Eddie Johnson (American soccer)

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

<templatestyles src="Module:Infobox/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Eddie Johnson
200px
Johnson playing for Seattle Sounders FC in 2013
Personal information
Full name Edward Abraham Johnson[1]
Date of birth (1984-03-31) March 31, 1984 (age 39)
Place of birth Bunnell, Florida, United States
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
2000–2001 IMG Soccer Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2005 FC Dallas 84 (24)
2006–2007 Kansas City Wizards 43 (17)
2008–2011 Fulham 19 (0)
2008–2009 Cardiff City (loan) 30 (2)
2010 Aris (loan) 14 (5)
2011 Preston North End (loan) 16 (0)
2012–2013 Seattle Sounders FC 49 (23)
2014–2015 D.C. United 26 (7)
Total 281 (78)
International career
2000–2001 United States U17 25 (23)
2002–2003 United States U20 21 (12)
2003–2004 United States U23 7 (2)
2004–2014 United States 63 (19)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Edward Abraham "Eddie" Johnson (born March 31, 1984) is a retired American soccer player.

Professional

Youth career

Johnson became one of the youngest players to sign with Major League Soccer, and was drafted by Dallas Burn as a Project-40 player in the second round of the 2001 MLS SuperDraft. In his first three years in the league, he did not get much playing time, and was very inconsistent when he did get on the field. Johnson scored just seven goals for Dallas in those seasons, while missing time with U.S. youth national teams.

In January 2005, Benfica offered what would have been an MLS-record $5 million transfer fee for Johnson, but Johnson and the league both rejected the offer.[2]

In May 2005, Johnson suffered an injury to the toes of his right foot that sidelined him until August of that year. After returning to MLS in August – he scored only five goals during the season – Johnson re-injured his toes in mid-September and was sidelined until January 2006.

Kansas City Wizards

With Dallas in salary cap trouble, Johnson was traded to the Kansas City Wizards on February 14, 2006, for two allocations.[3] It was announced that Johnson would be training with Premier League club Reading during the MLS offseason, but he did not sign with the club.[4]

In 2006 and early 2007, Johnson suffered a decline in form, scoring only twice in the 2006 MLS season and failing to make an impact with the national team. However, Johnson returned to form with the start of the 2007 MLS season, notching twelve goals and three assists in his first eleven games. On June 2, 2007, Johnson became the first player ever to score back to back hat-tricks in MLS play when he scored three goals against the New York Red Bulls, following a three-goal performance against the New England Revolution the previous week on May 26.

Premier League and Fulham

File:EddieFulham.JPG
Eddie Johnson warming up for Fulham

In July 2007, Johnson saw increased speculation over a transfer to the Premier League. Derby County had been most vocal, with Derby manager Billy Davies confirming that he would explore the U.S. market.[5] However, after MLS accepted a $6 million bid from Derby, Johnson reportedly nixed the deal as he preferred to finish his season in Kansas City.[6] Johnson revealed his contract is structured to give him final say over whether he is purchased by fifteen designated clubs.[7] Johnson left the national team camp in California on January 17, 2008;[8] he completed a transfer to Fulham on January 23, 2008, signing a contract extending until the summer of 2011.[9][10]

Loan to Cardiff City

File:EddieCardiff.JPG
Eddie Johnson as a player of Cardiff City

He joined Championship side Cardiff City on loan for the 2008–09 season in August,[11] making his debut for the club during a 2–1 victory over Milton Keynes Dons in the Football League Cup. He went on to make his league debut four days later as an eighty-fifth-minute substitute in a 0–0 draw with Sheffield United. He struggled to recover his goal-scoring form that he showed during his time in MLS.

However, he regained some of his form as the season progressed, and had a breakthrough week when he scored his first goal in English football on March 7, 2009, in a 3–0 victory against Doncaster Rovers.[12] Four days later Johnson was named man of the match for his performance in Cardiff's 3–1 victory over Barnsley.[13] A month later, when Cardiff hosted Derby County, Johnson scored his second goal of the season and added an own goal during injury time as the Bluebirds rolled to a 4–1 victory. Johnson's goal for Cardiff also meant that he was the last ever Cardiff City goalscorer under the Ninian Park floodlights.[14]

Johnson returned to Fulham from Cardiff City for the 2009–10 season. He featured in the majority of Fulham's pre-season fixtures, scoring in a friendly at Australian club Melbourne Victory,[15] was on the bench for Fulham's 3–0 victory over Vetra in the first leg of the third round of the Europa League, and came on as a late substitute in and recorded an assist in Fulham's 3–0 win in the second leg against Vetra.

Greece and Loan to Aris

On December 31, 2009, Johnson joined Greek side Aris Thessaloniki on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.[16] On January 13, 2010, Johnson made his first appearance for Aris, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute in a 2–0 victory over Asteras Tripoli F.C. in the round of 16 of the Greek Cup.[17] He made his Greek Super League debut, appearing as a second-half substitute against PAS Giannina F.C., on January 17, 2010.[18] Johnson scored two goals in their playoff win over Olympiacos. Johnson scored five goals for Aris and was one of the top goalscorers in the Greek Super League Playoff with three goals.

