Javier Morales
Encyclopedia
Javier Morales is an Argentine
footballer who currently plays for Real Salt Lake
in Major League Soccer
.
, including two stints each with Lanús
and Arsenal de Sarandí
. He spent most of that time with Avellaneda-based Arsenal, playing in 146 matches and scoring 15 goals for the club. He spent his last season in Argentina with Instituto
before moving to Spain.
of the Spanish Second Division LIGA BBVA. In one lone season with the club, he scored five goals in 23 matches (20 starts). In August 2007, he moved to the United States to play for Real Salt Lake of the MLS.
and Fabián Espíndola
. Morales made an immediate impact for RSL: he tallied an assist 40 seconds into his MLS debut (August 29 vs. Kansas City Wizards
) - the fastest first assist in MLS history. His first career goal for RSL came September 19 against Los Angeles Galaxy
. He finished the season with one goal and two assists in seven matches (five starts).
In his second season with RSL (2008), Morales emerged as a star player and team leader. He started 29 of Real Salt Lake's 30 contests, totaling 6 goals (tied with Robbie Findley
for second-highest on the team, just behind Yura Movsisyan
). More importantly, Morales tallied 15 assists, shattering the club record of 11 set by Jeff Cunningham
in 2006. It was the second-highest total in the MLS that season, behind only league MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto
of Columbus Crew
. His outstanding play guided RSL to the club's first-ever appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs, where Morales continued to shine. He figured in all three of the team's postseason goals, scoring one and assisting on two as RSL advanced to the Western Conference Final.
During the offseason, Morales signed a contract extension that keeps him in Salt Lake until 2012. In 2009, he continues as one of RSL's top players, although his numbers have declined somewhat. His play has been solid enough to earn him a selection in the 2009 MLS All-Star Game. Already a fan favorite, Morales endeared himself even more to the RSL faithful with a spectacular goal in the team's 1-0 exhibition victory over Club America
on July 11. Morales started off the 2010 MLS season with a bang, tallying two goals and an assist against the San Jose Earthquakes
.
On May 7, 2011, 38 minutes into the game against Chivas USA, Morales suffered a fracture-dislocation in his left ankle after a challenge from Marcos Mondaini
. He was out for 4 1/2 months, returning to play on September 28, 2011.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
footballer who currently plays for Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Argentina
From 1998 to 2006, Morales played for four different clubs in the Primera Division ArgentinaPrimera División Argentina
The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs...
, including two stints each with Lanús
Club Atlético Lanús
Club Atlético Lanús is a sports club from Lanús, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Founded on 3 January 1915, the club's main sports are football and basketball. In both sports, Lanús plays in Argentina's top divisions: Primera División and Liga Nacional de Básquet...
and Arsenal de Sarandí
Arsenal de Sarandí
Arsenal Fútbol Club, usually referred as Arsenal de Sarandí, is a football club from the Sarandí neighbourhood in the city of Avellaneda, Argentina, which was founded in 1957 by the Grondona brothers. Arsenal currently plays in the top tier of Argentine football, the Primera División Argentina....
. He spent most of that time with Avellaneda-based Arsenal, playing in 146 matches and scoring 15 goals for the club. He spent his last season in Argentina with Instituto
Instituto Atlético Central Córdoba
Instituto Atlético Central Córdoba is an Argentine sports club from Córdoba, which professional football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second division of the Argentine football league system.Famous players who have played at Instituto include Osvaldo Ardiles, Mario Alberto...
before moving to Spain.
Spain
Morales spent 2006-07 with UD VecindarioUD Vecindario
Unión Deportiva Vecindario is a Spanish football team based in Vecindario, Santa Lucía de Tirajana, Gran Canaria, in the autonomous community of Canary Islands. Founded in 1962, it currently plays in 2ª B - Group 1, holding home games at Estadio Municipal de Vecindario, with a capacity of...
of the Spanish Second Division LIGA BBVA. In one lone season with the club, he scored five goals in 23 matches (20 starts). In August 2007, he moved to the United States to play for Real Salt Lake of the MLS.
