Javier Morales Reflects On RSL Career During Interview With Inter Miami CF
Apr 13, 2020, 1:08 PM
Javier Morales #11 of Real Salt Lake celebrates after the game at Jeld-Wen Field on November 24, 2013 in Portland, Oregon. Real Salt Lake won the match 1-0 to advance.(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – It has been 25 years since Major League Soccer (MLS) first graced North America with its presence. During that time Real Salt Lake has been fortunate to boast some of the league’s most exciting players. Javier Morales, being one of them.
He was nicknamed “El Maestro.”@javi_mo11 began playing professionally in his native Argentina, but a move to Real Salt Lake in 2007 helped him arrive at some of the most memorable moments of his career.
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 13, 2020
Otherwise known as “El Maestro”, Morales joined the Claret and Cobalt in August of 2007 and it did not take long for him to have an immediate impact.
During his first match for RSL against the Kansas City Wizards, Morales notched his first MLS assist just 40 seconds into the game setting a new record for fastest first assist in MLS.
Morales would spend nine seasons with Real Salt Lake, where he would break the club record for most assists of all time with 81, while also becoming just the 17th professional MLS player to join the 50 goals and 50 assists milestone.
Two years after joining the club, Morales would be a catalyst in the historic 2009 MLS Cup Championship run that ended in a penalty shoot-out victory for RSL. Unfortunately, early in the first half, Morales would clash with LA Galaxies David Beckham and have to be substituted off. Regardless, Morales played a vital role in helping the club secure their first and only MLS Cup victory.
“My most memorable MLS moment was winning the title with Real Salt Lake in Seattle in 2009,” said Morales during an interview with Inter Miami CF. “To have lifted the trophy with my teammates was definitely the most memorable moment.”
Since his playing days, Morales has continued to work within the League. He spent one season as the FC Dallas U-13 coach before reigniting with Jason Kreis as an Academy Coach with Inter Miami CF.
He is currently serving as the U-17 coach where he is helping developed and form some of South Florida’s finest young soccer talents.
Tom Hackett is a Utah and Real Salt Lake Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the It’s Utah’s World Podcast (Utah Football themed) and The Lion’s Den Podcast (Real Salt Lake themed). Follow him on Twitter: @TomCantHackett.
