Alejandro Morera: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Costa Rican footballer}} |
{{short description|Costa Rican footballer (1909-1995)}} |
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{{family name hatnote|Morera|Soto|lang=Spanish}} |
{{family name hatnote|Morera|Soto|lang=Spanish}} |
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{{Infobox football biography |
{{Infobox football biography |
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| fullname = Alejandro Morera Soto |
| fullname = Alejandro Morera Soto |
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| image = Alejandro Morera Soto.jpg |
| image = Alejandro Morera Soto.jpg |
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| caption = Morera with [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in 1934 |
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1909|07|14}} |
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1909|07|14}} |
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| death_date = {{death date and age|1995|03|26|1909|07|14}} |
| death_date = {{death date and age|1995|03|26|1909|07|14}} |
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'''Alejandro Morera Soto''' (July 14, 1909 – March 26, 1995) was a |
'''Alejandro Morera Soto''' (July 14, 1909 – March 26, 1995) was a Costa Rican professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Striker (association football)|striker]] mostly for [[L.D. Alajuelense|Alajuelense]] in the Costa Rican [[Primera División de Costa Rica|Primera División]]. He is considered one of the best and most talented players of all time in Costa Rica. |
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"El fenómeno costarricense" ("The Costa Rican phenomenon"),<ref name=LDA>[http://lda.cr/alejandro-morera-soto/ Biography] – Alajuelense</ref> as he was dubbed by the press in Catalonia, Spain, where he was part of [[FC Barcelona]]. However, he was known to most as "El Mago |
"El fenómeno costarricense" ("The Costa Rican phenomenon"),<ref name=LDA>[http://lda.cr/alejandro-morera-soto/ Biography] – Alajuelense</ref> as he was dubbed by the press in Catalonia, Spain, where he was part of [[FC Barcelona]]. However, he was known to most as "El Mago sin Magia" (The Magician without Magic)<ref name=Buzon/> he was of small stature but a powerful striker.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://cronica.cr/columnas/buzon-rodrigo-goleadores-liguistas-primera-division/|title=Buzón de Rodrigo: Goleadores liguistas en Primera División - Cronica Costa Rica|last=Calvo|first=Rodrigo|date=2018-02-25|work=Cronica Costa Rica|access-date=2018-03-19|language=es-ES|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711102903/http://cronica.cr/columnas/buzon-rodrigo-goleadores-liguistas-primera-division/|archive-date=2018-07-11|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.diarioextra.com/Noticia/detalle/354076/goleadores-liguistas-en-primera-division|title=Diario Extra - Goleadores liguistas en Primera División|last=www.diarioextra.com|website=www.diarioextra.com|language=ES|access-date=2018-03-19}}</ref> His stint with Barcelona made Morera the first Costa Rican to play in [[La Liga]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lara |first1=Miguel Ángel |title=El primer 'tico' era de los 'tres mosqueteros' |url=https://www.marca.com/2015/02/02/futbol/futbol_internacional/resto_de_america/1422894652.html |access-date=26 September 2022 |work=MARCA.com |date=2 February 2015 |language=es}}</ref> |
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==Club career== |
==Club career== |
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In February 1933 he was invited to Spain by former [[RCD Espanyol|Real Club Deportivo Español]] player [[Ricardo Saprissa]]<ref name=LDA/> for a tryout with [[RCD Espanyol|Español]]. The Barcelona newspaper Mundo Deportivo (28/02/1968 page 8) reported that Morera had wanted to play for FC Barcelona rather than Espanyol and was able with the assistance of Sr. Esteban Sala, a club director and Sr.Gispert, also club director whom he had befriended during the ocean crossing to personally negotiate, after a successful tryout with the club's coach, a three-year contract directly with FC Barcelona's president, Joan Coma Segarrols. |
In February 1933 he was invited to Spain by former [[RCD Espanyol|Real Club Deportivo Español]] player [[Ricardo Saprissa]]<ref name=LDA/> for a tryout with [[RCD Espanyol|Español]]. The Barcelona newspaper Mundo Deportivo (28/02/1968 page 8) reported that Morera had wanted to play for FC Barcelona rather than Espanyol and was able with the assistance of Sr. Esteban Sala, a club director and Sr.Gispert, also club director whom he had befriended during the ocean crossing to personally negotiate, after a successful tryout with the club's coach, a three-year contract directly with FC Barcelona's president, Joan Coma Segarrols. |
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Thus Morera made his debut with Catalonia's foremost club on May 18, 1933, in a match against Tenerife, and scored 2 goals in a 3 to 1 win. One of his best remembered strikes was scoring his team's only goal in September of that year versus [[Real Madrid]], beating Spain's fabled and Europe's best goalkeeper [[Ricardo Zamora]] "El Divino" in a 2 to 1 loss. The |
