Morsy: I Never Thought I'd Play at Ipswich Again
Thursday, 15th Jan 2026 10:16

Former Blues skipper Sam Morsy admits he never thought he’d return to Portman Road as a player, the Egypt international having left the club for Kuwait SC in the summer.

But that spell lasted only a matter of weeks and three competitive games, and the 34-year-old joined Bristol City earlier this month.

The midfielder will be back at Portman Road with his new club next Tuesday for a reunion he hadn’t anticipated when he departed in close season.

“I never thought I’d play at Ipswich again, that wasn’t plan, the plan was to stay in the Middle East for a number of years, but six months later, you’re back,” he admitted. “That’s life, that’s football, I know it’s clichéd.

“I didn’t expect to go back there, but it will be amazing to go back. Obviously so many good memories there and will see some of my old teammates, see the manager and his staff.

“I’m at the age where every game has a meaning to it and this will be a special game as well.

“When you’re younger, you try and block out all emotion but you get a bit older and you see things for what they are. It will be a really special occasion and I can’t wait for the game.”

Morsy captained Town to back-to-back promotions which took the club from League One into the Premier League and was asked whether there was a secret to that success.

“No secret, just a group which worked incredibly hard,” he reflected. “I look back at the players and the manager, he gives so much to create an environment and the players gave so much as well.

“I think that’s the big thing, everyone bought into it, it was, what is it they say? One mind, one heart, that’s what it was. Everyone was all on the same wavelength, we were all together and we kept improving every week, that was the goal.

“We never set any target, it was just improving every week and we ended up in the Premier League, which was a dream come true.”

Photo: Reuters and Matchday Images

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USA added 10:21 - Jan 15 Expect he'll get a great reception and deservedly so. How long into the game before he gets booked? 7 minutes I am going for
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notoriousITFC added 10:37 - Jan 15 Deserves an unbelievable reception back at PR for what he's done at the club.
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PortmanTerrorist added 10:40 - Jan 15

Unfortunately for O'Shea, Sam set standards as a man, a player and most specifically as our Captain which will be hard to emulate. After all we had years of Captaincy at the Club previously where sub-par performances were tolerated and defeats were just accepted as routine. I think there could be little argument that without Sam those promotions do not happen given the margins involved both years....and that will never be forgotten and will be welcome back at Portman Road (by myself anyway) anytime, in any capacity, even for another team.

Cookieboy added 10:47 - Jan 15 Yes best of luck to him, but I still reckon we got stitched up
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mow_the_lawn added 10:49 - Jan 15 I suspected that Kieran was the brains and Morsy was the mouthpiece during training and matches in terms of absolute professionalism to get that through to everyone in the squad. A captain isn’t just shouting during a game and organising and I don’t think O’Shea has that. That said, I don’t think there are many captains like Morsy about.
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Edmundo added 11:23 - Jan 15 He set the standards. The bar was so high that anyone following as capt would struggle to live up to that level. A bit like when Ferguson left Manure. Having said that, I think the standards are set in a more collective way, which will probably set us up better in the medium-long term.
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flykickingbybgunn added 11:33 - Jan 15 Tommy Parker, Andy Nelson, Mick Mills, Terry Butcher, Matt Holland, Sam Morsy. Exaulted company.
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poet added 12:30 - Jan 15 A very warm welcome back on Tuesday Sam…. But I hope you leave having been on the losing side.
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RetroBlue added 12:34 - Jan 15 Sam clearly loves this club and I get the feeling would have loved to have come back here. But the powers that be decreed this was not to be the case. He deserves an absolute belter of "welcome home "
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ITFC_1994 added 14:37 - Jan 15

Legend. Can't wait to see him back.

From a few bits I've seen one social media, seems that he is already making his mark and setting the standards. Unreal signing for them- they should be buzzing. Possibly the championship equivalent to Xhaka at Sunderland- could be playing at a higher level in the league but hugely influencing the culture at the club, leading by example on and off the field.

COYB

darkhorse28 added 15:00 - Jan 15

Deserves a standing ovation. No single person on or off the pitch did more to deliver our promotions and success, the number of times he visibly dragged us over the line in 23/24 especially, we couldn’t have done it without him. His influence off the pitch has become clearer since he left too.., we still haven’t quite got back to the standards he set for everyone.

He gave us the platform for generational change, and stepping down a level for Cook, when he was at his peak and WAY too good for League One, there are very few players will do that.

That alone maybe cost him a chance in the top flight when he was at his peak, and deserves huge respect.

Marinersnose added 16:53 - Jan 15

Morsy was a fantastic leader and is still a force at this level. Don’t be surprised to see him dominating the middle of the park on Tuesday evening. Morsy set the standard for the rest of the team and was always quick to encourage and rebuke where and when needed. I don’t think you can underestimate how many times his drive and encouraging demands got us points that looked impossible to get. It wasn’t lucky that we scored so many late winners he was so driven. Our current team really needs a leader of this calibre.

Linkboy13 added 18:24 - Jan 15 Could not of achieved back to back promotions without him.
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MK1 added 18:28 - Jan 15 Would prefer it if you were in Ipswich blue, but wish you nothing but the very, very best. You have my forever thanks.
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Talbs77 added 19:14 - Jan 15 Good player, fantastic Captain and leader, great human being. After next Tuesday I wish him all the best.
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bobble added 11:45 - Jan 16 His homophobic stance was a low point, using religion to justify it doesnt hold up....you choose your religion and there are ones that dont practice homophobia available......
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