Clinton Morrison

First spell at Crystal Palace

Born in Tooting, London, Morrison began his career as a trainee at Crystal Palace on 1 August 1997. Morrison was previously at Tottenham Hotspur before they let him go at sixteen. Before his time at Spurs, he had played junior football for Raynes Park Vale FC (which was formerly known as Malden Vale FC). He began his career at Crystal Palace of the Premier League, making his debut on 10 May 1998 as an 82nd-minute substitute for Neil Shipperley, and scoring the injury-time winner over opponents Sheffield Wednesday. At the start of the 1998–99 season, Morrison appeared in the second leg of the UEFA Intertoto Cup third round against Samsunspor, eventually losing 4–0 on aggregate. He then scored two goals against Bury in two separate matches on 23 September 1998 and 30 September 1998. Morrison quickly became a first team regular for the club, becoming Crystal Palace's first choice striker. He later scored three braces on three separate occasions as the 1998–99 season progressed. In his first full year-long tenure at the club he scored 13 goals, while Palace were struggling both on and off the pitch. Whilst they were in administration, Morrison agreed to play for the club for free. In the 1999–2000 season, Morrison scored six goals in the first two months to the season before. suffering an injury that kept him for the rest of the year. His return included his only brace of the season at Swindon Town. Financial difficulties meant that Crystal…

Apart from England, the country of his birth, Morrison was also eligible to represent Jamaica and the Republic of Ireland. Initially interested to play for England, he chose to play for Ireland, qualifying for that country because his grandmother was from Dublin. In May 2001, Morrison was called up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for the first time. He went on to make two appearances for the U21 side.

Republic of Ireland

In August 2001, Morrison was called up to the senior team squad for the first time. Morrison made his debut for Ireland in a 2–2 draw on 15 August 2001 against Croatia; he entered the game as a 52nd-minute substitute and scored the national side's second goal of the game. Morrison then played in the second leg of World Cup Play–Off against Iran, coming on as a 75th-minute substitute, as Ireland went on to win 2–1 on aggregate to qualify for the World Cup. He later describe playing in Iran as "one of the craziest atmospheres he ever played in". Morrison then scored his second national goal, in a 3–0 win against Denmark on 27 March 2002 when "his pace and directness continued to cause the Danish defence problems and, in injury time Colin Healy and David Connolly combined to leave him a chance which he side-footed in". He was selected by Mick McCarthy as part of the Republic of Ireland squad for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. However, he did not play. Morrison's international career began to gain momentum during his time at…

Morrison did some media work as a pundit on Sky Sports and Football League Tonight on Channel 5. In September 2020, Sky Sports announced Morrison as their new pundit for Soccer Saturday. He is a regular match pundit for live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Growing up, Morrison supported Tottenham Hotspur, but idolised Ian Wright. He revealed in an interview with The Guardian that he "grew up in a broken home in south London" with his mother and sister. Morrison was known as Clinton Chambers before changing his surname when he was 15. The impetus for the change was his father walking out on the family when Morrison was seven years old, leaving his mother to raise two children alone. Morrison later credited his mother for being a big influence in his life, saying: "She did everything for me, my Mum. Everything. She kept me in school when I didn't want no lessons, she brought me to games, she kept my chin up. I don't think I would have turned bad, doing crimes and that. It's not me, not the way I am, but in the same way I don't know what would have happened. There was a lot of crime going on." Clinton is a father to two boys; one of whom is following in his footsteps and is signed to Nottingham Forest Academy. He since resided in Long Eaton, while also working in broadcasting. Morrison has been involved in campaigning against racism in English football, having experienced racism himself. During his professional football career he was a mentor to some footballers, including Patrick van Aanholt. In August 2003, Morrison was questioned by police on suspicion of illegal drug possession but did not face charges after questioning.