Jody Morris

Jody Steven Morris (born 22 December 1978) is an English former football midfielder. He has previously played for Chelsea, Leeds United, Rotherham United, Millwall and St Johnstone.

Club career

Morris came through the youth ranks at Chelsea, alongside his close friend John Terry. He became the youngest player to ever play in the Premier League for Chelsea when he debuted at the age of 17 years and 43 days in the home game against Middlesbrough on 4 February 1996. While at Chelsea, he made 124 league appearances and was a late substitute in the 2000 FA Cup Final, receiving a winner's medal. He was also briefly made captain of the club by manager Gianluca Vialli.

However, when Claudio Ranieri took over from Vialli as Chelsea boss, Morris' first team opportunities diminished, and he was linked with a host of clubs including being reunited with his former England under-21 manager Peter Taylor at Leicester. Morris never regained his position as a first team regular at Chelsea, finding himself behind players, such as Roberto di Matteo, Dennis Wise, Didier Deschamps and Emmanuel Petit. He was offered a new five-year contract with Chelsea in 2003, but chose to turn it down.Graeme Souness offered him the chance of regular first team football at Blackburn Rovers and they shook hands on a deal, but it fell through. He joined Leeds United instead, but made only 12 appearances for the club. After a short spell at Rotherham United, where he scored once against Stoke City, he joined Millwall in 2004.