João Morelli Explained

João Morelli
Fullname:João Morelli Neto
Birth Date:11 March 1996
Birth Place:Itu, Brazil
Height:1.80 m
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:–2015
Youthclubs1:Ituano
Years1:2015–2018
Clubs1:Middlesbrough
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2017
Clubs2:FCI Levadia (loan)
Caps2:24
Goals2:16
Years3:2018
Clubs3:Fleetwood Town
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2018
Clubs4:Ituano
Caps4:9
Goals4:2
Years5:2019
Clubs5:FCI Levadia
Caps5:33
Goals5:12
Years6:2020–2023
Clubs6:HFX Wanderers
Caps6:43
Goals6:24
Pcupdate:28 November 2023
Youthyears2:2016-2018
Youthclubs2:Middlesbrough

João Morelli Neto (born 11 March 1996) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Early life

Morelli was born and raised in the city of Itu, São Paulo state.[1] In 2013, he joined the under-17 team of local club Ituano, where he scored three goals in eight appearances, primarily as a substitute. The following year, he was promoted to the under-20 team, where he made another five appearances.

Club career

Middlesbrough

In March 2015, Morelli signed a contract with EFL Championship side Middlesbrough until the end of the season, the result of Boro's partnership with Ituano.[2] In the 2016–17 season, he made ten appearances in Premier League 2 for Middlesbrough's under-23 side, scoring two goals. Over the course of his first two years at the club, he scored eleven goals in 41 appearances in all competitions for Middlesbrough's under-23s.[3]

Loan to FCI Levadia

On 20 February 2017, Morelli signed a one-year contract extension with Middlesbrough before going on a year-long loan to Estonian Meistriliiga side FCI Levadia Tallinn.[4] In 22 league appearances that season, he scored sixteen goals, tying for fifth in league scoring.[5] Morelli also played 90 minutes in both legs of Levadia's Europa League first qualifying round series against Irish club Cork City.

Fleetwood Town

On 31 January 2018, Morelli signed an 18-month contract with EFL League One side Fleetwood Town.[6] Shortly after he signed for the club, manager Uwe Rösler was sacked and replaced by Joey Barton, under whom Morelli later recounted feeling "lost" after a drastic change of tactics and position. He subsequently failed to make a competitive appearance for the Fishermen and was released at the end of the season.

Return to Ituano

On 29 August 2018, Morelli returned to Ituano, where he made nine appearances and scored two goals in the Copa Paulista.[7]

Return to Levadia

On 27 December 2018, Morelli returned to FCI Levadia, signing a two-year contract.[8] He made 29 league appearances that season, scoring eleven goals. He also appeared for Levadia in the Estonian Supercup and scored a goal in one appearance in the Estonian Cup. Later in the season, he played every minute of both legs in Levadia's extra-time loss to Icelandic club Stjarnan in Europa League qualifying.

HFX Wanderers and retirement

On February 25, 2020, Morelli signed with Canadian Premier League side HFX Wanderers.[9] He made his debut for the Wanderers on August 15 against Pacific FC, and converted a penalty in an eventual 2–2 draw.[10] After a very strong 2021 season, Morelli was the Golden Boot winner in the CPL,[11] netting 14 goals in 21 games and was nominated for the CPL Player of the Year award on December 5, 2021.[12] On December 12, the Wanderers announced Morelli had signed a contract extension through 2023.[13] Two days later, on December 14, at the CPL awards ceremony, Morelli was named the 2021 CPL Player of the Year.[14]

During the Wanderers' second game of the 2022 season against Atlético Ottawa on April 16, Morelli suffered an ACL injury, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.[15] [16]

In July 2023, Morelli was officially cleared to play again, as the club signed him to a new contract extension, adding a club option for 2024.[17] [18] On July 31, he scored his first goal since returning from injury in a 2–0 league victory over York United.[19] [20] He went on to score four goals in nine appearances for Halifax, before missing out on the final games of the regular season, as well as the play-offs, due to a new injury.[21] [22]

On November 3, 2023, Morelli officially announced his retirement from football, citing his will to take care of his family as the main reason behind his choice.[23] At the time of his retirement, the forward was the all-time leading scorer for the Wanderers, having scored 24 goals in 43 games for the club, as well as the joint-fifth highest scorer in the history of the CPL (22 goals). In June 2024, he was sanctioned for doping, receiving an 18 month ban, from a sample collected in August 2023 that tested positive for clomiphene metabolites.[24]

Career statistics

Club statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueNational Cup[25] Continental[26] Other[27] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Middlesbrough U212016–173030
FCI Levadia (loan)2017Meistriliiga22160020002416
Fleetwood Town2017–18EFL League One00000000
Ituano2018Campeonato Paulista009292
FCI Levadia2019Meistriliiga29111120103312
HFX Wanderers2020Canadian Premier League841094
20212114212315
2022210021
202394000094
Total40232100104324
Career total9150324014211254

