Pierre Morice was born March 25th, 1962 in Saint-Brieuc, France. He started his professional career at the age of 16, with French first division side Nantes, making his debut at the age of 18, during the 1980-81 season, against Lille on September 12th, 1980, he would make 5 appearances in his first season. He would go onto make another 149 appearances and scoring 7 goals before leaving after the 1986-87 season. He played on their 1982-83 French Championship team, and was a member of their 1982-83 Finale Coupe de France team. He also played in the European Cup with Nantes.
In 1987, he would start his travels in soccer, he joined French first division side Niort, making 37 appearances and scoring 6 goals. Then half way through the 1988-89 season, he joined Saint-Étienne on loan, where he would make 21 appearances and scored 2 goals. He returned to Niort for the 1989-90 season, now in the second division, he would make another 34 appearances and scoring 9 goals. He was then on the move again for the 1990-91 season, to Nice, making 9 appearances, he would leave them in 1991.
Pierre then went to Minnesota because his wife, Rikke, is a native Minnesotan. They met in France and lived there for six years while Pierre was playing. A car buff, Pierre felt his future was in autos and for a while, he sold cars in St. Paul. But the Hunger for the game hadn't left him. While training at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Mn., Pierre caught the eye of Bruce Miller, a former player with the Ft. Lauderdale and Minnesota Strikers, who ran the magnificent complex outside the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Miller was a former team-mate and good friend of Rowdies Coach Ken Fogarty.
Pierre joined the Rowdies in what was to be their last year, 1993. He scored on his debut against the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers on May 1st in a 2-3 loss, with his first shot at goal. He then scored in his next two games. Was injured in the game against the Toronto Blizzard, which resulted him in missing two games. He played in a total of 22 games, and scored 9 goals.
To round out his playing career, he joined the Minnesota Thunder in 1994, still an amateur club under its first year of affiliation with the USISL, now the USL. He played left midfield in a 4-4-2 formation for both of his years with the team. He helped the team finish its regular season undefeated at the top of the Midwest Division. It eventually lost out to Greensboro in the league championship match. In 1995, Pierre scored 6 goals with 20 assists during the year, helping the Thunder to again reach the league final, which they lost to Long Island. After the 1995 season, Pierre announced his retirement as a player.
Today, Pierre and Rikke reside in Minneapolis, Mn.
Thanks to S.A. Kerssen.
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