João Morelli
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | João Morelli Neto | ||
Date of birth | 11 March 1996 | ||
Place of birth | Itu, Brazil[1] | ||
Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | HFX Wanderers | ||
Number | 22 | ||
Youth career | |||
–2015 | Ituano | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2015–2018 | Middlesbrough | 0 | (0) |
2017 | → FCI Levadia (loan) | 22 | (16) |
2018 | Fleetwood Town | 0 | (0) |
2018 | Ituano | 0 | (0) |
2019 | FCI Levadia | 29 | (11) |
2020– | HFX Wanderers | 8 | (4) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 September 2020 |
João Morelli (born 11 March 1996) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Canadian Premier League club HFX Wanderers.
Early life
Morelli was born and raised in the city of Itu, São Paulo state.[1][2] In 2013, he joined the under-17 team of local club Ituano, where he scored three goals in eight appearances, primarily as a substitute.[1] The following year, he was promoted to the under-20 team, where he made another five appearances.[1]
Club career
Middlesbrough
In March 2015, Morelli signed a contract with EFL Championship side Middlesbrough until the end of the season, the result of Boro's partnership with Ituano.[3] In the 2016–17 season, he made ten appearances in Premier League 2 for Middlesbrough's under-23 side, scoring two goals.[4] Over the course of his first two years at the club, he scored eleven goals in 41 appearances in all competitions for Middlesbrough's under-23s.[5]
Loan to FCI Levadia
On 20 February 2017, Morelli signed a one-year contract extension with Middlesbrough before going on a year-long loan to Estonian Meistriliiga side FCI Levadia Tallinn.[6] In 22 league appearances that season, he scored sixteen goals, tying for fifth in league scoring.[4][7] Morelli also played 90 minutes in both legs of Levadia's Europa League first qualifying round series against Irish club Cork City.[4]
Fleetwood Town
On 31 January 2018, Morelli signed an 18-month contract with EFL League One side Fleetwood Town.[8] Shortly after he signed for the club, manager Uwe Rösler was sacked and replaced by Joey Barton, under whom Morelli later recounted feeling "lost" after a drastic change of tactics and position.[2] He subsequently failed to make a competitive appearance for the Fishermen and was released at the end of the season.[4]
Return to Ituano
On 29 August 2018, Morelli returned to Ituano, where he made nine appearances and scored two goals in the Copa Paulista.[1][4]
Return to Levadia
On 27 December 2018, Morelli returned to FCI Levadia, signing a two-year contract.[9] He made 29 league appearances that season, scoring eleven goals.[4] He also appeared for Levadia in the Estonian Supercup and scored a goal in one appearance in the Estonian Cup.[4] Later in the season, he played every minute of both legs in Levadia's extra-time loss to Icelandic club Stjarnan in Europa League qualifying.[4]
HFX Wanderers
On 25 February 2020, Morelli signed with Canadian Premier League side HFX Wanderers.[10] He made his debut for the Wanderers on August 15 against Pacific FC, and converted a penalty in an eventual 2-2 draw.[11]
Career statistics
- As of 19 December 2020[4]
Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | Continental[b] | Other[c] | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
FCI Levadia (loan) | 2017 | Meistriliiga | 22 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 16 |
Ituano | 2018 | Campeonato Paulista | 0 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 2 | 9 | 2 | ||
FCI Levadia | 2019 | Meistriliiga | 29 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 12 |
HFX Wanderers | 2020 | Canadian Premier League | 8 | 4 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | ||
Career total | 59 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 75 | 34 |
- ^ Includes appearances in the Estonian Cup.
- ^ Includes appearances in UEFA Europa League.
- ^ Includes appearances in the Copa Paulista, Estonian Supercup and Canadian Premier League final.
Honours
HFX Wanderers
- Canadian Premier League
- Runners-up: 2020
References
- ^ a b c d e Acaz Fellegger (29 August 2018). "Ituano trouxe de volta o atacante João Morelli que estava na Europa" (in Portuguese). Ituano FC. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ a b Gary Griffiths (2 March 2020). "Interview: João Morelli". From Aways. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ Jonathon Taylor (10 March 2015). "Boro's link with Juninho's Ituano FC blossoming as Joao Morelli makes league debut". Teesside Live. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i João Morelli at Soccerway
- ^ Jonathon Taylor (8 September 2017). "The Brazilian striker on fire in Estonia: Middlesbrough's Joao Morelli is making waves in Tallinn". Teesside Live. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- ^ "Joao Morelli Leaves Boro On Loan". Middlesbrough F.C. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ "ML Väravalööjate Edetabel (2017)" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association.
- ^ "Fleetwood Town complete signing of Joao Morelli". Fleetwood Town F.C. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ "Yurii Tkachuk, João Morelli ja Marek Kaljumäe liitusid FCI Levadiaga" (in Estonian). FCI Levadia Tallinn. 27 December 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ Gareth Hampshire (25 February 2020). "Wanderers bring samba style to Halifax with Brazilian pair João Morelli and Eriks Santos". HFX Wanderers FC. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ Molinaro, John (August 15, 2020). "'Coastal Clash' between Pacific FC and HFX Wanderers ends in stalemate in PEI".
External links
- Inspired by Kaká, HFX newcomer João Morelli hopes to make a big impact in CPL
- João Morelli fala de experiência no futebol da Estônia e brinca com costume pós-jogo no país: a sauna
- 'Lido com mais desafios nesta volta ao Levadia', diz João Morelli
- Gramados artificiais, frio e toque de bola: João Morelli conta sobre como é jogar na Estônia
- 1996 births
- Living people
- Association football forwards
- Brazilian footballers
- People from Itu, São Paulo
- Brazilian expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in England
- Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in England
- Expatriate footballers in Estonia
- Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Estonia
- Expatriate soccer players in Canada
- Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Canada
- Middlesbrough F.C. players
- FCI Levadia Tallinn players
- Fleetwood Town F.C. players
- Ituano FC players
- HFX Wanderers FC players
- Canadian Premier League players
- Meistriliiga players