My auntie gave Big Eck a real grilling at a BBQ and it changed my career
Morrison’s grateful for sliding doors moment
AT a BBQ in Majorca, James Morrison’s life and career changed forever.
And he wasn’t even there. Thanks to his auntie Maggie chinning Alex McLeish in Spain, he got the opportunity to play for Scotland.
To this day, he’s grateful. To Maggie and every national team gaffer who helped him to 46 caps and three goals for his adopted country – including a strike against England at Wembley.
But there’s one thing missing, of course, An appearance at a Euros or World Cup.
That’s why, here at Scotland’s Garmisch-Partenkirchen base camp, Morrison is savouring every second.
And given his experience of failing to reach a finals, he has told Steve Clarke’s players to do the savour every moment.
Despite being born in Darlington, the former West Brom star says being picked by McLeish for Scotland 16 years ago was one of the best things that ever happened to him.
From Germany, ahead of the Scots’ second Group A game against the Swiss in Colo g n e , Morrison said: “It’s a nice story how I ended up playing for Scotland.
“McLeish was the manager and he was on holiday in Majorca . He happened to be at a barbecue where my auntie Maggie was too.
Maggie must’ve had a few wines .. she told Eck I’d play and within a few days he rang me JAMES MORRISON HAS AUNT TO THANK FOR CAP CAREER
“She said to him: ‘James would play for Scotland.’
“So within a couple of days, he rang up and put it to me and I was delighted to say yes.
“It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Maggie must have had a few wines!
“I had one cap with Alex then George Burley came in.
“As a player you wanted to get to tournaments like these and, three or four times, we were in and around it without ever getting over the line.
“There were a couple of big disappointments.
“One that really sticks in my head is when we got a late winner against Slovakia at Hampden in the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.
“Then we went to Slovenia a few days later with the chance of making the play-offs.
“I was injured, we drew 2-2 and it wasn’t quite enough.
“There was also the Norway game under George when big Chris Iwelumo missed the chance – and a few when Gordon Strachan was manager. It’s one of my regrets from my playing career. So now, to do it from the coaching side and to see lads getting to do what I didn’t, is amazing.
“My message to them is that they’ve done the hard part by getting here.
“This is the enjoyable bit. So let’s get everything we can out of it. When you’re done and look back, these are the moments you want to cherish.”
At the age of just 38, Morrison admits he still feels and thinks like a player.
And that allows him to carry out a crucial role on Clarke’s coaching staff – between the manager and his squad.
He understands their needs and wants to help individuals throughout the tournament.
Morrison said: “I ’m the youngest on the coaching staff here so I’m probably still thinking like a player.
“But I’ve got many roles and we cover everything. We always have an input.
“That’s the role of the coach, to challenge the manager’s thinking.
“I can still have a relationship with the players because I thinkhink like them sometimes.
“Even thoughugh I’m slowing down a bit when I have to join in traininging games!
“But I cann relate to the lads. I knoww how they’re feeling goingg into matches and hopefullyly can give them what they need in termsms of analysis.”
If hi s auntie Maggie promoting him to McLeish years ago felt like a sliding doors moment for him as a Scotland player, James had another as a coach when he got the call from Clarke. After first working alongside Clarke at West Brom, he’s still learning off him now.
Even if Morrison admits he could be five YEARS away from being a manager himself.
The Baggies Under- 23s coach said: “I first met Steve at West Brom when I was still playing and coaching wasn’t even really on my mind.
“I fell into it once I retired. “When Steve came to West Brom, he’d been a No. 2 at Chelsea, Newcastle and Liverpool. It was his first manager’s job and the time was right for him.
“He took us to new levels, finishing eighth in the Premier League. And he took my game to a new level too.
“Now as a coach, in terms of how to structure sessions, I’ve learned a lot from Steve.
“But at this moment in time I don’tdo want to be a manager.
“MMaybe in five or six years, yesyes. But my feeling at the mommoment is that I want to be readready. I don’t feel ready to be a manmanager yet.
“II’ve now seen the other side and how stressful it is.
“TThis experience at the Euros Eur will definitely help me if I wawant to become a manager.
“FFootball can change like that. that Tomorrow there could be a jojob for me and I’d have a decision deci to make.
“BBut at this moment in time, no, no it’s not for me.”