From Viral Moment To Business Empire

Charlie Morgan’s remarkable journey from teenage ballboy to millionaire entrepreneur looks set for a spectacular new chapter. Thirteen years after being kicked by Eden Hazard during a League Cup semi-final, Morgan could pocket more than £100 million as his drinks brand, Au Vodka, nears a £500 million sale to American company Sazerac.

Notably, the incident that first brought Morgan international attention happened almost by accident. As a 17-year-old ballboy for Swansea City in January 2013, he collected the ball during a crucial moment and lay on it, apparently attempting to delay the restart. Hazard, then a rising Chelsea forward, tried retrieving it and ended up kicking Morgan in frustration. The Belgian was sent off, sparking a genuinely fierce worldwide debate over the confrontation.

That viral moment, strange as it sounds, eventually became the foundation for something far bigger. Two years later, Morgan co-founded Au Vodka alongside childhood friend Jackson Quinn, building the Welsh spirits brand from scratch in their hometown. What began as a simple idea, born from frustration over receiving boring vodka bottles as birthday gifts, grew rapidly into one of Britain’s fastest-growing consumer brands.

A Business Built From Swansea Roots

Since launching in 2015, Au Vodka has expanded dramatically, now selling more than 35,000 bottles daily and employing 96 people across its Swansea headquarters. The brand’s distinctive gold packaging and celebrity endorsements, including support from Ronaldinho and Floyd Mayweather, helped fuel that remarkable growth trajectory.

Sazerac, the American drinks giant eager to strengthen its UK presence, has been negotiating with Morgan and Quinn for several months. According to Sky News, an agreement worth up to £500 million now appears imminent, though details around whether the founders will retain operational roles remain unclear.

Interestingly, Morgan and Hazard’s paths crossed again years later under considerably friendlier circumstances. The pair reunited for a lighthearted PR campaign, posing together while Hazard promoted Au Vodka on social media, turning an awkward viral moment into genuine goodwill.

Whatever the final terms, Morgan’s story stands as a genuinely unlikely rise from touchline controversy to business success, according to IBTimes UK, one few could have predicted back in 2013.

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