Eden Hazard has reunited with the ball boy he kicked over 10 years ago, who has subsequently gone on to become a successful businessman and is worth over £40million thanks to his vodka empire.
Back in 2013, Charlie Morgan became an overnight sensation after he was involved in an altercation with the Belgium forward during Chelsea’s League Cup semi-final match against Swansea.
The forward had appeared to kick the ball boy as tempers flared during their game at the Liberty Stadium. Hazard was subsequently sent off for the incident.
But it seems the pair have put their previous history behind them and have now appeared in a photoshoot to promote Morgan’s alcoholic drinks brand Au Vodka.
Hazard posted several photos on his social media accounts, posing with Morgan while holding a glass of blue raspberry Au Vodka.
Eden Hazard has reunited with the ball boy, Charlie Morgan, who he infamously kicked back in 2013
The Belgian was sent off during Chelsea’s EFL Cup semi-final leg away to Swansea after he appeared to kick Morgan
Hazard posted several pictures of the pair on his social media accounts in an apparent promotion for Morgan’s alcoholic drinks brand AU Vodka
He wrote on X (formerly Twitter): ‘A nice thing about retirement is catching up with old friends. You have come a long in way in 11 years my friend @charliem0rgan, @auvodka x @hazardeden10.’
Hazard posted several other pictures on his Instagram account, showing the two looking at a chess board that had several bottles of AU Vodka on it.
They were also seen driving a golf buggy together around a golf course, with Hazard posting a picture of himself lining up a putt as the former Swansea ball boy watched on in the distance.
His former team-mate John Terry also replied to the Instagram post with three laughing face emojis.
Chelsea had come into the match 2-0 down and tensions were high at the Liberty Stadium, with Michael Laudrup’s side holding out to seal a 0-0 draw in the second leg of the semi-final and book their place at Wembley.
But as the clock ticked into the last 10 minutes of the match, the Blues were left desperately chasing a goal. The ball appeared to go out of play with Morgan collecting it, but didn’t give it to Hazard, who was eager to restart the match.
Seeming to hold onto the ball to take some seconds out of the game, Hazard attempted to grab it from him, with the ball boy, who was 17 at the time, falling to the ground. Hazard then attempted to kick the ball out from underneath him, but appeared to make contact with Morgan, who was subsequently seen holding his abdomen looking in some discomfort.
Referee Chris Foy gave Hazard his marching orders, with Morgan becoming a sensation overnight.
Since then, the former Swansea ball boy has gone on to become a very successful businessman, founding the alcoholic drinks brand AU Vodka alongside his friend Jackson Quinn in 2016.
Hazard’s former team-mate John Terry commented several ‘laughing face’ emojis on the Instagram post
The pair posed for pictures on a golf course with Hazard seen lining up a putt while Morgan stood in the background watching him play a shot
Morgan, who is now worth over £40m, helped to establish AU Vodka back in 2016
The pair were also pictured driving a golden golf buggy that had the logo of the brand printed on its bonnet
The beverage was at first only sold to local bars in Swansea but the pair have now gone worldwide. Production has increased to over 35,000 units per day, with the brand being recognised by it’s trademark gold bottles.
In 2022, he was also named in the Sunday Times’ Rich List, with AU Vodka having been endorsed by well-known stars including Floyd Mayweather and Ronaldinho. It has also been backed by radio DJ Charlie Sloth.
Speaking to WalesOnline back in 2021, Morgan recounted how ‘crazy’ it was to see such big names endorse AU Vodka.
‘We got a contact for Floyd – through a mutual friend of Frost the music producer – and we were told that Floyd absolutely loves the brand and loved the black grape flavour,’ he said.
‘We were asked whether he could have few bottles before he goes home.
‘We said yeah, OK sure, and Floyd said he would post a photo on Instagram as long as we included him when we do something big in America.
Morgan (left) set up Au Vodka with friend Jackson Quinn (right) in 2016 and the company is backed by by radio DJ Charlie Sloth
Morgan (right) has built a fortune worth approximately £40m since launching Au Vodka
Morgan made the headlines back in 2013, when he was kicked by Eden Hazard
Hazard, who has since retired from professional football, was sent off following the incident
The drink has been endorsed by the likes of Jake Paul (above) and Floyd Mayweather
‘Back years ago we were asking ourselves, who would be the best ambassador we could have holding the bottle and I think our answer was Floyd, so it’s amazing how it has manifested itself.
‘Seeing the brand in the hands of someone you admire is crazy.’
Swansea ultimately went on to win the EFL Cup beating Bradford in the final 5-0, while Hazard would leave Chelsea in 2019 for Real Madrid.
Last year, Hazard announced that he would be retiring from professional football after being released from Real Madrid, stating that he was looking forward to spending time with his loved ones and ‘having new experiences’.
