Jonathan Morgan (footballer)

Last updated

Jonathan Morgan
Managerial career
YearsTeam
2014–2021 Leicester City women
2022–2023 Burnley women
2023–2024 Sheffield United women

Jonathan Morgan is an English football coach and former player. He was previously manager of Leicester City, Burnley F.C. Women and Sheffield United. As a player, he played in the Conference North.

Contents

Career

2014 to 2021: Leicester City and first allegations of misconduct

Morgan played football in the Conference North. [1] He started his coaching career with Leicester City women's reserve team, [1] and took charge of the senior team in 2014, [2] [3] when they were in FA Women's Midlands Division One. [4] In 2018, Morgan helped Leicester to successfully apply for entry to the semi-professional FA Women's Championship. [1] In 2020, Leicester women's team were taken over by their male counterparts; Morgan retained his job after the takeover. [5] [6] As of 2020, Morgan was applying for a UEFA A Licence. [1]

Leicester won the 2020–21 FA Women's Championship, and were promoted to the FA Women's Super League for the 2021–22 season. Morgan was named the LMA Championship Manager of the Year for the 2020–21 season. [4] [3] On 25 November 2021, Morgan was sacked as Leicester manager, after the team lost their first eight matches in the WSL. [4] [3] He was replaced by Emile Heskey as interim Leicester manager, [3] and his father and one of his sisters were also sacked by Leicester at the same time. [7]

Later, on 2 February 2024, The Athletic published a story detailing the allegations resulting in Morgan's sacking, which included a three-year relationship Morgan engaged in with an unnamed teenage player while both were at Leicester. Morgan acknowledged the findings, disputing only the player's age when he started the relationship with her, but accused Sheffield United of engaging in a "witch hunt." [8]

2022 to 2023: Burnley

In May 2022, Morgan was appointed head coach of Burnley F.C. Women. [9] Under his tenure, Burnley went unbeaten for the first 16 matches of the 2022–23 season without defeat, [7] and were undefeated in all 12 league matches that he coached Burnley.[ citation needed ]

2023 to 2024: Sheffield United

In February 2023, Morgan became head coach of Sheffield United women's team. [10]

Death of Maddy Cusack, investigation, and sacking by Sheffield United

In October 2023, following the death by suicide of Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack, Morgan became the subject of an internal club investigation, and temporarily stepped away from the club. [11] Following the conclusion of the investigation, Morgan returned to work in January 2024. [12] On 2 February, Sheffield United Women stated on Twitter that Morgan had departed the club, indicating that he had been sacked as new information had come to light. [13]

Personal life

Morgan lives in Glen Parva, Leicestershire. [2] His sister Holly played for Leicester, [1] and later became a first-team coach at the club. [3] His other sister Jade has been the general manager of Leicester. [1] Their father Rohan has been a chairman of the club. [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Morgan dynasty: meet the family driving Leicester City Women's rise". The Guardian . 26 September 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Leicester Women and the Morgans: Captain, chairman, manager, general manager" . The Athletic . 9 October 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Leicester City sack manager Jonathan Morgan after pointless WSL start". The Guardian . 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "Jonathan Morgan leaves position of Leicester City Women's manager; Emile Heskey takes temporary charge". Sky Sports . 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  5. ↑ "Leicester City Women go pro after officially joining Foxes family". She Kicks. 23 August 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Leicester City Women: Morgan family are team's driving force as siblings kick off new era". Sky Sports . 14 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Jonathan Morgan: 'Burnley brought me in on my merits rather than perception and biases'". The Guardian . 16 December 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  8. ↑ Taylor, David (2 February 2024). "How Jonathan Morgan's 'immoral' relationship with his teenage player led to Sheffield United sacking" . The Athletic. The New York Times.
  9. ↑ "Jonathan Morgan appointed Burnley Women's head coach". She Kicks. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  10. ↑ "JONATHAN MORGAN APPOINTED AS SHEFFIELD UNITED WOMEN HEAD COACH". Sheffield United F.C. Women. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "Sheffield United Women manager Jonathan Morgan investigated by club". The Guardian . 18 October 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  12. ↑ "Jonathan Morgan returns to work at Sheffield United". BBC Sport . 2 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  13. ↑ "Jonathan Morgan: Football coach accused of bullying player who took own life sacked by Sheffield United Women". Sky News . 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
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