View source for Richard Morales

{{short description|Uruguayan footballer (born 1975)}}
{{family name hatnote|Morales|Aguirre|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Richard Morales
| image =
| fullname = Richard Javier Morales Aguirre
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|2|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Las Piedras, Uruguay]]
| height = {{convert|1.96|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| position = [[Forward (association football)#Centre-forward|Centre forward]]
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1996 | clubs1 = [[Club Atlético Platense (Uruguay)|Platense]] | caps1 = 12 | goals1 = 1
| years2 = 1997–1998 | clubs2 = [[Basáñez]] | caps2 = 14 | goals2 = 7
| years3 = 1999–2002 | clubs3 = [[Club Nacional de Football|Nacional]] | caps3 = 98 | goals3 = 44
| years4 = 2003–2005 | clubs4 = [[CA Osasuna|Osasuna]] | caps4 = 50 | goals4 = 11
| years5 = 2005–2007 | clubs5 = [[Málaga CF|Málaga]] | caps5 = 42 | goals5 = 3
| years6 = 2007–2008 | clubs6 = [[Club Nacional de Football|Nacional]] | caps6 = 25 | goals6 = 8
| years7 = 2008–2009 | clubs7 = [[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|Grêmio]] | caps7 = 6 | goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2009 | clubs8 = [[L.D.U. Quito|LDU]] | caps8 = 3 | goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2009–2010 | clubs9 = [[Centro Atlético Fénix|Fénix]] | caps9 = 5 | goals9 = 0
| totalcaps = 255 | totalgoals = 75
| nationalyears1 = 2001–2005 | nationalteam1 = [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] | nationalcaps1 = 27 | nationalgoals1 = 6
}}
'''Ríchard Javier Morales Aguirre''' (born 21 February 1975) is a Uruguayan retired [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Forward (association football)#Centre-forward|centre forward]].

Nicknamed ''Chengue'', he was mostly known for his tremendous physical strength and volatile temperament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1676563.stm|title=Morales makes his mark|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=26 November 2001|access-date=21 July 2010}}</ref> He played professionally in four countries – mainly Spain – his heyday coming at [[Club Nacional de Football|Nacional]].

Morales represented [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] at the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]], as well as in two [[Copa América]] tournaments.

==Club career==
Morales was born in [[Las Piedras, Uruguay|Las Piedras]], [[Canelones Department]]. After starting his professional career with [[Club Atlético Platense (Uruguay)|Club Atlético Platense]] and [[Basáñez]], he transferred to [[Club Nacional de Football]] in 1999. There, he helped the [[Montevideo|capital]] club to the 1998 [[Uruguayan Primera División|Primera División]] title.

In January 2003, Morales moved to Spain, reuniting with [[Pablo Gabriel García|Pablo García]] at [[CA Osasuna]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=48124.html#osasuna+look+morales|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024101024/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=48124.html#osasuna+look+morales|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 October 2012|title=Osasuna look to Morales|publisher=UEFA|date=5 January 2003|access-date=22 June 2010}}</ref> After spending his first two and a half seasons as a rarely used attacking option (his first goals came in late April-early March 2004 in two consecutive 1–1 draws, against [[Real Valladolid]] and [[Málaga CF]]),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/29/deportes/1080511211_850215.html|title=Osasuna regresa a los puestos europeos|trans-title=Osasuna return to European zone|work=[[El País]]|language=es|date=29 March 2004|access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2004/04/04/liga/1081101098.html|title=Insúa mata a Osasuna al final|trans-title=Insúa kills Osasuna in the end|publisher=[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]]|language=es|date=4 April 2004|access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref> he scored nine [[La Liga]] goals in the [[2004–05 La Liga|2004–05 campaign]], being instrumental in the [[Navarre]]se side's narrow escape from relegation.

Morales signed for Málaga subsequently, but would only net once in [[2005–06 La Liga|2005–06]] as the [[Andalusia]]ns went on to rank last, adding just two in [[2006–07 Segunda División|the following season]]'s [[Segunda División|second division]].

On 5 August 2008 Morales, after a brief return stint with Nacional, agreed to a contract with [[Clube de Regatas do Flamengo]] for the rest of [[2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|the campaign]], with the option to renew the contract for another year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://esportes.terra.com.br/futebol/brasileiro/2008/interna/0,,OI3056325-EI11421,00-Flamengo+acerta+com+atacante+uruguaio.html|title=Flamengo acerta com atacante uruguaio|trans-title=Flamengo sign Uruguayan forward|publisher=Terra|language=pt|date=5 August 2008|access-date=5 August 2008}}</ref> However, the following day, after club players were violently attacked by its fans, he decided not to join the [[Rio de Janeiro]] team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/Times/Flamengo/0,,MUL714239-9865,00-PREOCUPADA+COM+ATAQUE+AOS+ATLETAS+FAMILIA+PROIBE+MORALES+DE+JOGAR+NO+FLA.html|title=Preocupada com ataque aos atletas, família proíbe Morales de jogar no ''Fla''|trans-title=Worried with attack on athletes, family forbids Morales to play for ''Fla''|publisher=[[Rede Globo|Globo Esporte]]|language=pt|date=6 August 2008|access-date=6 August 2008}}</ref>

