Manchester United and Alex Morgan are a perfect fit

Last month Manchester United Chief Executive Ed Woodward announced that the club were in the process of establishing a women’s team to join the FA Women’s Super League (WSL). Though the club would begin in the second tier of the WSL, United’s relevance, financial support, and extensive scouting and academy system would have an immediate impact in promotion and cup competition efforts. The club would be an excellent addition to the rapidly growing women’s club game around the world, and with that comes the necessity of star power. And who better to boost United’s women’s brand than American superstar goalscorer Alex Morgan.

Alex Morgan, currently of the Orlando Pride, has made her name on the international stage for the United States Women’s National Team. She made the 2011 World Cup squad as the youngest player on the team. She scored twice in the competition, including the opening goal in the final. She continued her run of form into 2012, racking up 28 goals and 21 assists in a year when the US team win gold at the 2012 London Olympics, and when Morgan finished 3rd in Ballon D’or voting. Though Morgan suffered serious injuries in 2014, she recovered in time to represent the US at the 2015 World Cup, where the side won their 3rd Cup in their history. Morgan currently has 83 goals in her USWNT career.

In her club career Morgan has played for Seattle Sounders, Portland Thorns, and Orlando Pride in the American National Women’s Soccer League. Though most of her club career has been spent in the United States, Morgan secured a loan move to Lyon for the second part of the 2016-17 season. Morgan was part of the 2017 Treble winning Lyon side that won the French League, Cup, and UEFA Women’s Champions League. Morgan scored 12 goals in 16 appearances at Lyon.

Morgan’s play speaks for itself. She’s a winner, a scorer, and a leader.

But more than that, she’s scored a last-minute winner at Old Trafford.

When the USWNT side travelled to Old Trafford for an Olympic semi-final tie with Canada, Morgan took advantage of the occasion by posting a photo of herself in her new United kit. She even made her way to the club’s official social media, who shared the image. Then, come match day, with the semi-final tied at 3-3, Alex Morgan scored the winner at the Stretford End for the US in the 123rd minute of the game.

Morgan, who walked into Old Trafford that day wearing her new United kit, etched herself into the stadium’s glorious history in the most Manchester United way possible. A last minute winner.

Morgan hasn’t stated publicly where her true fandom lies, but it seems to be down to Barcelona or Manchester United. She addressed with her move to Lyon her desire to win at a club beyond the NWSL, and if Manchester United find themselves looking for a leader for their Women’s team they should look no further than Alex Morgan to catapult themselves to glory in the Men’s and Women’s league.