Former West Ham United midfielder Ravel Morisson has opened up on the huge rollicking he once received from Irons’ vice-chairman Karren Brady.
Morrison joined the Hammers in 2012 for a three-year stint which was mostly spent out on loan. Under Sam Allardyce, the midfielder showed glimpses of his raw talent that had led many to christen him as one of the country’s most naturally gifted footballers.
Yet, the now 32-year-old has often had to balance his gifts on the pitch with a penchant for being chaotic off it. Speaking on the Undr The Cosh podcast, the ex-Derby County star opened up on the time he crossed the line with Brady by driving to training without a full UK license.
“So, obviously, I drove to training on a provisional license, and Karren Brady went mad. She went mad. I didn’t do that again,” he said. “Someone must have told her. Like, I had to apologise, pick up the keys, get someone to pick me up from the car.”
Asked if he bought said car without having a license, Morrison added: “A provisional license. I didn’t live that far from the training ground, so I thought I could just [drive to training] quick… but I didn’t get away with it with Karren.”
Morrison revealed the reason he hadn’t taken his test is that he struggles to navigate the theory section of the test, claiming he wasn’t “the brightest”. However, he said does have a Jamaican and Mexican licence – but not an English one.
The former Manchester United youth star frequently made headlines for a stunning goal on the pitch as much as he did for a misdemeanor in his personal life.
But talking to The Athletic in June of this year, Morrison claimed that his behavioural issues stemmed from innocuous misunderstandings, such as sleeping in and being late for training, rather than the malicious stories often associated with his name.
“I just couldn’t wake up sometimes,” he said. “They were easy mistakes to make — stupid mistakes, yeah — but it’s not like I was out drinking in town every weekend and having fights. It was only once in a blue moon when I would be late.
“What I’ve found is that if you get a reputation early on, it can stick with you through life. Or it does with me, anyway.”
Morrison has struggled to settle in a career that has taken him to 15 different clubs since 2010. As well as spells in the UK with the likes of Birmingham City, Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City, Morrison has been all over the world.
He has played in Italy with Lazio, Mexico with Atlas, and also had stints with Swedish club Ostersund, Dutch outfit ADO Den Haag and MLS side DC United. However, he does have regrets.
“If I could go back in time I would change 90% of my life,” Morrison said on Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe with Five podcast in 2021. “But you have to look forward, you can’t think about the past too much.”
Morrison departed the Hammers in 2015 after making 24 appearances and scoring five goals, but has fondly recalled his stint in east London as an “enjoyable” one. “If I had the opportunity I’d have stayed with West Ham all the way through,” he said in February 2021.