On 31 August 2008, Morales signed with [[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense]]. The following 16 February he moved to [[L.D.U. Quito]], but left the squad on 2 April due to his father's poor health;<ref>[http://www.elcomercio.com/solo_texto_search.asp?id_noticia=172709&anio=2009&mes=4&dia=3 Richard 'Chengue' Morales deja a Liga (Q) (Richard 'Chengue' Morales leaves Liga (Q))]; [[El Comercio (Ecuador)|El Comercio]], 2 April 2009 {{in lang|es}}</ref> before retiring the following year, he played a few matches for [[Centro Atlético Fénix]].

==International career==
Having first appeared for [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] at 26, during the [[2001 Copa América]] – where he scored in the 1–2 semi-final loss to [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1454927.stm|title=Mexico win stormy semi|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 July 2001|access-date=21 July 2010}}</ref>– Morales came to international prominence on 15 November 2001, when his two late goals against [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] in the [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification#Inter-confederation play-offs|qualification playoffs]] ensured his country a place at the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1674762.stm|title=Uruguay end Aussie dream|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 November 2001|access-date=21 July 2010}}</ref>

In the final stages in [[South Korea]] and [[Japan]], Morales netted once in the 3–3 draw against [[Senegal national football team|Senegal]], but he missed a header that would have been his team's fourth goal and taken Uruguay through to the Round of 16.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/matches_wallchart/senegal_v_uruguay/newsid_1926000/1926996.stm|title=Senegal cling on to qualify|publisher=BBC Sport|date=11 June 2002|access-date=21 July 2010}}</ref> He received a total of 27 [[Cap (sport)|caps]], scoring six goals.

'''International goals for Uruguay'''
:''Score and results list Uruguay's goal tally first.''<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/7018/Richard_Morales.html | title = RichardMorales (Player) | website = national-football-teams.com | access-date = 14 June 2022}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%"
|-
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1. || 25 July 2001 || [[Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas]], [[Pereira, Colombia|Pereira]], Colombia || {{fb|MEX}} || {{center|1–1}} || {{center|1–2}} || [[2001 Copa América]]
|-
| 2. || rowspan=2|25 November 2001 || rowspan=2|[[Estadio Centenario]], [[Montevideo]], Uruguay || rowspan=2|{{fb|AUS}} || {{center|2–0}} || rowspan=2|{{center|3–0}} || rowspan=2|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC–CONMEBOL play-off)|2002 FIFA World Cup play-off]]
|-
| 3. || {{center|3–0}}
|-
| 4. || rowspan=2|21 May 2002 || rowspan=2|[[National Stadium, Singapore]] || rowspan=2|{{fb|SGP}} || {{center|1–0}} || rowspan=2|{{center|2–1}} || rowspan=2|[[Friendly match|Friendly]]
|-
| 5. || {{center|2–0}}
|-
| 6. || 11 June 2002 || [[Suwon World Cup Stadium]], [[Suwon]], South Korea || {{fb|SEN}} || {{center|1–3}} || {{center|3–3}} || [[2002 FIFA World Cup Group A|2002 FIFA World Cup]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{BDFutbol|2339}}
*[http://www.tenfieldigital.com.uy/servlet/hprfchsj?2,1379,2%2F1379%2F,1,71 National team data] {{in lang|es}}
*{{NFT player|pid=7018}}
*{{FIFA player|185368}}
*{{ESPNsoccernet|id=68723}}

{{Uruguay Squad Copa América 2001}}
{{Uruguay Squad 2002 World Cup}} 
{{Uruguay Squad Copa América 2004}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morales, Richard}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:African diaspora in Uruguay]]
[[Category:Uruguayan people of Spanish descent]]
[[Category:Uruguayan men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Uruguayan Primera División players]]
[[Category:Uruguayan Segunda División players]]
[[Category:Club Nacional de Football players]]
[[Category:Centro Atlético Fénix players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Segunda División players]]
[[Category:CA Osasuna players]]
[[Category:Málaga CF players]]
[[Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players]]
[[Category:Grêmio FBPA players]]
[[Category:Ecuadorian Serie A players]]
[[Category:L.D.U. Quito footballers]]
[[Category:Uruguay men's international footballers]]
[[Category:2001 Copa América players]]
[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2004 Copa América players]]
[[Category:Uruguayan expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Brazil]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Ecuador]]
[[Category:Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Brazil]]
[[Category:Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Ecuador]]
[[Category:Footballers from Las Piedras, Uruguay]]