Two former Portsmouth defenders quit to accept exciting new career paths
Michael Morrison and Haji Mnoga have made important career decisions in the past 48 hours
Two former Pompey players are embarking on new exciting careers paths this weekend.
Just hours after announcing his retirement from playing after 21 years, former Blues cente-back Michael Morrison has landed a job at League Two AFC Wimbledon.
The 28-year-old, who spent six months at Fratton Park during the 2022-23 season, has been added to Johnnie Jackson’s first-team coaching set-up at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
Meanwhile, Pompey academy graduate Haji Mnoga has made the decision to move abroad following the expiry of his contract at Salford City.
After declining the offer of a new contract with the League One outfit, the 24-year-old has opted for a move to Belgium, where he’ll turn out for Challenger Pro League side Patro Eisden next term.
A month ago, the Somerstown lad was lining up for Salford in the League Two play-off final against Notts County at Wembley. That was his 33rd appearance of the season for the Moor Lane side. Yet a 3-0 defeat means the Red Devils will remain in the fourth-tier of English football for at least another year.
Mnoga leaves Salford after 75 appearances following his move from Pompey in the summer of 2024. He departed the Blues with 18 outings for the Blues to look back on following his 2018 debut against Crawley Town in the EFL Trophy as a 16-year-old.
Commenting on his Pato Eisden arrival, boss Stijn Stijnen said: ‘Haji fits into the vision we have in mind’.
Morrison ‘always wanted to move into coaching’
Morrison hangs up his boots after more than 600 appearances for seven different clubs, including Pompey, who he played for 28 times.
The former Cambridge United hero was a team-mate of Dons boss Johnnie Jackson during their days together at Charlton.
His appoinment comes after he completed his Uefa Pro Licence and after completing a Masters Degree in Sports Directorship.
He said: ‘I’m really happy to be here, I always wanted to move into coaching when my career as a player finished.
‘Wimbledon is a club which is greatly connected from the fans right through to what you see on the pitch. It’s a club that expects a hardworking team, so we need to ensure that’s what we have.
‘My role as first-team coach will be to provide strong communication and help to the players, in order provide that link between the staff and the squad.
‘Johnnie Jackson and (sporting director) Craig Cope are two people that I know very well – I have trust in them and they’ve put their trust in me.’
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