Will Johnson (soccer)

William David "Will" Johnson (born January 21, 1987) is a Canadian professional soccer player who last played for Orlando City in Major League Soccer. A versatile midfielder,[3][4] Johnson represents Canada internationally.

Will Johnson
Will Johnson playing for Canada against El Salvador on July 7, 2009
Personal information
Full name William David Johnson[1]
Date of birth (1987-01-21) January 21, 1987
Place of birth Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1996–1998 Woodridge Storm
2003–2004 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Chicago Fire Reserves 9 (3)
2005 Chicago Fire 6 (1)
2006–2008 Heerenveen 14 (1)
2007–2008 → De Graafschap (loan) 26 (2)
2008–2012 Real Salt Lake 114 (9)
2013–2015 Portland Timbers 69 (15)
2015 → Portland Timbers 2 (loan) 3 (0)
2016 Toronto FC 23 (2)
2017–2019 Orlando City 75 (4)
National team‡
2005–2007 Canada U20 32 (5)
2008 Canada U23 3 (3)
2005– Canada 45 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 21, 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of September 11, 2019

Club career

Youth

Johnson was born in Canada, but moved shortly afterwards to England where he started playing soccer, attending the Merchant Taylors' School in Crosby, near Liverpool. When he was 10 his family once again moved, this time to Woodridge, Illinois, and he played youth soccer for the Sockers FC Chicago. Johnson later returned to England to play for the youth team of Blackburn Rovers in the 2003–04 season. However, after the season he left Blackburn and returned to Illinois. He was on the roster of Chicago Fire Reserves in the USL Premier Development League, but did not feature in any PDL games.

Chicago Fire

In 2005, Johnson was signed by the Chicago Fire as a discovery player. Johnson played most of the year for the reserve team in the MLS Reserve League but he did play in six games for the first team, where he scored a goal. After the year the Fire offered him a $28,000 contract, which he rejected. Johnson then went on a trial with Heerenveen, which was successful, and they signed him to a one-year deal plus a club option for two more years.

Heerenveen

He made 14 appearances, all as a sub, for Heerenveen in the 2006–2007 season, scoring the second goal in a 2–0 defeat of NEC Nijmegen on December 27, 2006. For the 2007–2008 season he was on loan to Doetinchem side De Graafschap, who were promoted as champions of the Dutch Eerste Divisie. Again he mostly made sub appearances and he returned to SC Heerenveen for the 2008–09 season. While back training in Heerenveen for preseason, MLS team Real Salt Lake offered Johnson a contract, which he accepted.

Real Salt Lake

Johnson signed with Major League Soccer on August 16, 2008. Chicago traded his rights to Real Salt Lake in return for a conditional 4th round pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and a 2nd round pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.[5]

Johnson won the MLS Goal of the Year Award in 2008 for a goal scored against FC Dallas on October, 18 in Rio Tinto Stadium. He was called up for the 2009 MLS All-Star Game against English Premier League side Everton. He was one of three players to score their penalties in the penalty shootout against American goalkeeper Tim Howard. He started and played 45 minutes for Real Salt Lake in the 2009 MLS Cup final against the Los Angeles Galaxy despite a bout with food poisoning, with his side ultimately winning in a penalty shootout.

Portland Timbers

Johnson was traded to the Portland Timbers on December 3, 2012 as part of a salary cap issue, along with the trade and release of six other players, including starters Jámison Olave, Fabián Espíndola, and substitute Jonny Steele.[6] Johnson was named team captain by coach Caleb Porter on February 26, 2013,[7] former team captain Jack Jewsbury was renamed club captain. On March 30, 2013 Johnson scored his first goal for Portland against Colorado Rapids scoring both goals in 2–2 draw, he was awarded MLS player of the week for his performance.[8] Johnson was put on the 2014 MLS All Star roster. He was brought in at halftime, became captain at the 73rd minute after Landon Donovan was substituted, and at the 88th minute received a yellow card for a hard tackle on Bayern midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, the latter received a bruised ankle and had to exit what would be his last game until November. A collision with Toronto FC defender Mark Bloom early in the September 27, 2014 game fractured the tibia and fibula in Johnson's right leg, ending his season early.[9]

