Pedro Morales (footballer)

For the manager of the Chile national team in 1970s and 1980s, see Pedro Morales (football manager).
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name 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
Place of birth Hualpén, Chile
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Number 77
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 → U. de Chile (loan) 16 (1)
2013 → Málaga (loan) 7 (3)
2013–2014 Málaga 15 (1)
2014– Vancouver Whitecaps FC 82 (24)
National team‡
2008–2010 Chile 12 (3)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:13, 19 October 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 October 2010

Pedro Andrés Morales Flores (born 25 May 1985) is a Chilean footballer who plays for Canadian club Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer, as an attacking midfielder. He has served as the club's captain since 2014.

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.

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.[1] After a first season of average performances, in his second season with Croatian club he soon 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 and that led him to another loan, this time back to Europe where he joined Málaga CF.[2] On 11 June 2013, he signed a two-year contract with Málaga.[3]

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

On 5 March 2014 Morales was acquired by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer, for €300,000.[4] He was signed as the club's third Designated Player, after Kenny Miller and Matías Laba.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7]

International career

In January 2008, Morales was called up to the Chilean 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

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 5 May 2010 Tierra de Campeones, Iquique, Chile  Trinidad and Tobago 1–0 2–0 Friendly
2. 9 October 2010 Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates  United Arab Emirates 0–2 0–2 Friendly
3. 12 October 2010 Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman  Oman 0–1 0–1 Friendly

Honours

Dinamo Zagreb

Universidad de Chile

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Individual

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Morales signs for Dinamo Zagreb
  2. ↑ OFICIAL: El Málaga ficha al chileno Pedro Morales.. todomercadoweb.es. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  3. ↑ Morales es el primero. LaOpiniondeMálaga.es (Spanish)
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "Vancouver Whitecaps add Chilean midfielder Pedro Morales as designated player". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "MLS Wrap: Vancouver thrash Red Bulls 4-1". Four Four Two. 9 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Morales wins MLS Newcomer of the Year". 3 December 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.

External links

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