James_Morrison_headshot_22_23
Morrison
James
Morrison
Job Title
First Team Coach
Bio

Morrison remains an ever-present figure at The Hawthorns since retiring from professional football in October 2019. 

"Mozza" became a club legend at Albion during his playing days, spending more than 12 years in the Black Country, making over 340 appearances in navy-blue-and-white - with just over 300 of those coming in England's top flight - while also netting 39 goals for the Baggies and earning 49 caps on the international stage for Scotland.

James, born in Darlington, received his footballing education in Middlesbrough's academy. Eyes were fixed on the midfielder's progress from a young age, especially after helping Boro win the 2004 FA Youth Cup - a competition which Morrison netted during his team's 3-0 final first-leg win over Aston Villa.

Mozza's maiden senior bow at The Riverside came in January 2004 against Notts County in the FA Cup. It was a successful chapter in the attacking-midfielder's career and James' spell at Middlesbrough also allowed him to experience European football. 

His first goal for the club came in Europe - a 1-1 draw with Banik Ostrava during Boro's 2004/05 UEFA Cup campaign, and Morrison's contribution the following season helped the Teesiders reach the final of the tournament, despite eventually losing to Seville in the 2006 Final.

Overall, James racked up more than 95 senior appearances at The Riverside before starting, what would turn out to be, a long-lasting affiliation with the Baggies in August 2007.

The midfielder made his Baggies bow as a substitute during Albion's 2007/08 opening-day clash with Burnley. His first goal in navy-blue-and-white would come against Blackpool in October that same season - winning him the Albion Supporters' Club Goal of the Season. But that would pale into insignificance when Morrisons's crucial performances helped Albion lift the 2008 Championship title and seal promotion to the Premier League.

Promotion helped the Darlington-born midfielder break onto the international scene with Scotland, where he made his senior bow in May 2008. Three years later, his performances for the Tartan Army were rewarded with the Scottish Football Writers' Association's Player of the Year for the 2011-12 campaign. 

Despite dropping straight back down to England's second tier, Morrison played a part in getting the Baggies straight back up to England's summit and become a legendary figure in Albion history - helping them remain in the Premier League between 2010-2018 and won the club's Player of the Year Award for the 2014/15 campaign.

Following 341 appearances in B71, Morrison made the difficult decision to hang up his boots in 2019 but chose to remain in the Black Country - starting a new role as a coach in the Academy during November that same year. 

Sam Allardyce's arrival as boss in December 2020 saw Mozza promoted to First Team Coach, a role he holds to this day as part of Carlos Corberán's team.