Loan to Preston

On January 31, 2011, Johnson was sent out on loan to Championship club Preston North End. He scored his first goal against Reading a flicked on header from a curling Keith Treacy cross. The goal was later given as an own goal.

Puebla F.C.

On December 22, 2011, it was announced that Johnson had signed with Primera División de Mexico club Puebla.[19] However, Johnson never officially signed a contract with the team and was released from camp after training with the team three or four times due to a difference in opinions between the coach, Juan Carlos Osorio, and the team's technical staff.[20]

Seattle Sounders FC

Johnson signed with MLS on February 17, 2012 and was selected on February 18, 2012 by Montreal Impact via allocation process. He was immediately traded to Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for Mike Fucito and Lamar Neagle.[21] He scored his first two goals for the Sounders in games against the Chicago Fire and the LA Galaxy. He was selected to the 2012 MLS All Star Team by coach Ben Olsen, eventually scoring the game-winning goal against Chelsea in a 3-2 victory. During the 2012 season, Johnson was selected as MLS Player of the Week two times. The first time in week 22, following a one-goal performance in a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy. He received the honor a second time in week 27, following his two-goal showing in a 2-1 comeback victory against Chivas USA.[22]

Johnson led the Sounders in goals scored during the 2012 MLS season, netting 14 total and finishing sixth in the league's Golden Boot race.[23] Of the 14 total goals scored by Johnson, 9 came from headers, which led all players in MLS.

For his quality performance throughout the season, Johnson was named "Comeback Player of the Year" in MLS for the 2012 season. MLS Commissioner Don Garber said of Johnson receiving the award: “Eddie Johnson had a great resurgence with Seattle. Eddie joined our league when he was 17 years old and had one of his best years with us at 28. I still think he has a number of good years left in him.” It was the second time Johnson received the award, previously winning in 2007 as a player with Kansas City.[23]

Johnson scored the winning goal for the Sounders against Tigres de la UANL in the quarterfinal of the 2013 CONCACAF Champions League knockout stage. The 75th-minute goal put the Sounders ahead 3-2 on aggregate, and advanced the club to the semi-finals of the tournament. With the Sounders victory over Tigres, they became the first MLS side to eliminate a Mexican club in the history of the CONCACAF Champions League.[24]

D.C. United

Towards the end of the 2013 MLS season, Johnson openly made pleas for an improved contract.[25] Salary cap issues prevented Seattle from offering this and so Johnson was cut from the team with the intention of his rights been traded.[26] Johnson was traded to D.C. United in exchange for allocation money on December 17, 2013.[27]

On May 17, 2014, Johnson scored his first goal for D.C. United in the 84th minute against the Montreal Impact.[28]

In March 2015, after an extended medical leave, it was reported that Johnson might need to retire due to a heart condition.[29] On November 1, 2015, Johnson formally announced his retirement due to a diagnosed heart ailment.[30]

International

Johnson had success at the U-17 level, scoring 23 goals in 25 appearances and leading that team in scoring in both 2000 and 2001. This success continued at U-20 level, and in 2003 at the FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates he scored four goals, three from the penalty spot, and notched one assist to win the tournament's Golden Shoe as the top scorer.[31][32]

Johnson received his first cap and scored his first goal for the senior United States team against El Salvador on October 9, 2004, becoming one of a small group of American players to get his first international goal in a World Cup qualifier. He then scored a hat-trick in his second appearance four days later, all within a seventeen-minute spree against Panama. On March 30, 2005, Johnson scored the game-winning goal in another qualifying match against Guatemala. He totaled seven goals in his first six World Cup qualifiers which placed him third on the U.S. all-time scoring list in World Cup qualifiers.

File:Eddie Johnson vs Belgium.jpg
Johnson playing for the United States against Belgium in May 2013

Johnson appeared in two matches at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and also participated in the 2007 Copa América as well the 2007 Gold Cup. In the USA's opening Copa América match against Argentina he earned and then converted a penalty kick to put the United States ahead 1–0 in a game they eventually lost 4–1.[32]

On May 11, 2010, Johnson was named to the United States pre-2010 FIFA World Cup roster; he was ultimately cut before the team traveled to South Africa.

Johnson returned to the U.S. team for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Antigua and Barbuda and Guatemala. He scored both goals in the 2–1 victory over Antigua and Barbuda, with the winner coming in the 90th minute. He also assisted on Clint Dempsey's game-winning goal versus Guatemala.

