Joe Morrell has returned to Portsmouth as the club's new first-team development coach. The 29-year-old former Pompey midfielder, who retired from playing in 2024, rejoins John Mousinho's backroom staff ahead of a key south-coast derby.

Morrell's appointment was confirmed by the club on Tuesday, filling the vacancy left by Zesh Rehman's departure in late 2025. He will take up his post immediately, with his first match set to be the trip to St Mary's to face Southampton on 11 October, a fixture he never experienced as a player. The team's current standings show them in 19th place with eight points from seven games, having scored 6 goals and conceded 11.

"We’re delighted to welcome Joe back to Pompey and I’m looking forward to working with him again," said head coach John Mousinho.

Playing and coaching journey

Morrell is a familiar figure at Fratton Park, having made 105 appearances for the club between 2021 and 2024. He was a key part of the side that won the League One title, a period where he became popular with supporters and teammates alike. A knee injury during that promotion campaign ultimately contributed to his decision to retire from playing at the age of 28.

Since hanging up his boots, the former Wales international has progressed swiftly in coaching. He spent the end of last season in interim charge of Bristol City's under-21 side, a role he held from April to July. Morrell, who holds a UEFA 'A' Licence and is working towards his Pro Licence, was selected for the Portsmouth role after a two-stage interview process where he beat three other candidates.

International pedigree and immediate impact

With 37 caps for Wales, Morrell brings high-level experience from major tournaments including Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup. That background is expected to be valuable as he works with Portsmouth's first-team squad. The team's recent form, shows one win, two draws and two defeats from the last five outings.

His return adds a fresh voice to the coaching set-up as the team prepares for a demanding run of fixtures, starting with the derby. Morrell's understanding of the club's culture and his recent transition from player to coach are seen as major assets.

He begins his new role with the team looking to build on their last result, a 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers before the international break. The focus now shifts entirely to the short trip to Southampton, where Morrell will make his coaching debut for the club he served as a player. The match kicks off at St Mary's on Sunday, 11 October.

The original report is at Portsmouth FC