Toronto FC

In December 2015, Johnson was traded to Toronto FC in exchange for a conditional second-round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft and targeted allocation money.[10] On May 1, 2016, he scored his first goal for Toronto in a 2–1 away defeat to his former team, the Portland Timbers.[11] On 29 June 29, 2016, he scored the winning goal in the 95th minute of the Canadian Championship for Toronto to defeat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2–2 on aggregate, winning on away goals.[12] In scoring that goal Johnson collided with Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted resulting in a tibial plateau fracture of his left leg.[13]

Orlando City SC

In December 2016, Orlando City SC announced that they had signed Johnson to a two-year contract, with an option for a third year.[14] Johnson's contract expired at the end of the 2019 season.[15]

International career

In the summers of 2005 and 2007, Johnson played for the U-20 Canadian national team at the 2005 and 2007 World Youth Championships in the Netherlands and Canada respectively. Johnson also played very well for the Canada U-23 side during the 2008 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Johnson scored three goals in three games during the tournament. However, Canada failed to qualify for the Olympics after falling 3–0 to the United States in the semifinals.

He made his senior debut for Canada in a November 2005 friendly match against Luxembourg. By December 2009, he had earned a total of 10 caps, scoring no goals. He has so far represented Canada in two FIFA Tournaments[16] Johnson provided the assist to André Hainault winning goal against Belarus on March 29, 2011. He scored his first international goal in a World Cup Qualifying match against Saint Lucia on September 2, 2011.[17]

On June 27, 2013, Johnson was listed as a part of the confirmed 23-man squad for Colin Miller's Canada squad for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, making it his third consecutive Gold Cup.[18] Miller named Johnson as team captain for the tournament.[19][20]

On December 12, 2013, Johnson was awarded the Canadian Men's Player of the Year by the CSA for the first time of his career.[21] Johnson beat out two-time winner Atiba Hutchinson who was voted second and Patrice Bernier in third for the award.[22]

After almost two years since his last call-up, during which he dealt with illness, injuries, and personal commitments, Johnson was recalled to the national team by Canada coach Benito Floro for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Dominica on June 2, 2015.[23]

In May 2019, John Herdman recalled Johnson to the national team for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[24]

Personal life

Johnson's grandfather is Brian Birch who had a successful career with Bolton Wanderers, picking up an FA Cup winners medal in 1958.[25] Johnson was married to Caroline Childs. They have a daughter, Arabella Capri, born October 2012, and a son, Jaxx Beckett, born September 5, 2014. Johnson also holds US citizenship.[26]

On September 6, 2017, Johnson was arrested on a domestic battery charge against his wife, and suspended from the team while the incident was being investigated by both local police and the league.[27][28] No charges were brought and in October 2017 Johnson was reinstated by the league.[29]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played October 6, 2019
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs[lower-alpha 1] National Cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental[lower-alpha 3] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chicago Fire Reserves 2004 PDL 00———00
2005[32] MLS Reserve League 93———93
Total 9300000093
Chicago Fire 2005[33] MLS 61004[32]0—101
Heerenveen 2006–07[31] Eredivisie 1411[lower-alpha 4]000—151
2007–08[30] 00———00
Total 141100000151
De Graafschap (loan) 2007–08[31] Eredivisie 2621[lower-alpha 5]020—292
Real Salt Lake 2008[33] MLS 923000—122
2009[33] 2614000—301
2010[33] 281200063364
2011[33] 252302060362
2012[33] 263200040323
Total 11491402016314612
Real Salt Lake Reserves 2012[32] MLS Reserve League 20———20
Portland Timbers 2013[33] MLS 2894230—3511
2014[33] 296—2111328
2015[33] 1201000—130
Total 69155251118019
Portland Timbers 2 2015[30] USL 30———30
Toronto FC 2016[33] MLS 2326031—323
Orlando City 2017[33] MLS 2620000—262
2018[33] 2810030—311
2019[33] 2110020—231
Total 754005000804
Career total 3413727221217440645
  1. Includes MLS Cup & Eredivisie playoff matches.
  2. Includes U.S. Open Cup,[30] KNVB Cup[31] and Canadian Championship matches.[30]
  3. Includes CONCACAF Champions League matches.[30]
  4. Appearance in Eredivisie European playoffs
  5. Appearance in Eredivisie relegation playoffs

