Enrique Morán Explained

Enrique Morán
Fullname:Enrique Morán Blanco
Birth Date:15 October 1953
Birth Place:Pola de Lena, Spain
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:1972–1973
Youthclubs1:Ensidesa
Years1:1973–1979
Clubs1:Sporting de Gijón
Caps1:77
Goals1:22
Years2:1979–1981
Clubs2:Betis
Caps2:63
Goals2:30
Years3:1981–1984
Clubs3:Barcelona
Caps3:36
Goals3:11
Years4:1984–1985
Clubs4:Atlético Madrid
Caps4:11
Goals4:1
Years5:1985–1986
Clubs5:Talavera
Caps5:17
Goals5:6
Totalcaps:204+
Totalgoals:70+
Nationalyears1:1979–1981
Nationalteam1:Spain
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0

Enrique Morán Blanco (born 15 October 1953) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a forward.

He played 168 games and scored 58 goals in La Liga for Sporting Gijón, Betis, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, and earned five caps for Spain.

Club career

Born in Pola near Lena in Asturias, Morán began his career at CD Ensidesa before moving to La Liga club Sporting de Gijón. After two seasons at Real Betis, he transferred to FC Barcelona in 1981; Real Madrid had a deal with Betis to sign him for 55 million Spanish pesetas in two instalments, while Barcelona president Josep Lluís Núñez gained the upper hand by paying in one go.[1]

Morán played five games and scored three goals as Barcelona won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1981–82. One of these came on 3 March in a 3–0 quarter-final first-leg win away to 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig in East Germany, the first football match broadcast on television in the Catalan language.[2] On 18 April 1982, substitute Morán was sent off in a 3–1 loss away to Real Madrid; having won a foul, he protested for the referee to give his opponent a card, with such persistence that he was booked and sent off for dissent. He suggested that he would use a pistol for self-defence if referees would not punish fouls.[3] He concluded the season out of the team, missing their European triumph, amidst rumours of a return to Betis.[4]

On 4 June 1983, Morán played as a substitute for Esteban Vigo in the Copa del Rey final, which Barcelona won 2–1 against El Clásico rivals Real Madrid in La Romareda.[5]

Morán played and scored frequently in his first season at the Camp Nou under manager Udo Lattek, but lost his place when César Luis Menotti became manager and preferred his fellow Argentine Diego Maradona. Núñez offered him a new contract in 1984 but he rejected it, wishing to play more frequently at Atlético Madrid despite a lower salary. He played one season for the Colchoneros and one more for Talavera CF in Segunda División B before retiring in 1986.[1]

International career

Morán earned five caps for the Spain national football team, all in friendly games over two years. His debut was on 14 March 1979 in a 1–0 loss to Czechoslovakia in Bratislava. He was one of three attacking substitutions at half time for manager László Kubala, forming a trident with Roberto López Ufarte and Pichi Alonso.[6]

Personal life

Morán remained living in Madrid since joining Atlético in 1984. He invested in property and helped his two brothers run hotels. A prospective career as a football manager was ended by his fear of flying, while he had no interest in being a football pundit.[1]

Having retired at 32, Morán got married at 48; as of 2017 he had a 15-year-old son.[1]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Giraldo . Javier . ¿Qué fue de... Enrique Morán? Volando bajo se vive muy bien. What happened to... Enrique Morán? He lives very well by flying under the radar . 25 July 2024 . . 5 October 2017 . Spanish.
  2. News: Trenta anys en català. Thirty years in Catalan . 25 July 2024 . L'Esportiu . 3 March 2022 . Catalan.
  3. News: Morán: "Pronto jugaré con una pistola". Morán: "Soon I will play with a pistol" . 25 July 2024 . Mundo Deportivo . 19 April 1982 . Spanish.
  4. News: Ger . Pedro . Morán, querer no es poder. Morán, wanting to is not being able to . 25 July 2024 . Mundo Deportivo . 1 June 1982 . Spanish.
  5. News: Barcelona y Real Madrid se citan en la final de la Copa del Rey. Barcelona and Real Madrid meet each other in the Copa del Rey final . 25 July 2024 . . 2 February 2011 . Spanish.
  6. News: "Test" y derrota honorable. "Test" and honourable defeat. 25 July 2024 . . 15 March 1979 . Spanish.