Filipe Morais

Filipe Alexandre Major Morais (born 21 November 1985) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a winger.

Morais began his career at Chelsea, progressing through the youth system before signing a professional deal in 2005. Having made no first-team appearances for Chelsea, Morais was loaned out to Milton Keynes Dons in January 2006, spending the remainder of the 2005–06 campaign with the League One side. Ahead of the 2006–07 season, Morais joined Millwall on a free transfer. He spent half a season playing for Millwall, before joining St Johnstone on loan until the end of the season. Morais was released by Millwall on returning to the club, and subsequently signed for SPL club Hibernian on a free transfer in July 2007. He spent one and a half years at the club, before signing for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in January 2009.

He rejoined St Johnstone in the summer of 2009, and spent the 2009–10 campaign playing regularly for the club. Morais returned to England for the 2010–11 season, signing for Oldham Athletic in October 2010. In July 2012, he left Oldham and signed for Stevenage on a free transfer and has since turned out for Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers. Morais joined Crawley Town in July 2018. In September 2019, Morais rejoined former club Oldham Athletic on a season-long loan deal. In December 2020 he joined Grimsby Town but was omitted from the squad after an altercation with teammate Stefan Payne during a game against one of Morais' former sides, Bradford. Morais was released and eventually announced his retirement in December 2021.

Club career

Chelsea

Morais started his career at Chelsea, joining the club's academy at the age of 16. Morais played in manager José Mourinho's first game in-charge, coming on as an 83rd-minute substitute in a pre-season friendly against Oxford United in July 2004.

A year after joining the club, having played regularly for the club's U18 side, Morais signed his first professional contract, signing a one-year deal with Chelsea in the summer of 2005. Having made no first-team appearances for Chelsea, Morais was loaned out to League One side Milton Keynes Dons in January 2006, joining the club on an initial one-month loan deal. He made his debut in a 1–0 victory over Nottingham Forest on 31 January 2006, coming on as a second-half substitute in the match. He went on to play three more times for the club during the brief loan agreement, making his first professional start in a convincing 3–0 win against Blackpool. The loan deal was extended in February 2006, with Morais remaining at MK Dons for the remainder of the 2005–06 season. He made 13 appearances for the club, before returning to his parent club in May 2006.

Millwall

Despite being offered a one-year contract extension at Chelsea in June 2006, Morais opted to leave the club, stating he did not believe he was ever going to play first-team football. Shortly after leaving Chelsea, Morais joined Millwall on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal with the club. He attracted the interest of Millwall manager Nigel Spackman after Spackman had watched Morais play for MK Dons the previous season. Morais made his Millwall debut on the opening day of the 2006–07 season, playing the first 79 minutes in a 1–1 draw with Yeovil Town at The Den. He was ever-present during the first two months of the campaign, playing in the club's first eight fixtures. However, after Spackman left Millwall in September 2006, Morais played just once in two months — starting in a 2–0 win over AFC Bournemouth in the Football League Trophy on 31 October 2006. He briefly returned to first-team action throughout December 2006, scoring his first professional goal in a 2–0 home win over Bradford City. He made 16 appearances for Millwall in all competitions, scoring one goal.

St Johnstone

A month later, in January 2007, Morais joined Scottish First Division club St Johnstone on loan until the end of the season. St Johnstone manager Owen Coyle stated Morais' former Millwall teammate, Derek McInnes, had recommended Coyle sign the player. He made his debut for St Johnstone a day after signing, on 20 January 2007, coming on as a 60th-minute substitute in a 4–3 victory over Airdrie United. Morais played regularly during his loan spell, scoring his only goal for the club in a 4–2 win over Hamilton Academical at McDiarmid Park, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute in the match and scoring St Johnstone's fourth goal two minutes later. He was sent-off for the first time in his career in St Johnstone's 2–0 away win over Gretna in April 2007, receiving the red card for two bookable offences. Morais made 16 appearances during his five-month loan spell, scoring once, as St Johnstone narrowly missed out on promotion to the SPL. He returned to Millwall in May 2007. Despite being told he featured in Millwall's long-term plans prior to his loan move to St Johnstone, the club told him he was free to look for a new club ahead of the 2007–08 season.

Hibernian

Morais subsequently went on trial with SPL club Hibernian in July 2007, playing in the club's 1–0 friendly victory over Middlesbrough. Shortly after the match, it was announced that Morais had signed for the Edinburgh side on a permanent basis, joining on a free transfer and on a two-year contract. Hibs' manager John Collins stated he signed Morais after he came "very highly recommended by contacts at Chelsea". Morais made his Hibs debut in the club's first game of the season, appearing as a 75th-minute substitute in a 1–0 away victory over rivals Hearts. He opened his goalscoring account for Hibs in only his second start, scoring with a neat finish from twelve yards in a 2–1 win against Queen's Park on 28 August 2007. Morais played 32 times for the club during the 2007–08 campaign, scoring twice — with his other goal coming in a 2–0 win over Kilmarnock at Easter Road in March 2008. During the season, Morais was sent-off twice, which resulted in his, and the team's, discipline coming under scrutiny. He remained at Hibernian for the 2008–09 season, and played in the side's first game of the campaign, a 2–0 home defeat to IF Elfsborg in the UEFA Intertoto Cup on 6 July 2008. After playing in four of Hibernian's first five games, Morais did not appear for the club again after he was substituted at half-time during a Scottish League Cup defeat by Greenock Morton in August 2008. In December 2008, Morais was fined £500 by Edinburgh Sheriff Court after he was found guilty of assaulting a doorman at an Edinburgh casino. Hibs also fined Morais for the assault, as well as turning up late for a match. During his 18 months at Hibernian, Morais made 36 appearances in all competitions, scoring two times.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

In January 2009, Morais left Hibernian by mutual consent, subsequently allowing him to sign for fellow SPL club Inverness Caledonian Thistle on a free transfer. He signed a contract for the remainder of the 2008–09 season. He played his first game for Inverness a day after his signing was announced, scoring twice as Inverness progressed past Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup

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