José Luis Morales, the "Commander," has ended his historic career at Levante UD in an emotional farewell press conference. Accompanied by the club's president and supported by his close circle, the Granota captain reflected on his years in Orriols and expressed his gratitude to everyone who has been part of his sports career.

At 38 years old, Morales made it very clear that his intention is to remain active: "I feel good with my body, and I want to keep playing football. I'm just freeing up my spot." Before the captain's speech, Levante UD president Pablo Sánchez opened the event by describing Morales as an "indelible legend" and reviewing a career that began with the reserve team in 2011.

Sánchez praised his tremendous human qualities and highlighted his return in 2024 to lead the team's latest promotion to the First Division as the top scorer. Finally, after recalling his record-breaking stats of 377 official matches and 83 goals in the modern history of the club, the president bid him farewell with an emotional thank-you on behalf of all Levante supporters: "Thank you for everything, José. This will always be your home."

The Madrid-born forward began by expressing his gratitude to the club and the CEO, Pepe Danvila. "The feeling of being at home is what I feel. Thank you, Danvila, for giving me the opportunity to return to my home; this has been the second-best opportunity of my life. From the first match in Gijón to Burgos, it was a very beautiful year. My dream was to bring the team back to the First Division. That promotion removed the thorn I had in my heart since I left."

Morales emphasized how important it was for him to wear the blue and red jersey again: "I had the dream of experiencing this jersey again. It was something I needed because, in the end, everyone deserves to return to the place where they were happy."

Gratitude to his coaches

During his speech, the captain gave a detailed account of the coaches who have shaped his career at Levante UD, highlighting the lessons he learned from each of them over the years.

He also wanted to emphasize the unity of the locker room: "One word defines these months of effort and sacrifice, and it must be written in capital letters: TEAM. My teammates have put the team above everything else. They have pushed me to be a better player and person, and they have accepted advice without judgment."

The soul of the club: employees and fans

The "Commander" did not want to forget any of the people who are part of the day-to-day life of the institution, from the medical staff to the equipment managers, as well as the staff at Buñol and Ciutat de València.

"Thank you to all the people who made it possible for me to be here for so long. Thank you for every trip, thank you, Paquito and Geno: you are the essence of this Levante. To the equipment managers, past and present, Manolo and Javi, hardworking people who love this club; I’ve gained two friends as well. To the workers at Buñol, the gardeners, the cleaning staff, thank you all."

His message to the fans was equally full of gratitude, recognizing the key role of the supporters during difficult times.

"To the fans, thank you for every hug, smile, photo... for every word of encouragement when things were at their worst. I just want to ask you one thing: let’s continue as we have been these past two years, let this bond between the team and the fans never disappear. Honestly, you are one of the best fanbases in the world."

Family, the fundamental pillar

In the most intimate part of his speech, Morales became especially emotional as he recalled the sacrifices of his parents and the unconditional support of his wife and closest family members.

"To my family, thank you for being there, for your advice, for loving me the way you do, and for encouraging me to keep enjoying this profession. Thank you to my parents; thank you for every early morning in the cold, heat, rain, wind, snow... for the countless kilometers in the car without expecting anything in return. Just so that little boy who dreamed of being a footballer could achieve it all. I love you so much."

He also had words for his agent: "Javier Piquer, thank you for giving me the opportunity to build a career at this club and for understanding what I wanted at every moment." Finally, he referred to his wife, Ruth García: "You and I know what we’ve been through and what we’ve suffered, but you’ve always been there. I hope I’ve been there for you. We met when I arrived, and it felt like we’d known each other forever. You’ve helped me so much."

The future: the desire to stay on the pitch

When asked by the media, and after being described by a journalist as "a legend, an icon, and the captain who has achieved the most and gone the furthest" in the club, Morales reflected on his immediate future.

"The season has been what it has been. I would like to stay here, but I want to enjoy football. Selfishness is part of being a footballer when we want to be on the pitch. I know there was an option for renewal, but I just wanted to return to Levante, and now I just want to play football. This year, I haven’t had the chance to prove that I can keep playing."

Morales assured that he is open to experiencing something abroad. "I realized some time ago that this was going to be my last season. My wife and I have discussed places, and we’re not closing the door on anything; if we have to go abroad, that’s fine, but as of today, the only thing I know is that I want to play football."

Regarding his legacy and how he wishes to be remembered by Levante fans, the Madrid native is clear: "I’d like to be remembered with a smile like the one I had on the day in Burgos. I leave satisfied because every run I made has served to make my name part of this club, the team that gave me the chance to be who I am. I never imagined this day would come with so many people; these have been very beautiful years."

"I’ve done everything possible to be remembered fondly. I hope people continue to remember all these goals, these matches, and keep in their minds everything I’ve done for the club. I hope I’ve lived up to expectations as a person. In the future, I’d love to be here at the club, but that’s something we’ll see."