Marcelo Moretto

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Moretto and the second or paternal family name is de Souza.

Marcelo Moretto
Personal information
Full name Marcelo Moretto de Souza[1]
Date of birth (1978-05-10) 10 May 1978 (age 46)[1]
Place of birth Eldorado, Brazil
Height 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998 São José 0 (0)
1998–2003 Portuguesa 13 (0)
1999 → Londrina (loan) 0 (0)
2001 → Sport Recife (loan) 6 (0)
2002 → Brasiliense (loan) 0 (0)
2004 15 de Novembro
2004–2005 Felgueiras 8 (0)
2005–2006 Vitória Setúbal 23 (0)
2006–2009 Benfica 19 (0)
2007–2008 → AEK Athens (loan) 16 (0)
2010–2011 Olhanense 13 (0)
2011 Arka Gdynia 14 (0)
2011–2012 Avaí 19 (0)
2013 Atlético Sorocaba 13 (0)
2013–2014 América-MG 2 (0)
2015–2016 Miami Dade
2017 Portuguesa-RJ 0 (0)
Total 146 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Marcelo Moretto de Souza (born 10 May 1978), known as Moretto, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Early years

Born in Eldorado, Mato Grosso do Sul, Moretto represented São José Esporte Clube, Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, Londrina Esporte Clube, Sport Club do Recife, Brasiliense Futebol Clube and Clube 15 de Novembro in his home country.[2] In 2003, aged 25, he moved to Portugal, signing for S.C. Salgueiros in the Segunda Liga and making a very good first impression during pre-season; however, facing serious economic problems, the club was relegated to the third division and lost all of its professional players.[3][4]

Moretto then joined F.C. Felgueiras also in the second tier. There, he played eight matches and conceded ten goals.[4]

Vitória Setúbal

In January 2005, Moretto moved to Vitória F.C. of the Primeira Liga on a two-and-a-half-year contract, replacing Fulham-bound Ricardo Batista.[5] He soon became first choice while the team performed above all expectations, winning the Taça de Portugal after beating S.L. Benfica in the final.[6]

In the first part of the 2005–06 season, Moretto appeared in 17 matches and conceded only five goals; however, both Vitória coach Luís Norton de Matos and some players resigned shortly after due to unpaid wages, as he was by then the goalkeeper with the fewest goals conceded per minute in all European leagues.[7][8]

Benfica

In December 2005, speculation arose regarding Moretto's transfer to Benfica or FC Porto. In a controversial move, he joined the former following allegedly "bad behaviour" from both his agent and the latter club's board of directors;[9][10][11] he agreed to a deal until June 2011, for €1 million.[12]

When Moretto arrived at the Estádio da Luz, both José Moreira and Quim were injured, so he was immediately inserted in manager Ronald Koeman's starting XI.[13] He made 23 appearances in all competitions until the end of the campaign (18 in the league, one in the cup and four in the UEFA Champions League, conceding no goals against reigning champions Liverpool in the round of 16 and being voted Player of the match in the quarter-finals first leg against FC Barcelona).[14][15]

Moretto did not have an easy time after joining Benfica because, alternating above-average performances with subpar ones, he suffered from the animosity of their supporters, which undermined his concentration.[16][17][18] Following the departure of Koeman and arrival of his replacement Fernando Santos, he was relegated to the role of substitute, with Quim again becoming the starter; during 2006–07 he played only once, often splitting the bench with Moreira.[19]

On 13 July 2007, Moretto agreed to a loan at AEK Athens F.C. of Super League Greece, with an option to make the move permanent.[20]

Later career

On 3 August 2009, Benfica released Moretto, with the player planning to return to Brazil.[21] Later that year he returned to Brasiliense, now in the Série B.

Moretto went back to Portugal and its top flight in July 2010, signing with lowly S.C. Olhanense for two years.[22][23] In the following transfer window, however, he changed teams – and countries – again, joining Arka Gdynia from Poland.[24]

Personal life

Moretto's younger brother, André (born 1987), was also a footballer and a goalkeeper. He was under contract with Vitória de Setúbal for several years as well, but never represented the first team.[25]

Gustavo Manduca, who shared teams with him at Benfica, was Moretto's brother-in-law.[26]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[27][28]
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
São José 1998 — —
Portuguesa 1998 Série A 0 0 — — 0 0
1999 Série A 0 0 — — 0 0
2000 Série A 10 0 — — 10 0
2002 Série A 3 0 — — 3 0
2003 Série B 0 0 — — 0 0
Total 13 0 — — 13 0
Londrina (loan) 1999 Série B 0 0 — — 0 0
Sport (loan) 2001 Série A 6 0 — — 6 0
Brasiliense (loan) 2002 Série C — —
15 Novembro 2004 — —
Felgueiras 2004–05 Segunda Liga 8 0 1 0 — — — 9 0
Vitória Setúbal 2004–05 Primeira Liga 8 0 2 0 — — — 10 0
2005–06 Primeira Liga 15 0 0 0 — 2 0 1 0 18 0
Total 23 0 2 0 — 2 0 1 0 28 0
Benfica 2005–06 Primeira Liga 18 0 1 0 — 4 0 — 23 0
2006–07 Primeira Liga 1 0 0 0 — 1 0 — 2 0
2008–09 Primeira Liga 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 — 4 0
Total 19 0 2 0 3 0 5 0 — 29 0
AEK Athens (loan) 2007–08 Super League Greece 16 0 — 7 0 — 23 0
Olhanense 2010–11 Primeira Liga 13 0 0 0 0 0 — — 13 0
Arka Gdynia 2010–11 Ekstraklasa 14 0 — — — — 14 0
Avaí 2011 Série A 3 0 — — — — 3 0
2012 Série B 16 0 — — — 11 0 27 0
Total 19 0 — — — 11 0 30 0
Atlético Sorocaba 2013 13 0 — — — — 0 0
América 2013 Série B 2 0 0 0 — — — 2 0
Miami Dade 2015 — — —
2016 — — —
Total — — —
Portuguesa-RJ 2017 Série D 0 0 0 0 — — 8 0 8 0
Career total 146 0 5 0 3 0 14 0 20 0 188 0
  1. ^ Includes the Campeonato Carioca, Campeonato Catarinense and Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira

