Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not have the best time as Cardiff City manager, but the signing of Sean Morrison is one bright spark of his tenure.
The Manchester United icon took over at Cardiff in 2014, following the surprise dismissal of fan favourite Malky Mackay.
The Norwegian’s appointment stunned Bluebirds fans.
The former Molde manager was chosen at a time when supporters and club officials were at odds, with the decision to replace Mackay with Solskjaer being the most recent in a long line of contentious moves. It followed the club’s transition from blue to red the previous season, a decision that owner Vincent Tan never fully recovered from.
Solskjaer was relegated in his first season as manager, dropping out of the Premier League at the first opportunity. He was fired early the following season, with few positives to show for his maiden management job in England’s top league.
However, one bright spot in his rule came the following season, when the recruitment of Sean Morrison proved to be a master stroke for the Baby-Faced Assassin.
One of the few positives during Solskjaer’s stint at the club was the signing of Morrison. The 23-year-old defender signed a four-year contract with the freshly relegated Bluebirds in the summer of 2014.
Reading reportedly received a £3 million fee for the player. This appeared to be a substantial spend for a second-tier club at the time, especially given Cardiff’s loss of money after relegation the previous season.
Morrison immediately became a prominent personality in South Wales. Despite being fired just a month into the season, Solskjaer started nearly every game under his successor, Russell Slade, missing only four in the squad’s disastrous Championship campaign.
Morrison outlasted Solskjaer in Cardiff. The Norwegian was fired just months after signing him, but the defender spent eight great seasons in the Welsh capital.
The defender played approximately 300 games with the Bluebirds, captaining the team during some memorable moments. He was a constant presence on defence, improving any player next to him with his cool demeanour and superb athletic abilities.
His relationship with Sol Bamba produced the best results. Under Neil Warnock, the pair built a formidable defensive barrier, conceding the fewest goals in the league during the promotion season of 2017/18. Cardiff conceded only 39 goals in 46 games, thanks largely to the pair’s outstanding performances.
During that season, the Bluebirds finished second in the Championship, earning promotion to the Premier League. This was only the club’s second appearance in the Premier League, and Morrison and Bamba’s connection was crucial to their survival.
Morrison appeared in 34 games that season, averaging 90 minutes per game. His team surrendered six goals in the games he missed, demonstrating his impact on the team. Even after the club was demoted, he remained and continued to be a significant player for the team.
He was a starter for the club until 2022, when an ACL injury interrupted his season and career in Wales. His contract ended at the end of the season, and City, who was struggling financially, chose not to renew it.
It was an unceremonious farewell for a club great who had nearly 300 appearances during one of the club’s most prosperous periods. His fee of £3 million ended out to A steal, and one of the few things Solskjaer can be proud of during his tenure at Cardiff City Stadium.
