Marcelo Moretto
Encyclopedia
Marcelo Moretto de Souza, known as Moretto (born 10 May 1978 in Eldorado, Mato Grosso do Sul
) is a Brazil
ian footballer who plays for Avaí Futebol Clube
as a goalkeeper.
, Associação Portuguesa de Desportos
, Londrina Esporte Clube
, Sport Club do Recife
, Brasiliense Futebol Clube
and Clube 15 de Novembro
.
In 2003, aged 25, Moretto decided to try his luck in Portugal
, joining S.C. Salgueiros, at the time playing in the second division
, and made a very good first impression during the team's pre-season matches. However, facing serious economical crisis, Salgueiros was relegated to the third division
(north zone) and lost all of its professional players.
Forced to look for another club, Moretto joined F.C. Felgueiras (also in the second division). There, he played eight matches, conceding a total of 10 goals. Nevertheless, Moretto caught the attention of other Portuguese clubs.
In January 2005, the keeper came close playing for G.D. Estoril Praia and F.C. Penafiel (both first divisioners at the time), but ended up in Vitória de Setúbal
(also in the topflight) to replace Ricardo Batista
(who had signed for Premier League team Fulham
) after signing a two-and-a-half year contract. At Setúbal Moretto met success for the first time. He soon became the coach's first option while the team performed above all expectations, winning the country's second most important trophy, the Portuguese Cup
, after beating giants S.L. Benfica in the final.
In 2005–06, Moretto started off the season in Setúbal. The team performed well during the first half, with Moretto playing 17 matches and suffering only five goals. After enjoying a remarkable success, Vitória was struck by the resignation of their coach, Luis Norton de Matos, and a few other players due to unpaid wages. The year 2005 ended with Moretto being the number one goalkeeper of all European leagues, with the less number of goals conceded per minute played.
and New Year
break in Portugal
, a lot was spoken in the press about Moretto's possible transfer to Benfica or F.C. Porto. In a controversial move, Moretto followed his will and picked Benfica to be his new club after explaining the allegedly «bad behaviour» of both the player's manager and Porto chairmen. Porto officially denied immediate interest in the player. The transfer cost Benfica €
1 million and Moretto signed for five-and-a-half years.
Benfica's interest gained strength as José Moreira
suffered an injury that would keep him off the pitch for the remainder of the season. Quim, the team's other goalkeeper also suffered an injury, leaving the team with only the junior unexperienced Rui Nereu
to play both the domestic league and the UEFA Champions League
. Upon his arrival, he immediately became Ronald Koeman
's number one choice between the posts, even with Quim fully recovered.
Throughout the rest of the campaign, Moretto played on 18 occasions in the league, once in the cup and four times in the Champions League, against reigning champions Liverpool
(conceding no goals) and FC Barcelona
, where he stopped Ronaldinho
's penalty
and Samuel Eto'o
shots.
The Brazilian did not have an easy time after joining Benfica because, alternating above-average performances with subpar ones, he suffered from the irrational animosity of the club supporters, which greatly undermined his concentration. As a result, upon the departure of Koeman and arrival of his replacement, Fernando Santos, Moretto was relegated to the role of substitute goalkeeper, with Quim again taking over the nets. During the season he played only one match, often splitting the subs bench with Moreira.
On 13 July 2007, Moretto agreed to join AEK Athens FC on a loan deal. The Greek
team had the option to purchase the player at the end of the loan period, which was not activated, and he returned to Benfica for 2008–09.
.
In July 2010, however, Moretto returned to Portugal, signing with lowly first-divisioner S.C. Olhanense. In the following transfer window
, he changed teams - and countries - again, joining Arka Gdynia
in Poland
.
* – Not available
Eldorado, Mato Grosso do Sul
Eldorado is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Its population was 11,080 and its area is 1,018 km²....
) is a Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian footballer who plays for Avaí Futebol Clube
Avaí Futebol Clube
Avaí Futebol Clube is a Brazilian football team from Florianópolis in Santa Catarina, founded on September 1, 1923. Their best known supporter is tennis player Gustavo Kuerten.Their home stadium is the Ressacada stadium, with a capacity 17,800...
as a goalkeeper.
Early years
Moretto played four years professionally in his homecountry, representing São José Esporte ClubeSão José Esporte Clube
São José Esporte Clube, usually called São José, and nicknamed Eagle of the Valley , is the main football team in São José dos Campos. It was founded on August 13, 1933...
, Associação Portuguesa de Desportos
Associação Portuguesa de Desportos
Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, usually called Portuguesa or Lusa, is a sports club, and a Brazilian football team from São Paulo in São Paulo state, founded on August 14, 1920 by the Portuguese population of the city.-History:...
, Londrina Esporte Clube
Londrina Esporte Clube
Londrina Esporte Clube, or Londrina as they are usually called, is a Brazilian football team from Londrina in Paraná, founded on April 5, 1956. The club won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B in 1980, won the state championship three times, and competed several times in the Campeonato Brasileiro...
