Fernando Morena

Fernando Morena Belora (born 2 February 1952) is a Uruguayan former professional footballer who played as a striker. His most known nicknames were "Nando" (abridged form of Fernando) and "Potrillo" (Colt, although young stallion is a better translation in this case), and he is the all-time top goal scorer in the history of the Uruguayan Primera División with 230 goals in 244 games. He scored 268 in his almost 20-year career.

Club career

Fernando Morena started as a professional football player in 1968 with Racing Club de Montevideo, which he left in 1969, signing for the nearby team, River Plate from Montevideo, where he played until 1972. Morena joined Peñarol in 1973. In his first run with the club, he won four Uruguayan Primera championships. He was the top scorer in the Uruguayan soccer league for six consecutive years between 1973 and 1978, and was the top scorer in the Copa Libertadores in 1974 and 1975.

In 1979, Fernando Morena signed up with the Spanish team Rayo Vallecano, but spent just one season there before changing to Valencia in 1980. Morena returned to Peñarol in 1981, where he helped the team win two more Uruguayan league titles in 1981 and 1982. and the 1982 Intercontinental Cup.

In 1983, Fernando Morena joined the Brazilian soccer team Flamengo and in 1984, he played for Boca Juniors of Argentina. He finished his professional career in Peñarol in 1985.

International career Fernando made his debut for the Uruguay national team on 27 October 1971 against Chile in a 3–0 win, where he scored his first goal. He was part of the national team that represented Uruguay at the 1974 World Cup. He went on to obtain a total of 54 international caps, scoring 22 goals which currently ranks him as the joint eighth-highest scorer in the history of the team. On 4 September 1983, Morena suffered a tibia and fibula fracture when playing against Venezuela for the Copa America. He never played for the national team after that incident, though he is still officially considered a part of the Uruguayan team that won the Copa América in 1983.

Coaching career After retiring, he held several coaching positions in Uruguay, Spain and Chile. His first coaching job was in River Plate, which was followed by Peñarol, Real Murcia in Spain, Huracán Buceo, Rampla Juniors, Colo Colo in Chile and a second run in Peñarol in 2005. In 2009, he was designated as Manager of Institutional Relations at Peñarol.

Career statistics International

Honours Club Peñarol Uruguayan Primera División (6): 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1981, 1982 Copa Libertadores: 1982 Intercontinental Cup: 1982

Valencia European Super Cup: 1980

International Uruguay Copa América: 1983

Individual Uruguayan Primera División top scorer (7): 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1982 Copa Libertadores top scorer: 1974, 1975, 1982 South American Footballer of the Year Bronze Award: 1975

Records He scored 230 goals in Uruguayan championships, making him the highest scoring player in the history of Uruguayan league football. He scored a total of 268 goals throughout his football career. He is the highest goalscorer in a Uruguayan Primera league season with 36 goals in 1978. Three times top scorer in the Copa Libertadores (1974, 1975 and 1982). Highest scoring Uruguayan player in the history of the Copa Libertadores with 37 goals in 77 games.