Thus Morera made his debut with Catalonia's foremost club on May 18, 1933, in a match against Tenerife, and scored 2 goals in a 3 to 1 win. One of his best remembered strikes was scoring his team's only goal in September of that year versus [[Real Madrid]], beating Spain's fabled and Europe's best goalkeeper [[Ricardo Zamora]] "El Divino" in a 2 to 1 loss. The 1933–34 season was his most successful, scoring 41 goals becoming the team's top scorer. FC Barcelona won the 1934 championship of Catalonia but only placed ninth place in the league. The 1934–35 season was also successful, playing 24 games and scoring 12 goals, and FCB placed sixth in the Spanish league championship. Altogether Morera played 76 games and scored 68 goals for FC Barcelona,<ref name=Nacion/> a very high output. |
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His scoring record: 39 goals in friendlies; 13 goals in the Spanish League; 11 goals in the Catalan Championship and 5 goals in the Spanish Cup. |
His scoring record: 39 goals in friendlies; 13 goals in the Spanish League; 11 goals in the Catalan Championship and 5 goals in the Spanish Cup. |
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==International career== |
==International career== |
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Morera made his debut for [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]] against [[El Salvador national football team|El Salvador]] in February 1938 and won 5 caps, scoring 4 goals during the [[1938 Central American and Caribbean Games]]<ref name=Nacion>[http://www.nacion.com/deportes/Buzon-Rodrigo_0_883511714.html Campeonatos de Alejandro Morera (Profile)] – Nación {{in lang|es}}</ref> or scored 6 in 7 international matches.<ref name=Buzon>[http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1999/marzo/01/deportes16.html El buzón de Rodrigo] – Nación {{in lang|es}}</ref> |
Morera made his debut for [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]] against [[El Salvador national football team|El Salvador]] in February 1938 and won 5 caps, scoring 4 goals during the [[1938 Central American and Caribbean Games]]<ref name=Nacion>[http://www.nacion.com/deportes/Buzon-Rodrigo_0_883511714.html Campeonatos de Alejandro Morera (Profile)] – Nación {{in lang|es}}</ref> or scored 6 in 7 international matches.<ref name=Buzon>[http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1999/marzo/01/deportes16.html El buzón de Rodrigo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060747/http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1999/marzo/01/deportes16.html |date=2016-03-04 }} – Nación {{in lang|es}}</ref> |
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===International goals=== |
===International goals=== |
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Morera Soto was a son of Juan Morera Miranda and Eufemia Soto Soto and had 4 sisters and a brother. He married Julia Pacheco Pérez in 1937 and they had a daughter and 5 grandchildren.<ref name=Perfil>[http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1999/mayo/09/deportesxx.html Perfil de Jandro] – Nación {{in lang|es}}</ref> |
Morera Soto was a son of Juan Morera Miranda and Eufemia Soto Soto and had 4 sisters and a brother. He married Julia Pacheco Pérez in 1937 and they had a daughter and 5 grandchildren.<ref name=Perfil>[http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1999/mayo/09/deportesxx.html Perfil de Jandro] – Nación {{in lang|es}}</ref> |
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He died March 26, 1995, at the age of 85. He is fondly remembered by both |
He died March 26, 1995, at the age of 85. He is fondly remembered by both ''Manudos'' (fans of Alajuelense), and ''Ticos'' (Costa Ricans) alike as a man who loved his team and as one who gave many victories and much joy to fans across the country. |
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Alajuelense's stadium, where his heart was emtombed in a monument below the East section seats, was named after him. In 1998, he was voted Costa Rica's player of the century by the [[IFFHS]].<ref name=Perfil/> |
Alajuelense's stadium, where his heart was emtombed in a monument below the East section seats, was named after him. In 1998, he was voted Costa Rica's player of the century by the [[IFFHS]].<ref name=Perfil/> |
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{{Costa Rica national football team managers}} |
{{Costa Rica national football team managers}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Morera |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morera, Alejandro}} |
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[[Category:1909 births]] |
[[Category:1909 births]] |
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[[Category:1995 deaths]] |
[[Category:1995 deaths]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Footballers from Alajuela]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]] |
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[[Category:Costa Rican footballers]] |
[[Category:Costa Rican men's footballers]] |
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[[Category:Costa Rica international footballers]] |
[[Category:Costa Rica men's international footballers]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Liga Deportiva Alajuelense footballers]] |
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[[Category:RCD Espanyol footballers]] |
[[Category:RCD Espanyol footballers]] |
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[[Category:Hércules CF players]] |
[[Category:Hércules CF players]] |