, Sport Club do Recife
Sport Club do Recife
Sport Club do Recife, more popularly known as Sport in Recife or Sport Recife in Northeastern Brazil, is a football team from Recife, Pernambuco.-1905 - Foundation:...
, Brasiliense Futebol Clube
Brasiliense Futebol Clube
The Brasiliense Futebol Clube is a Brazilian football club, based in Taguatinga, Distrito Federal.Brasiliense wears yellow uniforms, hence one of its supporters' associations is named Febre Amarela...
and Clube 15 de Novembro
Clube 15 de Novembro
Clube 15 de Novembro, or 15 de Novembro as they are usually called, is a Brazilian football team from Campo Bom in Rio Grande do Sul, founded on November 15, 1911....
.
In 2003, aged 25, Moretto decided to try his luck in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, joining S.C. Salgueiros, at the time playing in the second division
Liga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
, and made a very good first impression during the team's pre-season matches. However, facing serious economical crisis, Salgueiros was relegated to the third division
Portuguese Second Division
The Portuguese Second Division is a football league in Portugal, situated at the third level of the Portuguese football league system...
(north zone) and lost all of its professional players.
Forced to look for another club, Moretto joined F.C. Felgueiras (also in the second division). There, he played eight matches, conceding a total of 10 goals. Nevertheless, Moretto caught the attention of other Portuguese clubs.
In January 2005, the keeper came close playing for G.D. Estoril Praia and F.C. Penafiel (both first divisioners at the time), but ended up in Vitória de Setúbal
Vitória F.C.
Vitória Futebol Clube is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Setúbal. Popularly known as Vitória de Setúbal with the motto "A Vitória será nossa" .- Domestic :*Portuguese Liga: Runners-up 1971–72...
(also in the topflight) to replace Ricardo Batista
Ricardo Batista
Ricardo Jorge Cecília Batista is a Portuguese professional footballer.-Career:Batista currently plays as a goalkeeper for Olhanense on loan from Sporting Clube de Portugal, having previously played for English Premier League club, Fulham, and his home club, Vitória de Setúbal...
(who had signed for Premier League team Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
) after signing a two-and-a-half year contract. At Setúbal Moretto met success for the first time. He soon became the coach's first option while the team performed above all expectations, winning the country's second most important trophy, the Portuguese Cup
Taça de Portugal
The Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
, after beating giants S.L. Benfica in the final.
In 2005–06, Moretto started off the season in Setúbal. The team performed well during the first half, with Moretto playing 17 matches and suffering only five goals. After enjoying a remarkable success, Vitória was struck by the resignation of their coach, Luis Norton de Matos, and a few other players due to unpaid wages. The year 2005 ended with Moretto being the number one goalkeeper of all European leagues, with the less number of goals conceded per minute played.
Benfica
During the 2005 ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
and New Year
New Year
The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner....
break in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, a lot was spoken in the press about Moretto's possible transfer to Benfica or F.C. Porto. In a controversial move, Moretto followed his will and picked Benfica to be his new club after explaining the allegedly «bad behaviour» of both the player's manager and Porto chairmen. Porto officially denied immediate interest in the player. The transfer cost Benfica €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
1 million and Moretto signed for five-and-a-half years.
Benfica's interest gained strength as José Moreira
José Moreira
José Filipe da Silva Moreira OIH is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Swansea City in Wales, as a goalkeeper.-Early years:...
suffered an injury that would keep him off the pitch for the remainder of the season. Quim, the team's other goalkeeper also suffered an injury, leaving the team with only the junior unexperienced Rui Nereu
Rui Nereu
Rui Miguel Nereu de Branco Batista , known as Nereu, is a Portuguese footballer who plays for F.C. Arouca as a goalkeeper.-Football career:...
to play both the domestic league and the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. Upon his arrival, he immediately became Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman is a former Dutch footballer, and the current manager of Feyenoord. He is the younger brother of former Feyenoord coach Erwin Koeman and the son of former Dutch international Martin Koeman...
's number one choice between the posts, even with Quim fully recovered.
Throughout the rest of the campaign, Moretto played on 18 occasions in the league, once in the cup and four times in the Champions League, against reigning champions Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
(conceding no goals) and FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, where he stopped Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira , commonly known as Ronaldinho or Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Flamengo and the Brazilian national team as an attacking midfielder or forward. He is a two-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year, awarded to the best player over the year...
's penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
and Samuel Eto'o
Samuel Eto'o
Samuel Eto'o Fils is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Russian team Anzhi Makhachkala. He is also the current captain of the Cameroon national team.Eto'o trained at Kadji Sports Academy...
shots.
The Brazilian did not have an easy time after joining Benfica because, alternating above-average performances with subpar ones, he suffered from the irrational animosity of the club supporters, which greatly undermined his concentration. As a result, upon the departure of Koeman and arrival of his replacement, Fernando Santos, Moretto was relegated to the role of substitute goalkeeper, with Quim again taking over the nets. During the season he played only one match, often splitting the subs bench with Moreira.
