001|access-date=21 July 2010}}– Morales came to international prominence on 15 November 2001, when his two late goals against Australia in the qualification playoffs ensured his country a place at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1674762.stm|title=Uruguay end Aussie dream|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 November 2001|access-date=21 July 2010}}
In the final stages in South Korea and Japan, Morales netted once in the 3–3 draw against Senegal, but he missed a header that would have been his team's fourth goal and taken Uruguay through to the Round of 16.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/matches_wallchart/senegal_v_uruguay/newsid_1926000/1926996.stm|title=Senegal cling on to qualify|publisher=BBC Sport|date=11 June 2002|access-date=21 July 2010}} He received a total of 27 caps, scoring six goals.
International goals for Uruguay
:Score and results list Uruguay's goal tally first.{{cite web | url = https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/7018/Richard_Morales.html | title = RichardMorales (Player) | website = national-football-teams.com | access-date = 14 June 2022}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%" | ||||||
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 25 July 2001 | Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas, Pereira, Colombia | {{fb|MEX}} | {{center|1–1}} | {{center|1–2}} | 2001 Copa América |
| 2. | rowspan=2|25 November 2001 | rowspan=2|Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay | rowspan=2|{{fb|AUS}} | {{center|2–0}} | rowspan=2|{{center|3–0}} | rowspan=2|2002 FIFA World Cup play-off |
| 3. | {{center|3–0}} | |||||
| 4. | rowspan=2|21 May 2002 | rowspan=2|National Stadium, Singapore | rowspan=2|{{fb|SGP}} | {{center|1–0}} | rowspan=2|{{center|2–1}} | rowspan=2|Friendly |
| 5. | {{center|2–0}} | |||||
| 6. | 11 June 2002 | Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea | {{fb|SEN}} | {{center|1–3}} | {{center|3–3}} | 2002 FIFA World Cup |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{BDFutbol|2339}}
- [http://www.tenfieldigital.com.uy/servlet/hprfchsj?2,1379,2%2F1379%2F,1,71 National team data] {{in lang|es}}
- {{NFT player|pid=7018}}
- {{FIFA player|185368}}
- {{ESPNsoccernet|id=68723}}
{{Uruguay Squad Copa América 2001}}
{{Uruguay Squad 2002 World Cup}}
{{Uruguay Squad Copa América 2004}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morales, Richard}}
Category:African diaspora in Uruguay
Category:Uruguayan people of Spanish descent
Category:Uruguayan men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Uruguayan Primera División players
Category:Uruguayan Segunda División players
Category:Club Nacional de Football players
Category:Centro Atlético Fénix players
Category:Segunda División players
Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players
Category:Ecuadorian Serie A players
Category:L.D.U. Quito footballers
Category:Uruguay men's international footballers
Category:2001 Copa América players
Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2004 Copa América players
Category:Uruguayan expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Brazil
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Ecuador
Category:Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Brazil