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[[Category:FC Barcelona players]] |
[[Category:FC Barcelona players]] |
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[[Category:Costa Rican expatriate footballers]] |
[[Category:Costa Rican expatriate men's footballers]] |
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[[Category:Expatriate footballers in Cuba]] |
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Cuba]] |
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[[Category:Expatriate footballers in Spain]] |
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]] |
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[[Category:La Liga players]] |
[[Category:La Liga players]] |
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[[Category:Liga FPD players]] |
[[Category:Liga FPD players]] |
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[[Category:Competitors at the 1938 Central American and Caribbean Games]] |
[[Category:Competitors at the 1938 Central American and Caribbean Games]] |
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[[Category:Central American and Caribbean Games silver medalists for Costa Rica]] |
[[Category:Central American and Caribbean Games silver medalists for Costa Rica]] |
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[[Category:Catalonia international guest footballers]] |
[[Category:Catalonia men's international guest footballers]] |
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[[Category:Central American and Caribbean Games medalists in football]] |
[[Category:Central American and Caribbean Games medalists in football]] |
Latest revision as of 02:19, 15 March 2024
Morera with Barcelona in 1934 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Alejandro Morera Soto | ||
Date of birth | July 14, 1909 | ||
Place of birth | Alajuela, Costa Rica | ||
Date of death | March 26, 1995 | (aged 85)||
Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Youth career | |||
Alajuelense | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1925–1927 | Alajuelense | 47 | (39) |
1927–1928 | Centro Gallego | 19 | (21) |
1928–1932 | Alajuelense | 144 | (136) |
1933 | Espanyol | 3 | (3) |
1933–1935 | Barcelona | 76 | (63) |
1935–1936 | Hércules | 18 | (9) |
1936 | Le Havre | 2 | (1) |
1936–1947 | Alajuelense | 364 | (312) |
Total | 673 | (584) | |
International career | |||
1938–1943 | Costa Rica | 7 | (6) |
Managerial career | |||
1941 | Costa Rica (player-manager) | ||
1943 | Costa Rica (player-manager) | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Alejandro Morera Soto (July 14, 1909 – March 26, 1995) was a Costa Rican professional footballer who played as a striker mostly for Alajuelense in the Costa Rican Primera División. He is considered one of the best and most talented players of all time in Costa Rica.
"El fenómeno costarricense" ("The Costa Rican phenomenon"),[1] as he was dubbed by the press in Catalonia, Spain, where he was part of FC Barcelona. However, he was known to most as "El Mago sin Magia" (The Magician without Magic)[2] he was of small stature but a powerful striker.[3][4] His stint with Barcelona made Morera the first Costa Rican to play in La Liga.[5]
Club career
[edit]In 1925 at the early age of 16, he made his debut with Alajuelense in the Costa Rican premier league Primera División in a match against Sociedad Gimnástica Española.[1] Soon afterwards he became the star player and team's captain, showing a quality game and scoring many goals. These attributes opened doors beyond the country, initially in Cuba at Centro Gallego in 1927.[1] He thereafter returned to Alajuelense and in 1928 helped the team obtain its first national championship, Morera scoring four goals in the last match against Herediano and becoming the top scorer with 26 goals. He shone as the team's outstanding player during Alajuelense's tours of Mexico (1931) and Perú (1932), where he received accolades for his playing ability.
Spain
[edit]In February 1933 he was invited to Spain by former Real Club Deportivo Español player Ricardo Saprissa[1] for a tryout with Español. The Barcelona newspaper Mundo Deportivo (28/02/1968 page 8) reported that Morera had wanted to play for FC Barcelona rather than Espanyol and was able with the assistance of Sr. Esteban Sala, a club director and Sr.Gispert, also club director whom he had befriended during the ocean crossing to personally negotiate, after a successful tryout with the club's coach, a three-year contract directly with FC Barcelona's president, Joan Coma Segarrols.
Thus Morera made his debut with Catalonia's foremost club on May 18, 1933, in a match against Tenerife, and scored 2 goals in a 3 to 1 win. One of his best remembered strikes was scoring his team's only goal in September of that year versus Real Madrid, beating Spain's fabled and Europe's best goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora "El Divino" in a 2 to 1 loss. The 1933–34 season was his most successful, scoring 41 goals becoming the team's top scorer. FC Barcelona won the 1934 championship of Catalonia but only placed ninth place in the league. The 1934–35 season was also successful, playing 24 games and scoring 12 goals, and FCB placed sixth in the Spanish league championship. Altogether Morera played 76 games and scored 68 goals for FC Barcelona,[6] a very high output. His scoring record: 39 goals in friendlies; 13 goals in the Spanish League; 11 goals in the Catalan Championship and 5 goals in the Spanish Cup.