Honours

Vitória Setúbal

Benfica

References

  1. ^ a b c Marcelo Moretto at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ "Nova Andradina festeja sucesso do guarda-redes Moretto" [Nova Andradina celebrates goalkeeper Moretto's success] (in Portuguese). Esporte Ágil. 3 April 2006. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Salgueiros: Brasileiro Moretto incrédulo" [Salgueiros: Brazil's Moretto lost for words]. Record (in Portuguese). 16 August 2004. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Leões sondaram Moretto" [Lions tracked Moretto]. Record (in Portuguese). 18 June 2005. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Moretto: «Penso conquistar o meu espaço»" [Moretto: "I'm looking to make room for myself"]. Record (in Portuguese). 21 January 2005. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  6. ^ Matos Pereira, Rui (29 May 2005). "Meyong magic seals Setúbal joy". UEFA. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  7. ^ Calhau, Pedro (21 November 2005). "Moretto (V. Setúbal) é o menos batido da Europa, mas reparte louros com «grupo que quer ter um lugar ao sol»" [Moretto (V. Setúbal) is Europe's least beaten, but shares laurels with "group who wants to find place in the sun"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Liga 2005/06: Moretto passa a ser guarda-redes mais tempo em branco" [2005/06 League: Moretto is now cleanest goalkeeper] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 17 December 2005. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Moretto diz-se enganado por Caldeira" [Moretto says Caldeira deceived him]. Record (in Portuguese). 2 January 2006. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  10. ^ Fragoso, Ana (4 January 2006). "Moretto "pediu ajuda" a Vítor Dinis" [Moretto "asked for" Vítor Dinis' help]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Moretto recorda como o Benfica 'tirou-o' do FC Porto" [Moretto remembers how Benfica 'took him' from FC Porto] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 12 November 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  12. ^ "Benfica build for title surge". UEFA. 2 January 2006. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  13. ^ "Ronald Koeman mantém Moretto no jogo contra Tourizense" [Ronald Koeman will keep Moretto in match against Tourizense] (in Portuguese). Televisão Independente. 10 January 2006. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  14. ^ Hart, Simon (8 March 2006). "Simão sends Liverpool crashing out". UEFA. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  15. ^ Saffer, Paul (28 March 2006). "Barça denied by Moretto magic". UEFA. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Benfica: «A opção é Moretto», afirma Fernando Santos" [Benfica: "Moretto is the choice", says Fernando Santos] (in Portuguese). Futebol 365. 16 March 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Não desejo a ninguém o que passei no Benfica" ["I wish to no one what happened to me in Benfica"] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  18. ^ Nogueira, Carlos (12 November 2016). ""No Benfica fui prejudicado por aquele triste episódio no aeroporto"" ["That sad episode at the airport hurt me at Benfica"]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  19. ^ "Moreira e Moretto lutam pela baliza" [Moreira and Moretto fight for goal]. Record (in Portuguese). 2 January 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Moretto in AEK loan move". UEFA. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  21. ^ "Benfica libera goleiro Marcelo Moretto, que pretende voltar ao Brasil" [Benfica release goalkeeper Marcelo Moretto, who wants to return to Brazil] (in Portuguese). Universo Online. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Moretto está de volta para defender baliza do Olhanense" [Moretto is back to defend goal of Olhanense] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 3 July 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  23. ^ Travassos, Nuno (5 November 2010). "Liga: só um em cada quatro guarda-redes é português" [League: only one in every four goalkeepers is Portuguese] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  24. ^ Rojek, Szymon (29 January 2011). "Transfery. Brazylijczyk Marcelo Moretto w Arce Gdynia. Wisła będzie żałować" [Transfers. Brazilian Marcelo Moretto to Arka Gdynia. Wisła will be sorry]. Super Express (in Polish). Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  25. ^ "André Moretto já pensa em conquistar baliza sadina" [André Moretto already thinking of conquering sadina goal]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 1 June 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  26. ^ "Moretto: "Muitos pensaram que iam sair em Janeiro"" [Moretto: "Many thought they would leave in January"]. Record (in Portuguese). 9 January 2011. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  27. ^ Marcelo Moretto at ForaDeJogo (archived) Edit this at Wikidata
  28. ^ a b Marcelo Moretto at Soccerway
  29. ^ "V. Setúbal triunfante 38 anos depois" [V. Setúbal triumphant 38 years later] (in Portuguese). TSF. 29 May 2005. Retrieved 8 January 2018.