Alex Morgan is returning to Orlando after a six-month contract with Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, the most successful club in France’s Division 1 Feminine and one of the best women’s clubs in the world. During her time with Lyon, the team won “The Treble”-- winning the league title, the French Cup, and after a close match, taking home the Women’s Champions League title.
Morgan found 12 goals in 15 matches during her time with Lyon. She had some remarkable moments-- including the French Cup semi-final when she scored four goals in a single game. She played alongside some of the greatest players in the world, including Ada Hegerberg, the Norwegian striker that recently won BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, and Eugenie Le Sommer, one of the top goalscorers in France.
Morgan isn’t the first U.S player to spend some time in Europe. Fellow U.S Women’s National Team player and Houston Dash midfielder Carli Lloyd recently finished up a contract with Manchester City’s women’s side, and Crystal Dunn is with Chelsea Ladies. Both Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris spent some time playing in Sweden and Germany-- Krieger even won the UEFA Women’s Champions League title with Frauen-Bundesliga side FFC Frankfurt in 2011.
Unfortunately, Morgan suffered a hamstring injury during her time with Lyon. She is expected to be eligible for the Pride within 3-4 weeks. When she returns, she’ll be playing alongside the Pride’s newest superstar, Marta, whom Morgan played with at Western New York Flash in 2011.
Morgan experienced a different style of play in Europe. When she announced the move, she said she wanted to find the “next gear” in her game. She learned to play in a different environment, in a different set of competitions, with a different technical focus. Morgan will return to the Pride with a new understanding of herself and the game.
She lifted three trophies in France and she’ll be eager to do that again in the city she calls home.
