Ashtone Morgan retires from professional football

#CANMNT

Former Men’s National Team left back Ashtone Morgan has retired from professional football after more than a decade of soccer in Canada and the United States. He was a four-time Canadian Championship winner with Toronto FC including their 2017 treble-winning season when they also won the MLS Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup.

Morgan made his last appearance on Friday 28 July as Forge FC Hamilton won 2:0 over visiting Vancouver FC. Morgan spent the last two seasons of his career at Hamilton where he won the Canadian Premier League’s North Star Shield playoff championship in 2022.

With Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team, he made 18 international “A” appearances across 12 seasons including two cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. He represented Canada at three Concacaf Gold Cups including a Quarterfinals finish in 2019. He was just 20 years old when he made his debut on 7 October 2011 during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on 7 October 2011.

At the professional level, Morgan was just 19 years old when he made his debut with Toronto FC during 2010-11 Concacaf Champions League on 19 October 2010. He was one of six Canadians in coach Nick Dasović’s starting lineup as Toronto FC won 1:0 over CD Árabe Unido. He remained with the club through 2019 and won the Canadian Championship in 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

He then spent two seasons at Real Salt Lake and their affiliate Real Monarchs before joining Forge FC Hamilton in 2021. Across his career, he made 168 career appearances for Toronto FC and 41 career appearances for Forge FC. He led all Canadians in MLS minutes played in 2012.

Morgan, who was born and raised in Toronto, played his youth football with West End United and TFC Academy before joining the first team with Toronto FC. He was 15 years old when he made his debut in the Canadian youth program and he was the Canada Soccer U-20 Player of the Year in 2011.