José Luis Morales (footballer, born 1987) explained

José Luis Morales
Full Name:José Luis Morales Nogales
Birth Date:23 July 1987[1]
Birth Place:Madrid, Spain
Height:1.80 m
Position:Winger, forward
Currentclub:Levante
Youthyears1:1992–2006
Youthclubs1:Brunete
Years1:2006–2010
Caps1:69
Goals1:17
Years2:2010–2011
Caps2:36
Goals2:20
Years3:2011–2013
Caps3:79
Goals3:22
Years4:2013–2022
Caps4:294
Goals4:66
Years5:2013–2014
Clubs5:→ Eibar (loan)
Caps5:38
Goals5:3
Years6:2022–2024
Caps6:58
Goals6:14
Years7:2024–
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Club-Update:23:19, 25 May 2024 (UTC)

José Luis Morales Nogales (pronounced as /es/; born 23 July 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger or forward for Levante UD.

A late bloomer, he only reached La Liga at the age of 27, with Levante, and spent most of his career with the club while appearing in 311 competitive matches and scoring 69 goals. He also won the 2016–17 Segunda División.[2] [3]

Club career

Early career

Born in Madrid, Morales only played amateur football well into his 20s. At 10 or 11 years of age, he had unsuccessful trials with Real Madrid.[4] An ADC Brunete youth graduate, he made his senior debut in the Tercera División with AD Parla.[5]

Morales signed with CF Fuenlabrada also in the fourth division – and the Community of Madrid – in 2010. He scored a career-best 20 goals in his only season, in an eighth-place finish.[6]

Levante

On 1 July 2011, Morales joined Levante UD, being assigned to the reserves in the fourth tier[7] and promoting in his first season, with the player contributing 14 goals in 41 matches.[8] [9] On 17 April 2013, he agreed to a new two-year deal and was promoted to the main squad.[10]

Morales was loaned to Segunda División club SD Eibar on 30 July 2013.[11] He played his first game as a professional on 18 August 2013, starting in a 2–1 away win against Real Jaén.[12]

Morales scored his first professional goal on 27 October 2013, the second in the 2–0 victory at FC Barcelona B.[13] He added a further two in 40 competitive appearances during the campaign, helping the Basques to a first-ever promotion to La Liga.[14]

Back to Levante, Morales made his top-flight debut on 30 August 2014, starting in a 3–0 away loss to Athletic Bilbao.[15] [2] He scored his first goal in the competition on 4 October, in a 3–3 draw at former side Eibar.[16]

On 29 May 2015, Morales renewed his contract with the Valencians, signing until 2019.[17] He scored 12 times in 2018–19, adding five assists for the 15th-placed team.[18]

Morales netted 13 goals in 2020–21, establishing himself as Levante's all-time scorer in the top division.[19] He repeated the feat the following season (with seven assists), but was not able to prevent relegation.[20]

Villarreal

On 24 June 2022, Villarreal CF announced the signing of Morales on a two-year deal.[21] On 6 October, he scored a second-half hat-trick as a substitute in the 5–0 home win over FK Austria Wien in the group stage of the UEFA Europa Conference League.[22]

Morales scored a further three times on 26 November 2023 in the 3–1 league victory against CA Osasuna, this time as a starter.[23]

Levante return

On 5 July 2024, the free agent Morales returned to Levante on a one-year deal.[24]

Honours

Eibar

2013–14[25]

