Ángel Morales
Encyclopedia
Ángel Alejandro Morales Santos (born 14 June 1975 in Buenos Aires
), nicknamed Matute, is an Argentine
footballer who plays for Club Atlético Huracán
in the Argentine Primera División, as an attacking midfielder.
, Club Atlético Independiente
and Racing Club
, starting his career at the former and having two spells with both.
His first abroad experience came in June 1997, at the age of 22, as he played in Italy
for U.C. Sampdoria
for a few months, netting against Juventus FC
. In the ensuing transfer window, he signed with CP Mérida
in Spain
but collected almost no La Liga
appearances, in a relegation-ending season.
After returning to his country, with Racing, Morales moved abroad again, playing for Mexican
outfits Cruz Azul, CD Veracruz and Dorados de Sinaloa
. At 33, he signed with Uruguay
's Club Nacional de Football
and, two years later, in 2010, returned to his country and joined Club Atlético Huracán
.
, was also a footballer. Also a midfielder, he represented Paraguay
internationally, having been born in the country.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
), nicknamed Matute, is an Argentine
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 plays for Club Atlético Huracán
Club Atlético Huracán
Club Atlético Huracán is a sports club from the Parque Patricios neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second level of the Argentine football league system. Huracán home stadium is the Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó.Huracán was...
in the Argentine Primera División, as an attacking midfielder.
Football career
In his extensive professional career, Morales represented six teams in his country, including both Avellaneda giantsAvellaneda derby
The Avellaneda derby is the second most important rivalry in Argentine football. It is contested between Club Atlético Independiente and Racing Club, the 3rd and 4th most successful teams in terms of the total number of league championships won...
, Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....
and Racing Club
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
, starting his career at the former and having two spells with both.
His first abroad experience came in June 1997, at the age of 22, as he played in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
for U.C. Sampdoria
U.C. Sampdoria
Unione Calcio Sampdoria is an Italian association football club based in Genoa. The club was formed in 1946 from the merger of two existing sports clubs whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria...
for a few months, netting against Juventus FC
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
. In the ensuing transfer window, he signed with CP Mérida
CP Mérida
Club Polideportivo Mérida was a Spanish football team based in Mérida, in the autonomous community of Extremadura.Having played twice in La Liga , the club disappeared in 2000, due to serious economic debts...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
but collected almost no La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
appearances, in a relegation-ending season.
After returning to his country, with Racing, Morales moved abroad again, playing for Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
outfits Cruz Azul, CD Veracruz and Dorados de Sinaloa
Dorados de Sinaloa
Club Social y Deportivo Sinaloa, or simply Dorados, is a Mexican professional football club. The club plays its home games in Culiacán, Sinaloa, in the northwest of Mexico. Dorados was the youngest franchise to play in the Primera División de México, having joined the division for the first time...
. At 33, he signed with Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
's Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....
and, two years later, in 2010, returned to his country and joined Club Atlético Huracán
Club Atlético Huracán
Club Atlético Huracán is a sports club from the Parque Patricios neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second level of the Argentine football league system. Huracán home stadium is the Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó.Huracán was...
.
Personal life
Morales' older brother, CarlosCarlos Morales Santos
Carlos Leonardo Morales Santos is a former Paraguayan footballer, who played mainly as an attacking midfielder.-Football career:...
, was also a footballer. Also a midfielder, he represented Paraguay
Paraguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
internationally, having been born in the country.