Richard Morales

Ríchard Javier Morales Aguirre (born 21 February 1975) is a Uruguayan retired footballer who played as a centre forward.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Morales and the second or maternal family name is Aguirre.

Richard Morales
Personal information
Full name Richard Javier Morales Aguirre
Date of birth (1975-02-21) 21 February 1975
Place of birth Las Piedras, Uruguay
Height 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Centre forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996 Platense 12 (1)
1997–1998 Basáñez 14 (7)
1999–2002 Nacional 98 (44)
2003–2005 Osasuna 50 (11)
2005–2007 Málaga 42 (3)
2007–2008 Nacional 25 (8)
2008–2009 Grêmio 6 (1)
2009 LDU 3 (0)
2009–2010 Fénix 5 (0)
Total 255 (75)
International career
2001–2005 Uruguay 27 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Nicknamed Chengue, he was mostly known for his tremendous physical strength and volatile temperament.[1] 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.[2] 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),[3][4] 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.[5] However, the following day, after club players were violently attacked by its fans, he decided not to join the Rio de Janeiro team.[6]

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;[7] 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[8]– 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.[9]

In the final stages in South Korea and Japan, Morales netted once in the 3–3 draw against Senegal, but in the final stages he missed a header that would have been his team's fourth goal and taken Uruguay through to the Round of 16.[10] He received a total of 27 caps, scoring six goals.

International goals for Uruguay

Score and results list Uruguay's goal tally first.[11]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.25 July 2001Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas, Pereira, Colombia Mexico
1–1
1–2
2001 Copa América
2.25 November 2001Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay Australia
2–0
3–0
2002 FIFA World Cup play-off
3.
3–0
4.21 May 2002National Stadium, Singapore Singapore
1–0
2–1
Friendly
5.
2–0
6.11 June 2002Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea Senegal
1–3
3–3
2002 FIFA World Cup

References
  1. "Morales makes his mark". BBC Sport. 26 November 2001. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  2. "Osasuna look to Morales". UEFA. 5 January 2003. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  3. "Osasuna regresa a los puestos europeos" [Osasuna return to European zone]. El País (in Spanish). 29 March 2004. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  4. "Insúa mata a Osasuna al final" [Insúa kills Osasuna in the end] (in Spanish). El Mundo. 4 April 2004. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  5. "Flamengo acerta com atacante uruguaio" [Flamengo sign Uruguayan forward] (in Portuguese). Terra. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2008.
  6. "Preocupada com ataque aos atletas, família proíbe Morales de jogar no Fla" [Worried with attack on athletes, family forbids Morales to play for Fla] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 6 August 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2008.
  7. Richard 'Chengue' Morales deja a Liga (Q) (Richard 'Chengue' Morales leaves Liga (Q)); El Comercio, 2 April 2009 (in Spanish)
  8. "Mexico win stormy semi". BBC Sport. 25 July 2001. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  9. "Uruguay end Aussie dream". BBC Sport. 25 November 2001. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  10. "Senegal cling on to qualify". BBC Sport. 11 June 2002. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  11. "RichardMorales (Player)". national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
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