Michelle Montero

Michelle Montero
Personal information
Full name Michelle Francini Montero Venegas
Date of birth (1994-08-29) 29 August 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Sarapiquí, Heredia, Costa Rica
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Pérez Zeledón
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2017 UCEM Alajuela
2019 AD Moravia
2020–2021 Herediano 13 (3)
2020 → Liga de Macas (loan) 0 (0)
2021 Hapoel Be'er Sheva 8 (2)
2021–2022 Cruz Azul 23 (4)
2022– Pérez Zeledón 0 (0)
International career‡
2014 Costa Rica U-20 5 (3)
2021– Costa Rica 1 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 December 2021
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 December 2021
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Montero and the second or maternal family name is Venegas.

Michelle Francini Montero Venegas (born 29 August 1994) is a Costa Rican footballer who plays as a forward for A.D. Municipal Pérez Zeledón and the Costa Rica national team.[1]

Early life

Montero was born in Sarapiquí in Heredia Province.[2]

Club career

UCEM Alajuela

While still in high school, Montero signed for UCEM Alajuela. On 5 May 2013, she scored five goals in a 6–1 victory against Carrillo.[3]

AD Moravia

Montero initially retired in 2017, but signed with AD Moravia in 2019 following an invitation from coach Bernal Castillo.[4][5]

C.S. Herediano

In January 2020, Montero joined C.S. Herediano when C.S. Herediano took over running of AD Moravia's senior team.[6]

Liga Deportiva Juvenil de Macas

In February 2020, Montero and her Herediano teammate María José Morales joined Superliga Femenina side Liga Deportiva Juvenil de Macas on a seven-month loan.[7] Both loans were terminated in July.[8]

Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C.

In February 2021, Montero signed with Ligat Nashim side Hapoel Be'er Sheva.[9] Her three-month stint coincided with the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, which she later said impacted her mental health.[10]

Cruz Azul

In July 2021, Montero signed with Liga MX Femenil side Cruz Azul, becoming the team's first foreign player.[11][12]

A.D. Municipal Pérez Zeledón

In May 2022, Montero signed with Costa Rican Women's Premier Division team A.D. Municipal Pérez Zeledón.[12]

International career

Montero represented Costa Rica in the 2014 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship, scoring in the third-place playoff against Trinidad and Tobago.[13] She was later included in Costa Rica's squad for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, scoring in a 5–1 loss to France.[14]

Montero made her senior debut for Costa Rica on 30 November 2021, scoring in a 5–2 friendly win against Nicaragua.[15]

References

  1. ^ Michelle Montero at Soccerway
  2. ^ Monge Quesada, Estefan (3 April 2020). "Michelle Montero, jugadora de Costa Rica que pasó de las fincas bananeras al futbol extranjero". espn.co.cr (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  3. ^ Fonseca, Alejandro (7 May 2013). "Esta leoncita rajó la red". Diario Extra (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  4. ^ Garita, Geovanny. "Dos legionarias están por debutar en Ecuador". deportivofemenino.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  5. ^ Martínez, Allan (28 October 2019). "CODEA líder del Clausura 2019, Liberia logra victoria de oro". Uniffut (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  6. ^ Leandro, Harold (4 January 2020). "Fútbol femenino: AD Moravia pasa a llamarse CS Herediano FF". El Observador (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  7. ^ Leandro, Harold (3 February 2020). "Herediano exporta dos ticas al fútbol femenino de Ecuador". El Observador (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  8. ^ Salazar, Andrea (17 July 2020). "Michelle Montero y María José Morales vuelven al Team, luego de que sueño en el extranjero se esfumó". costaricamedios.cr (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  9. ^ Gómez Muñoz, Keish (19 May 2021). "espn.co.mx". "Hoy arriba de la casa pasó un misil", Michelle Montero, futbolista tica en Israel. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  10. ^ Vega, Eduardo (19 June 2021). "Futbolista Michelle Montero aún tiene pesadillas con bombardeos luego de regresar de Israel". La Teja (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  11. ^ López, Ada Xanat (17 July 2021). "De Costa Rica a Cruz Azul, la primera extranjera en un uno de los llamados 'grandes'". TUDN (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  12. ^ a b Diaz, Carlos Eduardo (9 May 2022). "Michelle Montero reforzará al Municipal de Pérez Zeledón". Hoy en el deporte (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  13. ^ Liburd, Lasana (20 January 2014). "Foul! T&T U-20 women face W/Cup heartbreak against Costa Rica". Wired686.com. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  14. ^ "France rolls in U-20 Women's World Cup opener". sportsnet.ca. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  15. ^ Alfaro, Antonio (30 November 2021). "Insólito gol de Nicaragua desata la furia de la 'Sele' femenina". La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2021.


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