Pedro Morales (footballer)

Pedro Andrés Morales Flores (born 25 May 1985) is a Chilean former footballer who played as a midfielder.

For the manager of the Chile national team in 1970s and 1980s, see Pedro Morales Torres.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Morales and the second or maternal family name is Flores.

Pedro Morales
Morales playing for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2015
Personal information
Full name Pedro Andrés Morales Flores
Date of birth (1985-05-25) 25 May 1985[1]
Place of birth Hualpén, Chile[1]
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder[1]
Youth career
Huachipato
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 Huachipato 88 (15)
2007–2008 Universidad de Chile 40 (15)
2008–2013 Dinamo Zagreb 60 (24)
2012 → Universidad de Chile (loan) 16 (1)
2013 → Málaga (loan) 7 (3)
2013–2014 Málaga 15 (1)
2014–2016 Vancouver Whitecaps 86 (25)
2017 Colo-Colo 7 (1)
2018 Universidad de Concepción 13 (0)
2019 Deportes Temuco 5 (0)
Total 337 (85)
International career
2005 Chile U20 10 (2)
2008–2010 Chile 12 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He began his professional career with Huachipato before moving to Universidad de Chile, and in 2007 was signed by Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia. After a loan back at Universidad de Chile and Spanish club Málaga, he spent a season with the latter before moving to Vancouver Whitecaps FC, where he served as a captain from 2014 until his departure.

Morales first represented Chile in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, making his senior international debut later in 2008.

Club career

Chile

Morales began his career with Huachipato in 2004, quickly developing into an important player for the club. His outstanding performance in the U-20 World Cup helped Morales make the switch from Huachipato to Universidad de Chile, one of Chile's oldest and most popular clubs. He made his debut in the summer of 2007, right before the Chilean Clausura tournament. His presence, quick feet and leadership skills allowed him to regularly play alongside Chile's top national team scorer, ex Juventus and Lazio center forward, Marcelo Salas. Morales finished the 5-month tournament as the second top scorer in the league with 13 goals.

Dinamo Zagreb and Málaga
Morales with Dinamo Zagreb in 2010

Morales signed a five-year contract with GNK Dinamo Zagreb on 11 June 2008.[2] After a first season of average performances, in his second season he established himself as one of Dinamo's main players. During his time at Dinamo he helped the club to three straight league titles.

After disappointing performances and injury problems, Dinamo loaned Morales to Universidad de Chile. He regained his best form in Chile helping Universidad in capturing the 2012 Apertura which led to another loan, back to Europe where he joined Málaga CF.[3] On 11 June 2013, he signed a two-year contract with Málaga.[4]

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Morales playing for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2014

On 5 March 2014 Morales was acquired by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer, for €300,000.[5] He was signed as the club's third Designated Player, after Kenny Miller and Matías Laba.[6] He made his debut four days later, assisting the third goal and scoring the fourth in a 4–1 win over reigning Supporters' Shield champions the New York Red Bulls at BC Place.[7] Vancouver finished fifth in the Western Conference, and lost to fourth-place FC Dallas in the knockout round for the MLS Cup Playoffs. Morales scored 10 goals in 34 matches, in addition to 12 assists, winning the MLS Newcomer of the Year Award.[8]

Morales left the Whitecaps on 7 December 2016. He left the team as the second top scorer of the Whitecaps with 25 goals behind Camilo Sanvezzo and leads with assists of 22.[9]

Colo-Colo

In January 2017, Morales signed with Chilean club Colo-Colo on a free transfer.[10][11][12]

International career

In January 2008, Morales was called up to the Chile national team by Marcelo Bielsa. The tour consisted of 2 friendlies where Chile beat South Korea 1–0 in Seoul and had a goalless draw with Japan at the Nissan Stadium. Morales played the full 90 minutes in both encounters.

A month later, Morales was called up to represent Chile in the prestigious 8-team, U23 Toulon tournament in France. He was chosen the 2nd best player of the tournament and scored what was voted as the tournament's best goal, thanks to a strike from the behind the half in a semifinal against Cote d'Ivoire. Morales's size, technique, goals, and assists allowed Chile to make it to the final where they conceded a 1–0 loss to Italy, in a highly contested encounter where Morales was able to rid himself of all nearby defenders and shoot a 25-yard rocket that hit the Italian post in the dying minutes of the game.

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.5 May 2010Tierra de Campeones, Iquique, Chile Trinidad and Tobago1–02–0Friendly
2.9 October 2010Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates0–20–2Friendly
3.12 October 2010Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman Oman0–10–1Friendly

Honours

Dinamo Zagreb

Universidad de Chile

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Individual

References

Notes
  1. "Pedro Morales". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  2. Morales signs for Dinamo Zagreb
  3. OFICIAL: El Málaga ficha al chileno Pedro Morales.. todomercadoweb.es. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  4. Morales es el primero. LaOpiniondeMálaga.es (in Spanish)
  5. Ballesteros, Jésus (5 March 2014). "Ya es oficial la salida de Pedro Morales del Málaga" [Exit of Pedro Morales from Málaga is now official]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  6. "Vancouver Whitecaps add Chilean midfielder Pedro Morales as designated player". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  7. "MLS Wrap: Vancouver thrash Red Bulls 4-1". Four Four Two. 9 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  8. "Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Morales wins MLS Newcomer of the Year". 3 December 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  9. "Whitecaps FC part ways with midfielder and captain Pedro Morales". WhiteCapsFC.com. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  10. "Pedro Morales debutó y anotó en nuevo amistoso de Colo Colo" (in Spanish). AS.com. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  11. ALDO SAINATI; MARC MAYO (17 January 2017). "Transfer market live". Marca.com. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  12. "Pedro Morales, a una firma de Colo Colo" (in Spanish). Fox Sports Chile. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
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