The Seattle Sounders’ long-time physician and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael Morris retired last week after 18 seasons with the club.
“I’m going to be sad Mike is leaving,” said VP of Sports Medicine & Head Athletic Trainer Chris Cornish. “He had an amazing career with us.”
From spending three seasons with the club during the USL days, to experiencing all of the trophies and success the team accomplished since its arrival to MLS in 2009, Dr. Morris has played a major part in supporting the players through all the ups and downs of competing at the professional level.
“He’s a very experienced doctor who was able to relate to the players really well…They trusted him,” said Cornish. “Very knowledgeable, had a great network as well around the league and other pro sports so any injury we came across, I felt very confident that he was going to be able to help direct the care.”
Dr. Morris finished his career having 43 years of experience. He began his medical studies at the University of California Irvine, served his residency in the University of Washington Orthopedic program and was involved in a sports medicine fellowship at the Kerlan Jobe clinic in Los Angeles before establishing his career as an orthopedic surgeon and eventually Section Head of the Virginia Mason Sports Medicine Department.
But it was his involvement with the Seattle Sounders that he looks back on as the most fulfilling part of his time as a doctor.
“Being part of the Sounders has been the best thing in my professional career,” said Dr. Morris. “It’s the most rewarding thing and I'll definitely miss it.”
The opportunity to work at the same club as his son and Sounders forward Jordan Morris, made his experience that much more special.
“It’s been a blessing,” said Dr. Morris. “It’s a gift.”
Jordan feels the same way.
“It's been special to share moments like after winning MLS Cup at home and after winning the Champions League at home,” said Jordan. “We took pictures with the trophies together, He was in the locker room while we were celebrating and I think it's a really unique experience to kind of have him on the sidelines for all these games and something that not a lot of people get to experience, so I feel fortunate to have had him around.”
To commemorate his time at the club, the Sounders organization presented Dr. Morris with a signed jersey in front of the team at last Friday’s training. He was also honored at Lumen Field prior to the April 20th home match against the Vancouver Whitecaps where Jordan presented him with a club award alongside the rest of his family and joined the team in the Starting XI photo, which will then be framed and signed by the players as a gift for him.
“His legacy will stay with us, [with] a lot of things that he brought to the club,” said Cornish. “He’s an excellent surgeon, but also an excellent chief medical officer.”
