Héctor Moreno

Lore & Background

Moreno progressed through the youth ranks of Universidad Nacional, making his senior debut in 2006 at the age of 18. In 2007, he transferred to Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, where he won the Eredivisie title. He joined Spanish side Espanyol in 2011 and remained with the team for four seasons before returning to the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven. Subsequent moves included Roma in Italy, Real Sociedad in Spain, and Al-Gharafa in Qatar. Moreno later returned to Mexico to play for Monterrey, retiring after four years with the club. Moreno was a member of the Mexico national under-17 team that won the 2005 World Championship held in Peru. He has also represented Mexico at the 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 FIFA World Cup, as well as the 2011 and 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Copa América Centenario, and the 2013 and 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights at the Estadio Azteca hummed with a low, electric buzz. Eighty thousand voices pressed against the night air, and in the centre of the penalty area, a figure in green stood with his hands on his hips, watching the opposing winger set up for a cross. Moreno did not flinch. The ball sailed in, high and looping, and he timed his jump with the kind of calm that only comes from a thousand repetitions. His head met the ball with a soft, decisive tap, sending it harmlessly into the stands. The roar that followed was not for a goal—it was for the absence of one. Around him, teammates gathered, slapping his shoulder, and he simply nodded, already turning to call the next line. The crowd chanted his name, not because he had scored, but because for ninety minutes, nothing had got past him. That, the fans knew, was the real victory.

Reader's Guide

Moreno made his professional debut during the Clausura 2006 tournament, coming on as an 88th-minute substitute for Gerardo Galindo in the 1–0 victory over Santos Laguna on 22 January. He played his first full 90 minutes on 12 February in a 2–0 win over Veracruz, and scored his first goal the following week in a 1–3 defeat to Cruz Azul. Moreno would end the Clausura making six appearances in total. He would eventually secure his position as a regular starter. For the Apertura 2007, Moreno would play in his first, and only, league final with UNAM, losing to Atlante 2–1 on aggregate. On 13 December 2007, it was announced Moreno was transferred to Dutch club AZ in a US$4.5 million deal. He made his Eredivisie debut on 1 March 2008 in a 1–1 draw against Roda JC, playing the full 90 minutes. In April 2009, Moreno won his first Eredivisie title with AZ. On 22 April, it was reported Moreno had signed a contract extension with AZ which would tie him to the club until 2014. On 25 July, AZ won the Johan Cruyff Shield after defeating Heerenveen 5–1 in the final. Moreno made his debut in the UEFA Champions League on 16 September in a 0–1 defeat to Olympiacos. On 7 February 2010, Moreno gave Alkmaar a 2–1 victory over Feyenoord by scoring a header from a corner-kick in the 87th minute. He scored his third goal of the season in a 6–2 victory over RKC Waalwijk on 13 March 2010. He would score his fourth goal in a 3–0 victory over Willem II on 18 April. On 22 June 2011, it was announced Moreno would transfer to Spanish La Liga club Espanyol on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee. On 28 August, he made his debut in La Liga against Mallorca. On 26 September, he scored his first goal in a 1–3 loss to Levante. On 3 December, he would score his second league goal in a 1–2 loss to Valencia. Moreno scored his third goal of the season in a 3–1 home win against Racing de Santander. On 4 October 2012, Moreno was named Espanyol's Player of the Year for the 2011–12 season, his debut season, playing 35 league matches (for a total of 3,295 minutes played) and scoring three goals with one assist. Prior to the start of the 2014–15 season, it was announced Moreno would be out of action for up to six months due to a broken left tibia he suffered while playing for Mexico at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which would require surgery and rehabilitation. It was rumoured the injury prevented him

Did You Know?

• Moreno was a member of the Mexico national under-17 team that won the 2005 World Championship held in Peru.
• He scored his first senior international goal in a 2–1 win over El Salvador in a 2014 World Cup qualifying match on 12 June 2012.
• Moreno was named Espanyol's Player of the Year for the 2011–12 season, his debut season with the club.
• He was the first Mexican international player to play in the Qatar Stars League when he joined Al-Gharafa in July 2019.