Scott Morrison (footballer)

Morrison was a pupil of Robert Gordon's College in Aberdeen, leaving in 2001. He began his career at boyhood heroes Aberdeen in 2003, where he immediately impressed on the field, especially with his lethal ball delivery from set pieces. Just eight days after pledging his future at Aberdeen.[2]

Morrison made his debut, towards the end of the 2002/03 season, making his first start of his career, in a 2–1 win over Partick Thistle on 10 May 2003 and made another appearance of the last day of the season. The next season, Morrison soon made more appearances in the first team, though he would be often used in first team ins and out in his first season. On 28 February 2004, Morrison scored his first goal, which turns out to be a winning goal, as Aberdeen beat Hibernian.[3] The next season, Morrison playing was soon limited under then Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood, though he would be often used in first team ins and out in the season campaign.

Despite this, he soon moved to Dunfermline Athletic in 2005 after falling out of favour with then Aberdeen manager Calderwood. He was signed by Jim Leishman in May 2005 on a free transfer,[4] having previously tried to sign him last season.[5]

He made his league debut in the club's opening match of the season, on 31 July 2005, in a 1–1 draw against Hibernian. Having made three appearances this season, Morrison soon suffered cruciate ligament damage, which ruled him out for months.[6] After a successful operation in the US, it announced that Morrison would be out for the remainder of the season.[7]

Ahead of the 2006–07 season, Morrison was given all clear to resume training from injury[8] After four months absent, Morrison finally made his first appearance, in over a year, making his first start, in a 2–0 loss against Rangers.[9] He was also played in the Scottish Cup final, making a start, in a 1–0 loss against Celtic. He since made twelve appearances this season, but the club was relegated to Scottish First Division. At the end of the season, Morrison signed a one-year contract extension and thank the club of supporting him of his career-threatening injury. He told the Pars website: "I thought I was on my way, so it's good to get it all sorted out. The club has shown a lot of faith in me. I was in and out of the team towards the end of last season, but getting into the Scottish Cup final line-up reassured me that I was in the manager's plans."[10]

The following season, Morrison starts his season off making two appearances in the league before making two UEFA Cup appearances in a second round against Häcken. However, Dunfermline Athletic was eliminated from the UEFA Cup after losing 1–0 in the second leg, having previously drawn 1–1 in the first leg.[11]

Ross County snapped up Morrison on a two-year pre-contract deal at the start of April 2008.[12][13] Upon the move, Morrison says he's expressed happiness of joining the club.[14]

He made his debut for the club, in a 2–0 loss against Livingston and he scored his first goal, the next game, in a 2–2 draw. A few weeks later, on 30 August 2008, Morrison provided assist for Steven Craig from a free kick, in a 1–0 win over Partick Thistle.[15] In the first half of the season, the club progress through the Scottish Challenge Cup to the final. In the final, Ross County lose 3–2 on penalties against Airdrie United, having played the match throughout a 2–2 draw. Morrison went on as a final substitution on 114th minutes and was one of the three Ross County's player to miss the penalty.[16] Soon on 20 December 2008, Morrison scored his second goal, in a 2–1 loss against Greenock Morton[17] At Ross County, Morrison since established himself in the defense, though he played a role in attacking, with his perfection free kick.

The next season, Morrison scored his first goal in the first round of the Scottish League Cup, in a 5–0 win over Montrose and made his revenge against Airdrie United, for losing in the cup final, by providing assist for Garry Wood, which turns out to be a winning goal on the opening game of the season.[18]

During the season, Morrison soon became in the attacking space by providing assist, having made a double assist in two separate league matches. In December 2009, Morrison signed a new two-year contract, that will keep him until 2012[19] In the Scottish Cup, Morrison began scoring two goals in two games with a victory. Ross County would eventually progress their way to the final, especially beating Scottish squad Celtic.[20] After the match, Morrison said the opposition team [Celtic] didn't play seriously against the club.[21] However, Ross County lost 3–0 in the final against Dundee United, where Morrison played in the left-back position.[22] Just 15 days before the final, Morrison scored his first goal from a free kick in a 4–1 loss against Raith Rovers on the final game of the season.[23]

The next season, Morrison scored his first goal of the season, in a 3–1 win over Stirling, following six matches in earlier of the season. A week later, he scored again in semi-final against Partick Thistle, which the match ended 2-2 and led to penalties, in which Ross County won 6–5, leading the club to advanced to the final against Queen of the South.[24] In the final, Morrison came on as a substitute, in a late minute, as Ross County won 2–0 against Queen of the South. During the season, Morrison was often used in first team ins and out. In the final game of the season, Morrison scored his second goal of the season, in a 3–0 win over Cowdenbeath.[25]

In his final season, Morrison started his season when he scored his first goal for the club in the first round of the Scottish Challenge Cup, as Ross County lost 2–1 against Elgin City.[26] During the season, Morrison was often used in first team ins and out, like last season.

At the end of the season, Morrison helped Ross County win the 2011–12 Scottish First Division, but left at the end of the season to further his career in America.[27]

He then signed a contract with Phoenix on 4 February 2013 after training with Chivas USA for the remainder of the 2012 MLS season, linking up with former Aberdeen teammate Darren Mackie and former Aberdeen player, now Head Coach of Phoenix FC, David Robertson for their inaugural season in the USL Professional Division.[28]

Morrison started all but 1 of Phoenix FC's games in their only season and that was due to suspension.

He signed a contract with Phoenix FC's successor club, Arizona United SC on 8 April 2014. He announced his retirement and was hired as an assistant coach on 25 April 2016.