Academy Update: Hall of Fame Nominee Javier Morales Focused on Building the Next Generation

presented by Baptist Health

By Inter Miami CF

February 19^th, 2021

Javier Morales has compiled an accomplished playing career, and now, the Inter Miami CF Academy presented by Baptist Health U-17 head coach is a candidate for the National Soccer Hall of Fame. These days, Morales is channeling all he learned throughout his standout career into developing top young Academy talent in South Florida.

As a young boy born in Argentina, it was his dream to play fútbol. His uncle took him to a local 5-v-5 game when he was just four years old and from that day on, Morales spent his days eating, breathing, and dreaming about fútbol.

Academy Update: Hall of Fame Nominee Javier Morales Focused on Building the Next Generation

Morales went on to win a second division title in Argentina and eventually the MLS Cup in 2009. He was also named an MLS All-Star in 2009 and 2010, but Morales feels that playing the game of fútbol as a professional for over 20 years might be his biggest accomplishment yet.

“If you would’ve told me when I started that I’d play professional soccer for 20 years, I would’ve been super happy. I’m so proud because I know it’s no easy task. Just getting into pro-soccer is hard enough, but to play 20 years, that’s amazing to me,” said Morales.

Morales has been recognized for his incredible career a few times, but the latest accolade could be the biggest yet. Morales is a candidate for the National Soccer Hall of Fame, an honor befitting of a career as memorable as his, but Morales was caught off guard when he heard the news.

“A friend of mine from Salt Lake texted me saying, ‘hey congratulations.’ I responded, ‘thanks but what are you talking about?’ It wasn’t until I checked on social media that I got notice of my Hall of Fame eligibility,” he said.

When it came time to hang up the boots, Morales decided not to leave the pitch entirely, as he quickly made a transition to coaching. But for Morales, switching to coaching, and quickly finding his way to Inter Miami, wasn’t as challenging as one might think.

“To be honest, the switch from player to coach was pretty easy. After playing so long, I realized toward the end of my career that coaching was something I’d want to get into. I also felt that as a veteran on the field, in some ways, you almost became a coach for the younger players on the team.”

“Getting a player to the pros deals with a lot more than just technique and tactics. I like to be a coach for my players more than just on the field. For me, it’s also teaching them how to grow into a mindset that can help them grow as a pro player,” said Morales, citing the importance of being well-rounded and having a strong mindset.

Although the Inter Miami CF Academy presented by Baptist Health is in the early stages of its journey, he believes that with time, it can become one of the best talent-producing academies in the country. In fact, Morales himself has played a part in guiding a talented young player, Edison Azcona, from the Academy up to the Inter Miami First Team, whom he coached with the U-17s.

“The club itself is only about a year old, it’s quite young. But if you look at the numbers, we’ve already signed three homegrown players (Ian Fray, Azcona, and Felipe Valencia) from the Academy to the First Team. If we did that in just one year, it makes you think. How many players will get to the professional level in five years? In 10? It’s exciting to think about what we can do.”

You can follow our academy’s journey online by following our Twitter account @InterMiamiAcad or via Instagram @InterMiamiCF_Academy.

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