Levante

Notes and References

  1. Web site: José Luis Morales. Eurosport. 20 April 2020.
  2. News: Morales: debut y Maradona en San Mamés con el Levante. Morales: debut and Maradona at San Mamés with Levante. Marca. Diego. Picó. es. 8 February 2021. 22 December 2021.
  3. Web site: Jose Luis Morales expected to leave relegated Levante for Villarreal. Football España. Alan. Feehely. 2 June 2022. 26 June 2022.
  4. News: "I had trials at Real Madrid at 11 and they rejected me". Diario AS. 18 October 2018. 19 October 2018.
  5. News: Del Mudo al Comandante: la historia de José Luis Morales. From the Mute One to the Commander: the story of José Luis Morales. Diario AS. Luis. Sancho de Rosa. es. 13 January 2021. 21 December 2021.
  6. Web site: Morales regresa a Fuenlabrada, donde surgió el flechazo con el Levante. Morales returns to Fuenlabrada, where the crush with Levante began. EFE. es. 14 January 2021. 21 December 2021.
  7. Web site: Juanma Fernández y José Luis Morales, nuevas incorporaciones para el Levante UD B. Juanma Fernández and José Luis Morales, new additions to Levante UD B. Levante UD. es. 1 July 2011. 13 September 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029215700/http://es.levanteud.com/noticias/levante13985.html. 29 October 2013.
  8. Web site: Morales firma su contrato de renovación con el Levante UD. Morales signs his contract extension with Levante UD. Levante UD. es. 18 April 2013. 22 December 2021.
  9. News: El día que Morales dejó el Fuenlabrada por el filial del Levante por menos de 1.200 euros. The day Morales left Fuenlabrada for Levante's reserves for less than 1.200 euros. Marca. Fernando. Álvarez. es. 16 January 2021. 22 December 2021.
  10. News: El canterano Morales, primer 'fichaje' del Levante para la próxima temporada. Youth player Morales, first Levante 'signing' for next season. Las Provincias. es. 17 April 2013. 21 December 2021.
  11. News: Morales jugará cedido en Eibar. Morales will play on loan at Eibar. Marca. es. 30 July 2013. 13 September 2013.
  12. News: El Jaén muere en la orilla. Jaén die on the shore. Marca. es. 18 August 2013. 13 September 2013.
  13. News: El Eibar se aprovecha de cierta apatía del filial azulgrana. Eibar take advantage of somewhat lethargic azulgrana reserves. Marca. es. 27 October 2013. 29 July 2014.
  14. News: Morales y el Eibar, amores que matan. Morales and Eibar, love that can kill you. Marca. M.Á.. Rodríguez. es. 31 March 2019. 21 December 2021.
  15. Web site: Bilbao claim first win of season. ESPN FC. 30 August 2014. 31 August 2014.
  16. News: En Ipurua, hasta el rabo todo es toro. At Ipurua, it is not over until it is over. Marca. Ramiro. Aldunate. es. 4 October 2014. 1 June 2015.
  17. Web site: Morales renueva y amplía su contrato para las próximas tres temporadas y lo celebra adquiriendo su abono del Levante UD. Morales renews and extends his contract for the following three seasons and celebrates it by acquiring his Levante UD subscription. Levante UD. es. 29 May 2015. 1 June 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150602094627/http://es.levanteud.com/noticias/levante25130.html. 2 June 2015.
  18. News: Morales comanda al Levante en Primera. Morales in charge of Levante in Primera. El Mundo. es. 13 May 2019. 20 April 2020.
  19. News: El mejor Morales acecha el récord de Koné. The best Morales stalks Koné's record. Diario AS. Luis. Sancho de Rosa. es. 12 May 2021. 5 June 2022.
  20. Web site: José Luis Morales, a un paso de oficializar su fichaje por el Villarreal. José Luis Morales, about to make his signing for Villarreal official. Revista Poble. es. 3 June 2022. 5 June 2022.
  21. Web site: Comandante groguet. Yellow commander. Villarreal CF. es. 24 June 2022. 24 June 2022.
  22. Web site: Goals and highlights: Villarreal 5–0 Austria Vienna in Conference League. Vavel. Silvia. Hoyos. 6 October 2022. 17 October 2022.
  23. News: Tres goles de Morales tumban a Osasuna en el regreso de Marcelino. Three Morales goals down Osasuna in return of Marcelino. Sport. es. 26 November 2023. 24 June 2024.
  24. Web site: José Morales regresa al Levante UD. José Morales returns to Levante UD. Levante UD. es. 5 July 2024. 5 July 2024.
  25. News: Morales: "Ir cedido al Eibar fue la mejor decisión de mi vida". Morales: "To go on loan to Eibar was the best decision I ever made". Diario AS. José Francisco. Garitaonandia. es. 26 February 2020. 22 December 2021.
  26. News: La profesionalidad de un campeón. The professionalism of champions. Las Provincias. José. Molins. es. 20 May 2017. 22 December 2021.

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