(photo: Gustavo Aleixo/Cruzeiro)
An idol of Cruzeiro fans on and off the field, Marcelo Moreno is already planning the next steps in his career after retiring from football. The 36-year-old Bolivian striker will end his career as a professional athlete next week.
Moreno’s ‘last arrow’ will be given before the classic between Cruzeiro and Atlético, on April 7 (Sunday), in Belo Horizonte, for the second leg of the Campeonato Mineiro final. Hours before the ball rolls at Mineirão, the center forward will enter the field to say goodbye to the Cruzeirenses.
While the reunion with the star fans doesn’t arrive, Marcelo is already thinking about what he will do after ‘hanging up his boots’ for good. Although he has not yet decided which path he wants to take, one thing is certain, he will be immersed in football.
“I have a wonderful career ahead and I will continue to do what I want with great passion. I don’t know in what capacity yet, perhaps as coach, director, president, or, perhaps, like Ronaldo (Nazário). Let’s see what the situation will be like. But as a player I’m sure the decision was made very well.”
– Marcelo Moreno, Cruzeiro idol.
Moreno did not rule out following in the footsteps of Ronaldo, the experienced striker’s ‘boss’ at Cruzeiro. The Phenomenon began his career as a football club manager in 2018, when he acquired 51% of the shares in Real Valladolid, from Spain.
In December 2021, Ronaldo expanded his business and became the majority partner of Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF) in Raposa. He bought 90% of the shares in the midst of the club’s biggest economic crisis.
‘Flecheiro’ at Cruzeiro
In his three previous spells at Cruzeiro, Marcelo Moreno played 147 games and scored 54 goals, establishing himself as the club’s top foreign scorer. The Bolivian won three titles: Mineiro in 2008 and 2014 and Brasileiro in 2014. Moreno was top scorer in the 2008 Copa Libertadores, with eight goals.
In the 2014 Brasileirão, he found the net 15 times, the same number as teammate Ricardo Goulart and below Fred, from Fluminense (18), and Henrique Dourado, from Palmeiras (16).
Called ‘Flecheiro’ for celebrating goals by simulating shots with a bow, Marcelo stood out for being a good header and for the drive and determination shown in matches. These characteristics endeared him to Cruzeiro fans.
In 2020, Moreno returned to Toca in a not so good phase technically. Still, he contributed a lot to the club, to the point of lending money in the midst of the financial crisis worsened by the fall to Series B.
Career of Marcelo Moreno
Marcelo Moreno began his career as an athlete at Oriente Petrolero, in Bolivia. Afterwards, he passed through Vitória; Shakhtar Donetsk, from Ukraine; Werder Bremen, from Germany; Wigan Athletic, from England; Guild; Flamengo; Changchun Yatai, Wuhan Zall and Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, both from China.
In almost 20 years as a professional player, Moreno played more than 600 matches and scored 214 goals. The number 9 is the top scorer in the history of the Bolivian national team, with 31 goals in 108 games.