Honours

HFX Wanderers

Individual

2021

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gary Griffiths . Interview: João Morelli . From Aways . 9 August 2020 . 2 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Jonathon Taylor . Boro's link with Juninho's Ituano FC blossoming as Joao Morelli makes league debut . Teesside Live . 9 August 2020 . 10 March 2015.
  3. Web site: Jonathon Taylor . The Brazilian striker on fire in Estonia: Middlesbrough's Joao Morelli is making waves in Tallinn . Teesside Live . 10 August 2020 . 8 September 2017.
  4. Web site: Joao Morelli Leaves Boro On Loan . Middlesbrough F.C. . 9 August 2020 . 20 February 2017.
  5. Web site: ML Väravalööjate Edetabel (2017) . Estonian. Estonian Football Association.
  6. Web site: Fleetwood Town complete signing of Joao Morelli . Fleetwood Town F.C. . 9 August 2020 . 31 January 2018.
  7. Web site: Acaz Fellegger . Ituano trouxe de volta o atacante João Morelli que estava na Europa . Ituano FC . 9 August 2020 . Portuguese . 29 August 2018 . 19 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121247/https://www.ituanofc.com/ituano-trouxe-de-volta-o-atacante-joao-morelli-que-estava-na-europa/ . dead .
  8. Web site: Yurii Tkachuk, João Morelli ja Marek Kaljumäe liitusid FCI Levadiaga . FCI Levadia Tallinn . 9 August 2020 . Estonian . 27 December 2018.
  9. Web site: Gareth Hampshire . Wanderers bring samba style to Halifax with Brazilian pair João Morelli and Eriks Santos. . HFX Wanderers FC . 3 March 2020 . 25 February 2020.
  10. Web site: 'Coastal Clash' between Pacific FC and HFX Wanderers ends in stalemate in PEI. John. Molinaro. August 15, 2020.
  11. Web site: HFX Wanderers FC attacker Joao Morelli wins 2021 CPL Golden Boot. December 5, 2021. Canadian Premier League.
  12. Web site: CPL Awards 2021 set for Tuesday: View nominees here. December 12, 2021. Canadian Premier League. Marty. Thompson.
  13. Web site: Morelli Commits to Wanderers for 2022 and 2023. HFX Wanderers FC. December 12, 2021.
  14. Web site: HFX Wanderers FC’s Joao Morelli named 2021 CPL Player of the Year. Marty. Thompson. December 14, 2021. Canadian Premier League.
  15. Web site: HFX Wanderers’ João Morelli to miss rest of 2022 season with torn ACL. Charlie. O'Connor-Clarke. April 20, 2022. Canadian Premier League.
  16. Web site: Jacques . John . 20 April 2022 . Joao Morelli Out With Season-Ending Injury . 4 November 2023 . Northern Tribune . en-US.
  17. Web site: Jacques . John . 9 June 2023 . Star Halifax Wanderers Forward Joao Morelli Cleared For Return . 4 November 2023 . Northern Tribune . en-US.
  18. Web site: João Morelli added to active roster, signs new contract with Wanderers. July 10, 2023. HFX Wanderers.
  19. Web site: O'Connor-Clarke . Charlie . 30 July 2023 . HIGHLIGHTS: York United FC vs. HFX Wanderers FC (July 30, 2023) . 4 November 2023 . OneSoccer.
  20. Web site: Jacques . John . 31 July 2023 . Magic For Morelli: CPL Talisman Bags First Goal Since Injury . 4 November 2023 . Northern Tribune . en-US.
  21. Web site: Jacques . John . 16 September 2023 . 'It Breaks My Heart' - Morelli Sidelined As Wanderers Make Playoff Push . 4 November 2023 . Northern Tribune . en-US.
  22. Web site: Jacques . John . 3 November 2023 . Top CPL Midfielder Joao Morelli Announces Retirement . 4 November 2023 . Northern Tribune . en-US.
  23. Web site: 3 November 2023 . Forever a Wanderer: João Morelli announces retirement from football . 4 November 2023 . Canadian Premier League.
  24. Web site: Joao Morelli Tested Positive For Doping In 2023. June 11, 2024. Northern Tribune. John. Jacques.
  25. Includes appearances in the Estonian Cup and Canadian Championship.
  26. Includes appearances in UEFA Europa League.
  27. Includes appearances in the EFL Trophy, Copa Paulista, Estonian Supercup, and Canadian Premier League playoffs
  28. Web site: Premium liiga kuu parimad tulevad FC Florast. et. Estonian Football Association. 3 November 2017.