United States
Morales was acquired by Real Salt Lake at the same time as fellow Argentines Matias MantillaMatias Mantilla
Matias Ezequiel Mantilla is an Argentine footballer who plays for Independiente Rivadavia as a defender.Mantilla started his career in 2000 with Argentinos Juniors in the Primera Division Argentina. In 2002 the club were relegated, but Mantilla stayed with them until his move to Club Atlético...
and Fabián Espíndola
Fabián Espíndola
Fabián Espíndola is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer.-South America:...
. Morales made an immediate impact for RSL: he tallied an assist 40 seconds into his MLS debut (August 29 vs. Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
) - the fastest first assist in MLS history. His first career goal for RSL came September 19 against Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
. He finished the season with one goal and two assists in seven matches (five starts).
In his second season with RSL (2008), Morales emerged as a star player and team leader. He started 29 of Real Salt Lake's 30 contests, totaling 6 goals (tied with Robbie Findley
Robbie Findley
Robert "Robbie" Findley is an American international soccer player who plays professionally for English club Nottingham Forest...
for second-highest on the team, just behind Yura Movsisyan
Yura Movsisyan
Yura Movsisyan is an Armenian-American footballer who currently plays for the Armenian national football team and Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League. Yura Movsisyan is the cousin of former Real Salt Lake player Artur Aghasyan....
). More importantly, Morales tallied 15 assists, shattering the club record of 11 set by Jeff Cunningham
Jeff Cunningham
Jeff Cunningham is a Jamaican-born American soccer player who played on multiple Major League Soccer teams. He is the MLS all-time leader in goals scored with 134.-College:...
in 2006. It was the second-highest total in the MLS that season, behind only league MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto is a former Argentine football forward.Barros Schelotto, nicknamed "Guille" or "Melli" , played 16 years of his professional career in the Argentine Primera División...
of Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
. His outstanding play guided RSL to the club's first-ever appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs, where Morales continued to shine. He figured in all three of the team's postseason goals, scoring one and assisting on two as RSL advanced to the Western Conference Final.
During the offseason, Morales signed a contract extension that keeps him in Salt Lake until 2012. In 2009, he continues as one of RSL's top players, although his numbers have declined somewhat. His play has been solid enough to earn him a selection in the 2009 MLS All-Star Game. Already a fan favorite, Morales endeared himself even more to the RSL faithful with a spectacular goal in the team's 1-0 exhibition victory over Club America
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
on July 11. Morales started off the 2010 MLS season with a bang, tallying two goals and an assist against the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
.
On May 7, 2011, 38 minutes into the game against Chivas USA, Morales suffered a fracture-dislocation in his left ankle after a challenge from Marcos Mondaini
Marcos Mondaini
Marcos Gustavo Mondaini is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for C.D. Chivas USA in Major League Soccer, on loan from Centro Atlético Fénix.-South America:...
. He was out for 4 1/2 months, returning to play on September 28, 2011.
Real Salt Lake
- Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
All-Star: 20092009 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2009 Major League Soccer season was the 14th season of Major League Soccer. The season began on March 19 and ended with Real Salt Lake winning the MLS Cup 2009, on November 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington-Changes from the 2008 season:...
, 20102010 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2010 Major League Soccer season was the 98th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 32nd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 15th in MLS history. It began on March 25 at Seattle's Qwest Field with Seattle Sounders FC defeating the expansion... - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Eastern Conference Championship (team): 20092009 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2009 Major League Soccer season was the 14th season of Major League Soccer. The season began on March 19 and ended with Real Salt Lake winning the MLS Cup 2009, on November 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington-Changes from the 2008 season:... - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
MLS CupMLS CupThe MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
(team): 20092009 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2009 Major League Soccer season was the 14th season of Major League Soccer. The season began on March 19 and ended with Real Salt Lake winning the MLS Cup 2009, on November 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington-Changes from the 2008 season:...