Former Lincoln City midfielder Joe Morrell has stepped into a coaching role at Bristol City, taking interim charge of their Under-21 side.
The 29-year-old spent a season with the Imps during the 2019–20 campaign and has been handed the role for the final three games of the season following a change in personnel at Ashton Gate.
Morrell only retired from playing in October, but has already begun building his coaching pathway within Bristol City’s academy setup. Having been working with younger age groups while studying for his UEFA Pro Licence, this latest step sees him take on a more senior position within the club he first emerged from as a teenager.
Morrell always retained an active interest in life after playing, and has stayed in contact with key figures from his career, including backroom staff at Lincoln City, as he starts his coaching journey. It was a huge shame he called time on his career, as he was on the brink of becoming established in the Championship and for Wales, but as a likeable person, as well as an intelligent and driven individual, he’ll thrive as a coach.
Morrell is a familiar and well-regarded figure at the Bank. He arrived on loan from the Robins in the summer of 2019 and quickly established himself as a key part of the midfield, bringing energy, control and consistency during a transitional season in League One. Across that campaign, he made 32 appearances in all competitions, including 29 in the league, becoming a regular presence in the engine room prior to the cessation of the 2019/20 season.
Although he did not officially register a goal for City, there were moments where he came close. A strike in the 5-1 win against Bolton Wanderers was later ruled an own goal, while another effort late in the season appeared destined to be his first for the club before being turned in by Anthony Scully.
That consistency did not go unnoticed. Morrell was named Lincoln City’s Player of the Season in June 2020, recognition of his importance across the curtailed campaign, which was brought to an early conclusion. During that same period, he also cemented his place in the Wales senior setup, having made his debut in September 2019.
Following his time at Sincil Bank, Morrell moved on to Luton Town before securing a permanent switch to Portsmouth in 2021. At Fratton Park, he became a regular once again, making more than 100 appearances and playing a role in their 2023–24 League One title-winning side.
However, injury brought his playing days to an end, and after a period without a club, he announced his retirement last autumn.
You must be logged in to post a comment.