Julio Morales (American soccer)

Julio Morales

Julio Morales of Chivas USA in a game against the Seattle Sounders at Centurylink Field on September 4, 2013
Personal information
Full nameJulio César Morales Zavala
Date of birthDecember 19, 1993
Place of birthGlendale, California, United States
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current team
Tepic
Number27
Youth career
2006–2011Sporting Santa Clara
2011–2013Guadalajara
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2013–Guadalajara0(0)
2013→ Chivas USA (loan)17(2)
2014–Tepic (loan)4(0)
National team
2013Mexico U204(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 27, 2013.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of May 30, 2013

Julio César Morales Zavala (born December 19, 1993 in Glendale, California) is a Mexican-American footballer who currently plays for Ascenso MX side Tepic on loan from Guadalajara of the Liga MX. Morales grew up in Willow Glen in San Jose, CA. He attended Willow Glen High School and played for local youth soccer club Santa Clara Sporting before moving to Chivas de Guadalajara in 2011.

Career

Professional

Born in Glendale, California and raised in San Jose, Morales attended Willow Glen High School, where he also played soccer. He spent his youth soccer career playing for local soccer club, Santa Clara Sporting, where he gained interest from professional soccer clubs while winning multiple tournaments with the Santa Clara Sporting 93’ team. He scored a total of 78 goals at the high school level. Morales scored 17 goals in his first season as a freshman, 23 goals as a sophomore, and 38 goals in his final season at Willow Glen High School as a junior. He was named San Jose Mercury News Player of the Year, MVP of the Blossom Valley League, and named to the First Team Blossom Valley League during his high school soccer career. He led Willow Glen High School to their first Central Coast Section Division II Final appearance in 2010, and won their first ever Central Coast Section Division II championship in 2011. Days after the championship, Morales departed from Willow Glen High School to pursue a professional soccer career when he was recruited by Chivas de Guadalajara. Morales was noticed by Chivas when he participated in Alianza de Futbol ‘Sueno de tu vida.’ He was offered an opportunity to finish his high school education in Guadalajara and play for Chivas’ Under-17 development team in 2011. [1] Morales joined Chivas USA on loan from Guadalajara on March 1, 2013 and made his professional debut a day later in a 3-0 home loss to the Colombus Crew.[2] After 2 years training with Chivas de Guadalajara development teams and debuting with Chivas USA first team, Morales was called up to Mexico’s Under-20 World Cup team while he was on loan with Chivas USA in 2013.

International

Morales is eligible to play for both the United States and Mexico. He made a couple of appearances in unofficial friendly matches for the Mexico U-20 national team during their trip to California on November 2012 including on November 17 when he recorded a hat-trick in a 9-0 win over a Riverside County all-star team.[3]

References

  1. Hacke, R. (2001, March 22). Mercury News boys soccer player of the year: Julio Morales, Willow Glen. San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved from http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17677192
  2. Angulo, Blair (2 March 2013). "Recap: Chivas USA fall in season opener". Chivas USA. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  3. "Californian hits hat trick for Mexico U-20s". socceramerica.com. Soccer America. 17 November 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2013.

External links