Fernando Morientes

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Morientes built a formidable reputation as one of Spain's most clinical finishers during the late nineties and early two-thousands. His time at Real Madrid saw him contribute significantly to multiple Champions League victories, establishing him as a giant of European football before his retirement in 2010. He scored 19 league goals in 1998–99 and 19 more in 1999–2000, finishing as Real's top scorer in the latter year while helping the club win its second Champions League in three years. He also netted 18 league goals in 2001–02, including five in a 7–0 demolition of UD Las Palmas. After a loan to Monaco in 2003–04, he finished as top scorer in the Champions League with nine goals, scoring against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and against Chelsea in the semi-finals. He later played for Liverpool and Valencia, winning the 2005 UEFA Super Cup and the 2008 Copa del Rey with Valencia.

In Their Own Story

Morientes was born in Cilleros, Cáceres, Extremadura, and moved to Sonseca in the Province of Toledo at the age of four. He began his professional career at Albacete Balompié, making his La Liga debut on 7 November 1993 as a 75th-minute substitute in a 2–3 loss against CD Tenerife. On 23 October 1994, he scored his first professional goal, opening a 2–0 home win over Racing de Santander. He signed with Zaragoza in 1995, making his debut on 9 September away to Real Betis, scoring after 48 minutes but being sent off seven minutes later for striking Jaime. On 10 January 1996, he scored his first professional hat-trick in a 3–2 win at Athletic Bilbao for the domestic cup. His performances caught the eye of Real Madrid, which bought him in the summer of 1997 for approximately €6.6 million. He finished as starter in his first year, managing 12 goals in 33 matches as the team won the UEFA Champions League.

Reader's Guide

Morientes's career spanned from 1993 to 2010. He played for Albacete, Zaragoza, Real Madrid, Monaco (on loan), Liverpool, and Valencia. In La Liga, he scored 124 goals in 337 games over 15 seasons. He started in four Champions League finals between 1998 and 2004, winning three with Real Madrid. He earned 47 caps for Spain, scoring five goals in two World Cups and appearing in Euro 2004. He later worked briefly as a manager. He has no connection to Inter Miami CF.

Did You Know?

• Morientes scored his first professional hat-trick on 10 January 1996 in a 3–2 win at Athletic Bilbao for the domestic cup.
• He scored five goals in a 7–0 demolition of UD Las Palmas in 2001–02, missing out on a double hat-trick after missing from the penalty spot late in the match.
• During his loan to Monaco in 2003–04, he finished as top scorer in the Champions League with nine goals, scoring against his parent club Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.
• Morientes was cup-tied for Liverpool's 2005 Champions League campaign and did not feature in the final against Milan.
• He scored the third and final goal in Valencia's 3–1 victory over Getafe in the 2008 Copa del Rey final.