On 13 July 2007, Moretto agreed to join AEK Athens FC on a loan deal. The Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
team had the option to purchase the player at the end of the loan period, which was not activated, and he returned to Benfica for 2008–09.
Late career
On 3 August 2009, Benfica released Moretto from his contract, with the player planning to return to his country. Late in the year, he signed with a team he had already represented, Brasiliense – second divisionCampeonato Brasileiro Série B
The Série B is the second division of Brazilian football. It is played by 20 teams. However, the competition format has changed almost every year since it first occurred, in 1971. In some years, it was not played altogether...
.
In July 2010, however, Moretto returned to Portugal, signing with lowly first-divisioner S.C. Olhanense. In the following transfer window
Transfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
, he changed teams - and countries - again, joining Arka Gdynia
Arka Gdynia
Morski Związkowy Klub Sportowy Arka Gdynia is a Polish professional football club, based in Gdynia, Poland, that plays in the Polish 1 Liga. The club was founded as Klub Sportowy Gdynia in 1929. Its activities were interrupted between 1939–1945 due to the German occupation of Poland...
in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
Honours
- Benfica:
- Portuguese CupTaça de PortugalThe Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
: 2004–05 - Portuguese League Cup: 2008–09
- Portuguese Cup
Club statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Apps) + Minutes Played | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Portuguesa Associação Portuguesa de Desportos Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, usually called Portuguesa or Lusa, is a sports club, and a Brazilian football team from São Paulo in São Paulo state, founded on August 14, 1920 by the Portuguese population of the city.-History:... |
1998 | * . * mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
| São José São José Esporte Clube São José Esporte Clube, usually called São José, and nicknamed Eagle of the Valley , is the main football team in São José dos Campos. It was founded on August 13, 1933... |
1998 | * . * mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
| Portuguesa Associação Portuguesa de Desportos Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, usually called Portuguesa or Lusa, is a sports club, and a Brazilian football team from São Paulo in São Paulo state, founded on August 14, 1920 by the Portuguese population of the city.-History:... |
1999 | * . * mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
| Londrina Londrina Esporte Clube Londrina Esporte Clube, or Londrina as they are usually called, is a Brazilian football team from Londrina in Paraná, founded on April 5, 1956. The club won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B in 1980, won the state championship three times, and competed several times in the Campeonato Brasileiro... |
1999 | * . * mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
| Portuguesa Associação Portuguesa de Desportos Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, usually called Portuguesa or Lusa, is a sports club, and a Brazilian football team from São Paulo in São Paulo state, founded on August 14, 1920 by the Portuguese population of the city.-History:... |
2000 | 10 . * mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 10 | * |
| Sport Recife Sport Club do Recife Sport Club do Recife, more popularly known as Sport in Recife or Sport Recife in Northeastern Brazil, is a football team from Recife, Pernambuco.-1905 - Foundation:... |
2001 | 6 . * mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 6 | * |
| Portuguesa Associação Portuguesa de Desportos Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, usually called Portuguesa or Lusa, is a sports club, and a Brazilian football team from São Paulo in São Paulo state, founded on August 14, 1920 by the Portuguese population of the city.-History:... |
2002 | 3 . * mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 3 | * |
| Brasiliense Brasiliense Futebol Clube The Brasiliense Futebol Clube is a Brazilian football club, based in Taguatinga, Distrito Federal.Brasiliense wears yellow uniforms, hence one of its supporters' associations is named Febre Amarela... |
2002 | * . * mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
| Portuguesa Associação Portuguesa de Desportos Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, usually called Portuguesa or Lusa, is a sports club, and a Brazilian football team from São Paulo in São Paulo state, founded on August 14, 1920 by the Portuguese population of the city.-History:... |
2003 | * . * mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
| XV de Novembro Clube 15 de Novembro Clube 15 de Novembro, or 15 de Novembro as they are usually called, is a Brazilian football team from Campo Bom in Rio Grande do Sul, founded on November 15, 1911.... |
2004 | * . * mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
| Total (Brasil) | 19 . * mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 19 | * | |
| Felgueiras | 2004–05 | 8 . 675 mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 8 | * |
| Vitória Setúbal Vitória F.C. Vitória Futebol Clube is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Setúbal. Popularly known as Vitória de Setúbal with the motto "A Vitória será nossa" .- Domestic :*Portuguese Liga: Runners-up 1971–72... |
2004–05 | 8 . 720 mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 8 | * |
| 2005–06 | 15 . 1350 mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 15 | * | |
| Benfica | 2005–06 | 18 . 1620 mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 18 | * |
| 2006–07 | 1 . 90 mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1 | * | |
| Total (Portugal) | 50 . 4455 mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 24 | * | |
| AEK | 2007–08 | 14 . 1350 mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 14 | * |
| Total (Greece) | 14 . 1350 mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 14 | * | |
| Benfica | 2008–09 | 0 . 0 mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 0 | * |
| Total (Portugal) | 0 . 0 mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 0 | * | |
| Career total | 83 . 5805 mins | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 83 | * | |
* – Not available