Pedro Morales
 |
| Personal information |
| Full name |
Pedro Andrés Morales Flores |
| Date of birth |
25 May 1985 (1985-05-25) (age 26) |
| Place of birth |
Hualpén, Chile |
| Height |
1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Playing position |
Attacking Midfielder |
| Club information |
| Current club |
Universidad de Chile |
| Number |
10 |
| Senior career* |
| Years |
Team |
Apps† |
(Gls)† |
| 2004–2007 |
Huachipato |
88 |
(15) |
| 2007–2008 |
Universidad de Chile |
40 |
(15) |
| 2008– |
Dinamo Zagreb |
60 |
(24) |
| 2012– |
→ U. de Chile (loan) |
3 |
(0) |
| National team‡ |
| 2007– |
Chile |
14 |
(3) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 February 2012.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 October 2010 |
Pedro Andrés Morales Flores (born May 25, 1985 in Hualpén, Chile) is a Chilean footballer who currently plays for Chilean club Universidad de Chile, on loan from NK Dinamo Zagreb. He began his professional career with Huachipato. He first represented Chile in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, where he helped Chile qualify to the U-20 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship.
[edit] Club career
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.
Morales signed a five year contract with NK Dinamo Zagreb on June 11, 2008.[1] After first season of average performances, in his second season with Croatian club he soon established himself as one of Dinamo's main players.
On 2012, Pedro Morales returns to Chile on loan quiality to Universidad de Chile. His first called was was at the "Noche Azul" in that match they draw 1-1 with Nacional from Paraguay, he scores.
[edit] International career
In January 2008, Morales was called up to the Chilean national team by the world-renown and former Argentina coach, Marcelo Bielsa. The tour consisted of 2 friendlies where Chile beat the South Korean national team 1-0 in Seoul and tied the Japanese national team 0-0 in Nissan Stadium, widely known for having hosted the 2002 World Cup final. Morales's outstanding performances allowed him to play the full 90 minutes in both encounters, giving Bielsa a nearly perfect first impression. A month later, Morales was called up to represent Chile in the prestigious 8-team, U23 Toulon tournament in France. It was there where he really "stepped up his game". He was chosen the 2nd best player of the tournament and scored what was voted as the tournament's best goal, thanks to a mind-boggling 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. In June 2008, Morales's immense skill allowed him to participate in two extremely important 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa qualifying games against Bolivia and Venezuela. He went on to start in Chile's historical 2-0 win against Bolivia National Team. (The game was played 3600 meters above sea level in La Paz, in what is the highest stadium in the planet). Yet, the altitude factor was not an issue for Morales who was able to fire a 40 yard shot that bounced off the top corner of the right post, resulting in the game's opening goal. Additionally, Morales had an active participation in the 3-2 away win against Venezuela National Team, an entertaining game where he also started. These wins helped Chile climb to a respectable 2nd place position in the qualifying table, one point below 5-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil national football team.
[edit] International goals
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Morales, Pedro |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
|
| Date of birth |
25 May 1985 |
| Place of birth |
Hualpén, Chile |
| Date of death |
|
| Place of death |
|
Trinidad and Tobago
United Arab Emirates
Oman
