Alex Morris: Ex-Crewe Alexandra manager joins Stoke City as under-21s head coach

Alex Morris took charge of 24 games at Crewe from being appointed in April to stepping aside in November 2022

Former Crewe Alexandra manager Alex Morris has been named head coach of Stoke City's under-21s side.

Morris left the League Two club after 28 years of service, having been assistant to current manager Lee Bell.

The 40-year-old first worked with Stoke boss Alex Neil when he was assistant to then Alex manager David Artell in 2021.

Neil joined Crewe in a short-term role between being sacked by Preston in March 2021 and his next managerial post at Sunderland in February 2022.

"The opportunity to work alongside Alex was really attractive to me, having experienced the meticulous and methodical nature of his work during the period of time he spent advising the staff at Crewe a couple of years ago," Morris told the Stoke website.

"I enjoyed an incredible 28 years at Crewe Alexandra in a variety of roles from playing through to coaching, during which time I was fortunate to work with so many excellent young players who have progressed to represent the first team and also earned fantastic opportunities at the top level of the game.

"It was always going to take an extraordinary opportunity for me to leave and this new challenge at Stoke City is exactly that."

Technical director Ricky Martin said: "To develop and sustain a clear identity around the Stoke City way of playing football, we need to work towards ensuring that every position on the field is sustainably stocked with homegrown players.

"We believe that Alex is well placed to help us achieve that over the course of the coming years."

After progressing through the ranks to become part of the first-team squad under Dario Gradi, Morris's career was ended by injury in 2006.

He then became part of the Academy staff at Crewe, working his way up to join Artell's backroom team.

He then took over at the Alex after Artell's sacking in April 2022, initially as interim boss, before being confirmed in the role. But, after just 24 games in charge, he stepped aside last November to allow his number two Bell to take over.

In a club statement following his departure, Crewe said: "Though it is naturally disappointing to lose a coach and person of Alex's calibre, we are proud of all he has achieved. Alex's journey once again reflects the success of our unique pathway for players and coaches to progress."