Against fan opposition he was sold for a sum of 10,000 pesetas to Hércules Alicante, a recently promoted club in Alicante. In his first year, he helped the upstart team obtain the league's sixth place ahead of six other teams with the same number of points as FC Barcelona, who finished fifth due to better goal average. While playing for FC Barcelona, he fully identified with Catalonia, even being named to the Catalan regional team and playing two games against Brazil, scoring goals in both matches.
With outbreak of Spain's civil war, he was forced to return to his homeland. He was unable to withdraw his money from the bank; the smaller amount of money he had on hand he chose to place in a coffer which was lost. With the urgent need to return to Costa Rica but with empty pockets, he briefly offered his services to the French team Le Havre, played two games and in usual fashion scored two goals for them.
Return to Liga
[edit]He arrived back in Costa Rica in November 1936[1] where he was to continue his outstanding career. Again he joined Alajuelense obtaining another championship in 1939 won when he scored a hat trick in the final match against Herediano. He also became the league's top goalscorer again.[7] One more championship, this time undefeated, a record title came in 1941. The last title came in 1945, where he performed in a dual role as a coach-player. He played his last match April 6, 1947, against Municipal Lima.
Retirement
[edit]Morera continued as a coach until March 1949. He also managed the national team.[6]
After retiring from sports he was voted a member of the country's legislature for his native province of Alajuela (1958–1962), where he also later served as Mayor and Governor.[8]
International career
[edit]Morera made his debut for Costa Rica against El Salvador in February 1938 and won 5 caps, scoring 4 goals during the 1938 Central American and Caribbean Games[6] or scored 6 in 7 international matches.[2]
International goals
[edit]- Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first.
N. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 12 February 1938 | Estadio Juan Demóstenes Arosemena, Panama City, Panama | 7–0 | Central American and Caribbean Games | ||
2. | 12 February 1938 | Estadio Juan Demóstenes Arosemena, Panama City, Panama | 7–0 | Central American and Caribbean Games | ||
3. | 16 February 1938 | Estadio Juan Demóstenes Arosemena, Panama City, Panama | 11–0 | Central American and Caribbean Games | ||
4. | 22 February 1938 | Estadio Juan Demóstenes Arosemena, Panama City, Panama | 1–2 | Central American and Caribbean Games |
Personal life, death and legacy
[edit]Morera Soto was a son of Juan Morera Miranda and Eufemia Soto Soto and had 4 sisters and a brother. He married Julia Pacheco Pérez in 1937 and they had a daughter and 5 grandchildren.[8]
He died March 26, 1995, at the age of 85. He is fondly remembered by both Manudos (fans of Alajuelense), and Ticos (Costa Ricans) alike as a man who loved his team and as one who gave many victories and much joy to fans across the country.
Alajuelense's stadium, where his heart was emtombed in a monument below the East section seats, was named after him. In 1998, he was voted Costa Rica's player of the century by the IFFHS.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Biography – Alajuelense
- ^ a b El buzón de Rodrigo Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine – Nación (in Spanish)
- ^ Calvo, Rodrigo (2018-02-25). "Buzón de Rodrigo: Goleadores liguistas en Primera División - Cronica Costa Rica". Cronica Costa Rica (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 2018-07-11. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
- ^ www.diarioextra.com. "Diario Extra - Goleadores liguistas en Primera División". www.diarioextra.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-03-19.
- ^ Lara, Miguel Ángel (2 February 2015). "El primer 'tico' era de los 'tres mosqueteros'". MARCA.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ a b c Campeonatos de Alejandro Morera (Profile) – Nación (in Spanish)
- ^ Goleadores de Campeonato Nacional Archived 2013-10-30 at the Wayback Machine – UNAFUT (in Spanish)
- ^ a b c Perfil de Jandro – Nación (in Spanish)
External links
[edit]- Alejandro Morera at BDFutbol
- 1909 births
- 1995 deaths
- Footballers from Alajuela
- Men's association football forwards
- Costa Rican men's footballers
- Costa Rica men's international footballers
- Liga Deportiva Alajuelense footballers
- RCD Espanyol footballers
- Hércules CF players
- FC Barcelona players
- Costa Rican expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Cuba
- Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
- La Liga players
- Liga FPD players
- Costa Rican football managers
- Costa Rica national football team managers
- Mayors of places in Costa Rica
- Costa Rican expatriate sportspeople in Cuba
- Costa Rican expatriate sportspeople in France
- Costa Rican expatriate sportspeople in Spain
- Competitors at the 1938 Central American and Caribbean Games
- Central American and Caribbean Games silver medalists for Costa Rica
- Catalonia men's international guest footballers
- Central American and Caribbean Games medalists in football