Will Johnson

Personal information
Full name	William Johnson
Date of birth	January 21, 1987 (1987-01-21) (age 22)
Place of birth	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	Attacking Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Real Salt Lake
Number	8
Youth career
1996–1998	Woodridge Storm
1998–2003	Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003–2005	Chicago Fire Premier
2005	Chicago Fire	6	(1)
2006–2008	Heerenveen	14	(1)
2007–2008	→ De Graafschap (loan)	25	(2)
2008–	Real Salt Lake	35	(3)
National team‡
2005–2007	Canada U-20	20	(4)
2008–	Canada U-23	3	(3)
2005–	Canada	10	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 November, 2009. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 March, 2009

William "Will" Johnson (born January 21, 1987 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer.

[edit] Career

[edit] Youth

Johnson was born in Canada, but moved shortly afterwards to England where he started playing soccer, attending Merchant Taylors' Preparatory School for Boys in Crosby. When he was 10 his family once again moved, this time to Woodridge, Illinois, and he played youth soccer for Woodridge Storm and Downers Grove Roadrunners. Johnson would later return 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.

[edit] Professional

In 2005, Johnson was signed by the Chicago Fire as a discovery player. Johnson played most of the year for the reserve team but he did play in six games for the senior 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 2 more years.

For the 2007-2008 season he was on loan to Doetinchem side De Graafschap, the champion of the Dutch Eerste Divisie, or First Division. He returned to SC Heerenveen for the 2008-09 season, although Heerenveen manager Trond Sollied did not see him as part of the first team plans and released him.

Johnson signed with Major League Soccer on August 16, 2008. Chicago Fire traded his rights to Real Salt Lake in return for a conditional 4th round 2009 MLS Superdraft pick and a conditional 2nd round 2011 MLS Superdraft pick.^[1]

Johnson won the MLS Goal of the Year in 2008 for a goal scored against FC Dallas on October, 18 in Rio Tinto Stadium.

He was called up as a replacement for Shalrie Joseph in the 2009 MLS All-Star Game against English Premier League side Everton F.C.

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.

[edit] International

In the summer of 2005, Johnson played for the U-20 Canadian national team at the World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. He has made 3 appearances with the senior team with his debut coming in November as a substitute in a win against Luxembourg.

Johnson also played very well for the Canada U-23 side during qualifying for the 2008 Olympics. Johnson scored 3 goals in 3 games during those matches.

[edit] Personal

Johnson's grandfather is Brian Birch who had a successful career with Bolton Wanderers, picking up an FA Cup winners medal in 1958.^[2]

[edit] Honors

[edit] Real Salt Lake

• Major League Soccer MLS Cup (1): 2009
• Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Championship (1): 2009

[edit] Individual

• MLS Goal of the Year: 2008

[edit] See also

• List of current MLS players

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• MLS player profile
• Will Johnson's Profile at Canadian Soccer Association

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