What Happened to the Ball Boy Eden Hazard Kicked, Charlie Morgan?
Football fans often remember moments not for what happens on the pitch but for the drama that sometimes unfolds around it. That’s certainly true for Charlie Morgan, the Swansea City ball boy famously kicked by Chelsea’s Eden Hazard during a League Cup semi-final clash in 2013.
What seemed at first to be an unfortunate, one-off incident has since become the unlikely starting point of a remarkable success story. From a ball boy embroiled in a scuffle, Charlie Morgan’s life took an incredible turn, leading him to build AU Vodka into a multimillion-pound business. It’s a unique story that transformed him from a 17-year-old football fan to one of the UK’s youngest business tycoons.
The Infamous Incident That Brought Charlie Morgan into the Spotlight
It was the 23rd of January 2013, and Swansea City were on the verge of reaching their first major cup final. Michael Laudrup was in charge of the Swans, who were defending a 2-0 victory over Chelsea in the first leg at Liberty Stadium. Chelsea, desperate to get back into the tie, grew increasingly frustrated as the clock ticked down.
In the 80th minute, with Chelsea needing two goals to have any hope of progressing, the ball went out of play. Charlie Morgan was a name not too many people would’ve known back in 2013. An innocent 17-year-old reserve team player who was given the duty of being a ball boy. Hoping to run down the clock, he hesitated with the ball, lying on it to buy his team a few precious seconds. Eden Hazard, in a rush to restart the game, attempted to wrestle the ball away before eventually kicking out at Morgan’s stomach to get the ball. Hazard received an immediate red card for violent conduct, and a media storm followed.
The fallout was intense. While Hazard later apologised, and Morgan appeared relatively unbothered by the incident, he suddenly found himself at the centre of an international talking point. Memes, debates, and replays of the moment dominated discussions for days. Yet, despite his new-found fame, Morgan largely returned to his regular life—at least for a while.
AU Vodka: The Unexpected Venture That Paid Off Big
In 2015, Charlie started up a business with school friend Jackson Quinn selling gold-filtered vodka in what we commonly know now as the brand AU Vodka. By positioning itself as a premium product, AU managed to attract a demographic that was eager to pay a premium price for a drink that came with a sense of exclusivity. As demand increased, AU Vodka continued to expand, introducing flavours like “Blue Raspberry” and “Fruit Punch” which became hits with fans. The brand’s success was such that it even attracted the interest of British DJ Charlie Sloth, who eventually bought a stake in the company, bringing more visibility and credibility to the brand.
Thanks to the brand’s success, Charlie Morgan and his partner are now counted among the UK’s wealthiest young entrepreneurs. By 2023, his net worth was reported at an astonishing £55 million—a sum no one could have predicted back on that chilly January night in 2013. For Morgan, the notoriety from the Hazard incident may have been a short-lived whirlwind, but it sparked a chain of events that he fully capitalised on.
A £55 Million Net Worth & Recognition as a Business Icon
Thanks to AU Vodka’s rapid success, Charlie Morgan’s story has become one of the most unexpected tales of young entrepreneurial achievement in recent British history. Morgan now boasts an estimated net worth of around £55 million, making him one of the richest Britons under 40. And while his journey might have started with a controversial moment on the football sidelines, he has since built a reputation as a savvy businessman.
The connection to that moment with Hazard hasn’t entirely faded, either. Earlier this year, marking 11 years since the infamous incident, Morgan and Hazard reunited in a playful nod to their shared history. The former Chelsea player posted on social media about meeting his “old friend,” congratulating him on how far he’d come since their interaction on that chilly January evening in Swansea.
“A nice thing about retirement is catching up with old friends. You have come a long way in 11 years, my friend”
The post, featuring a photo of the two and an AU Vodka bottle, went viral, reigniting interest in Charlie Morgan’s journey from the pitch to the boardroom.
AU Vodka’s Global Impact & Charlie Morgan’s Growing Influence
AU Vodka’s success has been due to a combination of slick marketing and a willingness to innovate in an otherwise traditional industry. Collaborations with prominent figures, particularly in the music and sports industries, have further increased the brand’s appeal. AU Vodka has found fans in high places, with endorsements from celebrities across the UK and abroad.
Charlie Morgan’s venture has also earned the respect of established industry leaders, who have been surprised and impressed by his strategic approach and branding acumen. Some even regard AU Vodka as a blueprint for how to break into the saturated luxury drinks market: bold visuals, savvy partnerships, and an understanding of modern, digital-first consumers.
The young entrepreneur’s influence has even extended to charity, with Morgan and his team making sizeable donations to various causes, further solidifying his status as a respected figure in both business and social spheres.
Not Just a Ball Boy Anymore
Charlie Morgan’s story shows how quickly life can change. A millionaire can kick you to the ground one second, and the next you could be one. It’s funny how even an incident that seemed embarrassing at the time can turn into a stepping stone. In his case, a split-second decision on a football pitch paved the way for a multimillion-pound brand, helping him go from a ball boy known for a flashpoint with Hazard to a well-respected entrepreneur.
For many, he’ll forever be the ball boy who ended up on the wrong end of Eden Hazard’s boot. But for those in the know, Charlie Morgan is something else entirely: a young man who turned a controversial moment into a goldmine, both literally and figuratively. And, given the rate at which AU Vodka is expanding, it’s safe to say that Morgan’s story is far from over.
Not bad for a ball boy, eh?
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