Morrow feels ‘joy’ about retirement from TFC
Defender looking ahead to challenges
Justin Morrow announced his retirement this week prior to Saturday’s match against the club from Music City, but the veteran TFC defender certainly isn’t singing the blues.
“Just joy,” Morrow said when asked how he feels about leaving the playing field following the 2021 MLS season. “I feel so blessed to have had the career I’ve had.”
Morrow stressed that his decision to hang up his cleats has nothing to do with TFC’S struggles on the field.
“It’s actually something I came to a conclusion (about) during the off-season this past year,” Morrow said, stressing it was a family decision. The Cleveland native wants to devote more time to his wife Jimena and his two Toronto-born daughters, Lucia and Chiara.
Morrow, 34, has spent the past eight seasons with TFC and 12 seasons in MLS. His 246 appearances across all competitions ranks second all-time in TFC history. He has registered 18 goals and 20 assists for Toronto — the most prolific attacking defender in club history. Morrow was named to the MLS Best XI during TFC’S 2017 Treble winning season (MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield and Canadian Championship). The personable fullback is considered one of the leaders in the TFC dressing room, and a major force in positive change off the field as executive director of Black Players for Change. Morrow said he has talked to the TFC front office about a possible position with the club moving forward, but he’s also open to other challenges, though he would like to remain in Toronto.
“There’s so much for me ahead,” he said. “I came to this decision knowing my light is starting to shine brighter off the field than it is on the field right now and with that comes a lot of joy. I want to make this world a better place. I haven’t decided which way is the best way to do that yet — maybe it’s politics, maybe it’s non-profits, maybe it’s running a big company — but I know I want to start helping this club win. I want to stay around. I want to stay around Toronto. I think it would be amazing if I was sitting in the stands and TFC wins the next MLS Cup knowing that I helped contribute from a different position than I did before.”
At present, Morrow is determined to help his club rise out of last place in the MLS Eastern Conference standings — starting with a positive result against Nashville SC at Saturday night at BMO Field.
Nashville sits in second place in the MLS East with 10 wins, 11 draws and two losses in 23 games — giving up only 21 goals, second fewest in MLS. Toronto, meanwhile, has given up a league most 50 goals. The Reds are on a six-game losing slide and are winless in their last nine. TFC sits last in the MLS standings with a 3W-6D-15L record. A potential playoff spot is a huge longshot to say the least.
Head coach Javier Perez, however, said his team’s performance in a 1-0 loss to Inter Miami on Tuesday night proved that the Reds have the potential to win against the top teams in MLS. Toronto outplayed Miami for most of Tuesday’s match, despite being down a man for much of the game. An apparent goal scored by TFC winger Jacob Shaffelburg late in the game was disallowed as the officials ruled there was no clear evidence the ball had crossed the goal line. Miami scored in an added time on a penalty kick to win it.
“The performance is there,” said Perez. “We felt frustrated (about the outcome) because we deserved the goal that wasn’t called, and then the penalty at the end. But the message we got from that game is that the team is playing well, the team is settled, stable. And it was better than Miami, including when we were playing with 10 players.
“(But) that doesn’t change anything because at the end we didn’t get any points from that game. But from the confidence and from the build-up in the group, it does change because of the training sessions we have had since then, the team looks really good and we are confident heading into the Nashville game,” Perez said. “I expect our team to be hungry and to be competitive from minute one.”
Nashville has been solid all season, but even more so of late.
“It’s one of the teams in top form,” said Perez. “Out of the last 10 games, they only lost one, they tied four and they won their last three. They conceded only seven goals in the last 10 games and they scored 17 goals. It’s a team that maximize their potential, their opportunities. They have (Hany) Mukhtar, one of the best players in the league and we’ll have to be very cautious about him.”
Perez also mentioned forward Daniel Ríos and midfielder Brian Anunga as highly dangerous players.
“They play 5-3-2. They play with high intensity, possibly to cover some weaknesses that they have at the back, but it’s a team that has done a tremendous job,” Perez added. “It’s going to be a very tough, tight game. It’s going to benchmark where we are right now.”
The Reds will be without all-star attacking midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo (quad), forwards Ayo Akinola (torn ACL) and Jozy Altidore (foot surgery), midfielder Ralph Priso (ankle surgery) and winger Tsubasa Endoh, who left Tuesday’s match against Miami with a suspected hamstring injury Z — which, said Perez, is more severe than first thought. The coach added that he hopes to have Pozuelo back by next week. Jayden Nelson and Nick Deleon are also not available because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols (which doesn’t necessarily mean a positive test). Perez said the pair will be back soon and are not feeling any symptoms.
MY LIGHT IS STARTING TO SHINE BRIGHTER OFF THE FIELD.