Johnson scored the second goal for the United States against Panama during the World Cup Qualifying match held in Seattle, Washington on June 11, 2013. The goal was scored at CenturyLink Field, the home stadium of his pro club, Seattle Sounders FC. Johnson said of the goal, “It’s a dream come true. To play in the U.S. jersey, first of all, is an honor, but to play in front of my fans that I play in front of week in and week out, I couldn’t have asked for a better feeling after the goal tonight."[33] Johnson also scored the game winner in the World Cup Qualifier against Mexico in Columbus which qualified the USMNT for Brazil 2014.[34]

Personal life

Johnson became a Christian when he was 18. Johnson has spoken about his faith saying, "I began to think positively for the first time in years, and I became more patient. ... God showed me how to make the most of my life, both on and off the field. ... Through Jesus’ example, I have learned to forgive people and not hold grudges like I used to. That's the key to the rest of my life: faithfulness, both His and mine. I encourage you to make it the key to the rest of your life as well.[35]

While growing up, Johnson considered Romário as his favorite player and watched him when he was nine-years-old and watched the 1994 World Cup in America. Johnson supports Manchester United.[36]

Career statistics

Club

As of December 14, 2014[37][38]
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
USA League Open Cup Playoffs North America Total
2001 FC Dallas Major League Soccer 10 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 2
2002 11 2 3 0 3 0 0 0 17 2
2003 22 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 23 4
2004 26 12 2 2 0 0 0 0 28 14
2005 15 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 16 6
2006 Kansas City Wizards 19 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 21 2
2007 24 15 0 0 3 0 0 0 27 15
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2007–08 Fulham Premier League 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
2008–09 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2008–09 Cardiff City (loan) The Championship 30 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 33 2
2009–10 Fulham Premier League 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 0
Greece League Greek Cup League Cup Europe Total
2009–10 Aris Thessaloniki (loan) Super League Greece 14 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 19 5
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2010–11 Fulham Premier League 11 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 12 0
2010–11 Preston North End The Championship 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
USA League Open Cup Playoffs North America Total
2012 Seattle Sounders FC Major League Soccer 28 14 4 1 3 1 3 1 38 17
2013 21 9 0 0 3 2 3 1 27 12
2014 D.C. United 26 7 2 0 2 2 30 9
Total USA 202 71 14 5 14 3 8 4 238 83
England 65 2 2 0 3 0 1 0 71 2
Greece 14 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 19 5
Career total 281 78 21 5 17 3 9 4 328 90

International

As of December 14, 2014.
National team Year Apps Goals
United States
2004 3 5
2005 6 3
2006 11 1
2007 11 2
2008 6 1
2009 2 0
2010 3 0
2011 0 0
2012 2 2
2013 17 5
2014 2 0
Total 63 19

International Goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 October 9, 2004 San Salvador, El Salvador  El Salvador 2–0 2–0 2006 World Cup Qualifying
2 October 13, 2004 Washington, D.C.  Panama 3–0 6–0 2006 World Cup Qualifying
3 4–0
4 5–0
5 November 17, 2004 Columbus, Ohio  Jamaica 1–0 1–1 2006 World Cup Qualifying
6 February 9, 2005 Port of Spain, Trinidad  Trinidad and Tobago 1–0 2-1 2006 World Cup Qualifying
7 March 19, 2005 Albuquerque, New Mexico  Honduras 1–0 1–0 Friendly
8 March 30, 2005 Birmingham, Alabama  Guatemala 1–0 2-0 2006 World Cup Qualifying
9 February 19, 2006 Frisco, Texas  Guatemala 3–0 4-0 Friendly
10 June 9, 2007 Carson, California  Trinidad and Tobago 2–0 2-0 2007 Gold Cup
11 June 28, 2007 Maracaibo, Venezuela  Argentina 1–0 1–4 2007 Copa America
12 June 15, 2008 Carson, California  Barbados 7–0 8-0 2010 World Cup Qualifying
13 October 12, 2012 North Sound, Antigua  Antigua and Barbuda 1–0 2–1 2010 World Cup Qualifying
14 2–1
15 June 11, 2013 Seattle, Washington  Panama 2–0 2–0 2010 World Cup Qualifying
16 July 21, 2013 Baltimore, Maryland  El Salvador 3–1 5–1 2013 Gold Cup
17 July 24, 2013 Dallas, Texas  Honduras 1–0 3–1 2013 Gold Cup
18 August 14, 2013 Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina  Bosnia and Herzegovina 1–2 4–3 Friendly
19 September 10, 2013 Columbus, Ohio  Mexico 1–0 2–0 2010 World Cup Qualifying

Honors

United States

Individual

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/news/2012/02/montreal-impact-acquires-mike-fucito-and-lamar-neagle
  22. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. 23.0 23.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/09/01/seattle-sounders-forward-eddie-johnson-opts-pay-me-celebration-after-winner-
  26. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/12/17/dc-united-deal-seattle-sounders-usmnt-striker-eddie-johnson
  28. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. 32.0 32.1 http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/MNT/J/Eddie-Johnson.aspx
  33. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Script error: The function "top" does not exist.

Script error: The function "bottom" does not exist.

Script error: The function "top" does not exist.

Script error: The function "bottom" does not exist.