Heriberto Morales

Heriberto Ramón Morales Cortés (born 10 March 1975 in Morelia, Michoacán), Mexico, is a Mexican former association football defender.

Heriberto Morales

Personal information
Full name	Heriberto Ramón Morales Cortés
Date of birth	(1975-03-10) March 10, 1975
Place of birth	Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995–2002	Morelia	242	(5)
1997–1998	→ Monterrey (loan)	32	(1)
2003	Guadalajara	34	(0)
2004–2007	Chiapas	80	(1)
National team
2000–2002	Mexico	13	(0)
Honours Representing  Mexico Runner-up Copa America 2001
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Morales began his career with Monarcas Morelia in the 1995-96 season,[1] playing as a central or left-sided defender. By 1996, he had become a starter for the majority of Morelia's matches,[1] and he stayed with the club through 2002, winning the Invierno 2000 championship in the process. In 2003, he moved to Chivas, playing one year there, and he spent his last career years playing for Chiapas. Morales ended his Mexico league top-tier career with Jaguares in 2007.[1]

He scored the goal in the penalty shootout that won the championship for Morelia against Toluca in 2000.[2]

In addition, Morales earned 12 caps for the Mexico national team. He was called by national coach Javier Aguirre for the 2001 Copa America, appearing in five matches as Mexico advanced to the final.[3] Morales also appeared in three qualifiers for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, scoring an own goal against Jamaica on September 2, 2001[4] and starting subsequent matches against Trinidad & Tobago and Costa Rica.[5] Although he played in several preparation matches prior to the World Cup, Morales was not included in Aguirre's final 23-man squad.