International
As of match played September 10, 2019[34]
Canada national team
YearAppsGoals
200510
200620
200710
200810
200950
201030
2011111
201272
201330
201400
201541
201630
201720
201800
201920
Total454

International goals
As of match played March 29, 2016: Canada score listed first, score column indicates score after each Johnson goal.[34]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 September 2, 2011BMO Field, Toronto, Canada19 Saint Lucia4–14–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 August 15, 2012Central Broward Regional Park, Lauderhill, United States27 Trinidad and Tobago2–02–0Friendly
3 October 12, 2012BMO Field, Toronto, Canada29 Cuba2–03–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 September 8, 2015FFB Stadium, Belmopan, Belize35 Belize1–11–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Club

Real Salt Lake

Portland Timbers

Toronto FC

Individual

See also

References
  1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. July 5, 2007. p. 4. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  2. "Will Johnson". canadasoccer.com. Canadian Soccer Association. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  3. "Toronto FC: Will Johnson Will Fit In Nicely". February 12, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  4. "Will Johnson Signs Multi-Year Extension". Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  5. RSL acquires Johnson from Fire for draft picks – Seattle Post-Intelligencer
  6. – Real Salt Lake
  8. – CBC
  9. – Oregonian
  10. "Toronto FC Acquires Will Johnson". Toronto FC. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  11. "GOAL: Will Johnson scores against his former club". MLS. May 1, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  12. "TFC loses to Whitecaps, but wins Voyageurs Cup". sportsnet.ca. June 30, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  13. "Will Johnson expected to be out of the line-up for six weeks". torontofc.ca. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  14. Orlando City SC (December 28, 2016). "Orlando City SC Acquires Two-Time MLS Cup Champion Will Johnson". Orlando City SC.
  15. "Orlando City SC Announces 2019 End-of-Season Roster Decisions". Orlando City SC. November 21, 2019.
  16. Record at FIFA Tournaments – FIFA
  17. FIFA.com. "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ - Matches - Canada-St. Lucia - FIFA.com". FIFA.com. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  18. "Canada Finalize roster for Gold Cup, announces friendly". Canada Soccer. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  19. "New-look Canada finding its rhythm ahead of Gold Cup - Canada Soccer". www.canadasoccer.com. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  20. "Gold Cup: Canadian national team veteran Will Johnson to guide young squad as team captain". July 3, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  21. Portland Timbers Captain Will Johnson named Canada male soccer player of the year – The Globe and Mail
  22. Johnson is male selection for 2013 BMO Canadian Player of the Year – Canadian Soccer Association
  23. "Portland Timbers midfielder Will Johnson named to Canada National Team roster". June 2, 2015.
  24. "Together We Rise: Canada Soccer announces squad for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup". May 30, 2019.
  25. "RSL acquires FW Will Johnson". Real Salt Lake. August 26, 2008. Archived from the original on August 8, 2009. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  26. "RSL aquires forward Will Johnson". ksl.com. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  27. DelGallo, Alicia. "Orlando City midfielder Will Johnson arrested on domestic battery charge". Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  28. "Canadian national soccer team player arrested in Florida". Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  29. DelGallo, Alicia. "Orlando City midfielder Will Johnson reinstated by MLS after domestic violence allegation". OrlandoSentinel.com.
  30. "W. Johnson". Soccerway. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  31. "Will Johnson: Club matches". worldfootball.net. HeimSpiel Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  32. "Will Johnson". SoccerStats.
  33. "Will Johnson MLS Profile". MLS. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  34. "Will Johnson profile". National Football Teams. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Jack Jewsbury		 Portland Timbers captain
2013–2015		 Succeeded by
Liam Ridgewell
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