Alejandro Moreno

Alejandro Enrique Moreno Riera (born July 8, 1979) is a Venezuelan former professional footballer who played as a forward, and who is a television commentator for ESPN FC, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Latin America. Moreno won three MLS Cups during his professional career. Moreno was chosen in 2021 to work as a commentator in the 2020 European Championship.

For the Mexican volleyball player, see Alejandro Moreno (volleyball). For the politician, see Alejandro Moreno Cárdenas. For the wrestler, see Alejandro Muñoz Moreno.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Moreno and the second or maternal family name is Riera.
Alejandro Moreno
Moreno in 2011
Personal information
Full name Alejandro Enrique Moreno Riera
Date of birth (1979-07-08) July 8, 1979
Place of birth Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1993–1998 Dallas Texans
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2001 UNC Greensboro Spartans
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 Los Angeles Galaxy 61 (12)
2005 San Jose Earthquakes 31 (8)
2006–2007 Houston Dynamo 34 (3)
2007–2009 Columbus Crew 74 (20)
2010 Philadelphia Union 26 (2)
2011–2012 Chivas USA 46 (7)
Total 272 (52)
International career
2004–2012 Venezuela 41 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

College

Moreno spent a year in Texas at age 12 and spent succeeding summers there before earning a scholarship for four years of college soccer at UNC Greensboro. He finished his college career fourth on the team's all-time scoring lists, with 65 goals and 25 assists, having been named first team NSCAA All-South all four years with the team.

Professional

After completing his career at Greensboro, Moreno was drafted 27th overall in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft by the Los Angeles Galaxy. He played sparingly in his rookie season, but developed into an excellent sparkplug coming off the bench in his second season, when he registered six goals and two assists in 1,117 minutes of playing time.

Although Moreno exhibited a good deal of promise in 2003, he was not able to earn a consistent starting role with the Galaxy because of a logjam at the forward position, which included Guatemalan star Carlos Ruiz and former US international Jovan Kirovski, as well as recent acquisition Joseph Ngwenya. In 2004, Moreno again registered six goals and two assists, this time in 1,297 minutes. He was traded to San Jose Earthquakes in the offseason in a four-player deal.[1] In his lone season with the Quakes, Moreno scored eight goals with four assists. Along with the rest of his Earthquakes teammates, he moved to Houston for the 2006 season.

Moreno was traded to Columbus Crew on May 10, 2007, in exchange for Joseph Ngwenya.[2] He scored the first goal in the 2008 MLS Cup for Columbus, who eventually won the game 3-1 against New York Red Bulls.

Moreno was selected by Philadelphia Union in the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft on 25 November 2009.[3]

On November 24, 2010, Moreno was selected by Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft, but was immediately traded to Chivas USA, along with Alan Gordon, in exchange for allocation money and an international roster spot.[4]

Moreno remained with Chivas USA through the 2012 season. After the conclusion of the 2012 season, Chivas USA declined the 2013 option on Moreno's contract and he entered the 2012 MLS Re-Entry Draft. Moreno became a free agent after he went undrafted in both rounds of the draft. In February 2013, he joined the Philadelphia Union as a television commentator, ending his playing career.[5]

International career

Moreno's performances in MLS saw him receive call-ups for the Venezuela national team. He made his first appearance for the senior team on February 18, 2004, against Australia. Due to his high quality of form during the 2008 MLS season, Moreno was again called up to the Venezuela national team for some 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification matches, scoring against Ecuador on October 15, 2008, in a 3–1 win.

Media career

In 2013, ESPN FC hired Moreno as a color commentator and analyst. He frequently covers Liga MX and Mexico national football team games on ESPN's English-language networks.[6] In 2014, he served as color commentator for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.

Career statistics
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result CompetitionRef.
1.August 20, 2008José Antonio Anzoátegui, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela Syria4–04–1Friendly
2.October 15, 2008Estadio Olímpico José Antonio Anzoátegui, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela Ecuador2–13–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.March 25, 2011Catherine Hall Stadium, Montego Bay, Jamaica Jamaica0–20–2Friendly

Honors

Los Angeles Galaxy

San Jose Earthquakes

  • Supporters' Shield: 2005

Houston Dynamo

Columbus Crew

References
  1. "Quakes Acquire Moreno, Aloisi In Trade With Galaxy | www.ktvu.com". Archived from the original on 2014-11-04. Retrieved 2014-11-04.
  2. "Dynamo pick up F Ngwenya in trade with Crew - MLS - Yahoo Sports". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2017-01-14.
  3. Union select 10 players in expansion draft Archived November 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Whitecaps FC select ten players in MLS 2010 Expansion Draft - Trade four selections to three MLS clubs". Whitecapsfc.com. 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  5. "Philadelphia Union hire Alejandro Moreno as new color analyst for local television broadcasts". Philadelphia Media Network (Digital), LLC. February 7, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  6. "Alejandro Moreno". ESPN. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
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