A former Swansea City ballboy has sold his vodka business for £300 million. Charlie Morgan, who was famously kicked by Chelsea's Eden Hazard in 2013, co-founded Au Vodka and has now completed the sale to American spirits company Sazerac.
Morgan was 17 and serving as a ballboy during Swansea's EFL Cup semi-final against Chelsea when the incident occurred. Hazard was sent off after appearing to kick the teenager, who was holding onto the ball to waste time. The moment brought Morgan a brief but intense period of fame, which he later used to promote his business.
He and co-founder Jackson Quinn launched Au Vodka two years after the event. The brand grew with endorsements from figures like Floyd Mayweather and Ronaldinho, and an early investment from DJ Charlie Slot helped spread its name through the music industry. The company's offices in Swansea were famously decorated in gold.
Sazerac's chief executive Jake Wenz praised the founders' achievement. "Au Vodka is a brand we’ve long admired," Wenz said. "What Charlie, Jackson, and Charlie have achieved in just over a decade is spectacular and rare, and we have big plans for Au as we welcome the brand into the Sazerac family."
Now 30, Morgan is financially set for life. He even met Hazard again two years ago, using their shared history to further the vodka's profile.
Back on the pitch, the current Swansea side are enjoying their own success. They sit second in the Championship standings with 14 points from seven games, a position built on a recent run of three wins, one draw and one loss. The team's recent form has been underpinned by strong performances, and fans can check the latest player stats to see who is contributing most to this promising start.
More detail at Daily Mail Sport
