![]() Johnson playing for Seattle Sounders FC in 2013 | |||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full name | Edward Abraham Johnson [1] | ||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | March 31, 1984 | ||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Bunnell, Florida, United States | ||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||||
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 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
2003–2004 | United States U23 | 7 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
2004–2014 | United States | 63 | (19) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Edward Abraham Johnson (born March 31, 1984) is an American former soccer player. He played the majority of his fourteen-year club career in the U.S. with FC Dallas, Kansas City Wizards, Seattle Sounders FC, and D.C. United. Johnson also spent three and a half years with several European clubs.
Johnson also played for the United States men's national soccer team from 2004 to 2014, and was part of the U.S. squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. At the time of his retirement, Johnson ranked eighth on the list of goal-scorers with 19 goals for the U.S. national team.
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.
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.
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;[ citation needed ] he completed a transfer to Fulham on January 23, 2008, signing a contract extending until the summer of 2011. [8] [9]
He joined Championship side Cardiff City on loan for the 2008–09 season in August, [10] 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 soccer on March 7, 2009, in a 3–0 victory against Doncaster Rovers. [11] Four days later Johnson was named man of the match for his performance in Cardiff's 3–1 victory over Barnsley. [12] 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 Cardiff City goalscorer under the Ninian Park floodlights. [13]
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, [14] 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.
On December 31, 2009, Johnson joined Greek side Aris Thessaloniki on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season. [15] 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. [16] He made his Greek Super League debut, appearing as a second-half substitute against PAS Giannina F.C., on January 17, 2010. [17] 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.
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.
On December 22, 2011, it was announced that Johnson had signed with Primera División de Mexico club Puebla. [18] 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. [19]
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. [20] 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. [21]
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. [22] 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. [22]
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. [23]
Towards the end of the 2013 MLS season, Johnson openly made pleas for an improved contract. [24] Salary cap issues prevented Seattle from offering this, and so Johnson was cut from the team with the intention of his rights been traded. [25]
Johnson was traded to D.C. United in exchange for allocation money on December 17, 2013. [26] On May 17, 2014, Johnson scored his first goal for D.C. United in the 84th minute against the Montreal Impact. [27] In March 2015, after an extended medical leave, it was reported that Johnson might need to retire due to a heart condition. [28] On November 1, 2015, Johnson formally announced his retirement due to a diagnosed heart ailment. [29]
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. [30] [31]
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.
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 U.S.'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. [31]
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." [32] Johnson also scored the game winner in the World Cup Qualifier against Mexico in Columbus which qualified the USMNT for Brazil 2014. [33]
Johnson is currently working for his USSF A license and has coached younger Americans such as Christian Pulisic. [34]
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]
Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
United States | 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) | Superleague 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 |
United States | 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 | United States | 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 |
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 |
United States
Individual
Kasey C. Keller is an American former professional soccer player who played in Europe and the United States, as well as being the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. national team. He is a four-time FIFA World Cup participant and was the first American goalkeeper to become a regular in the German Bundesliga, the English Premier League, and the Spanish La Liga.
Chad Marshall is an American former professional soccer player. During his 16-year career, he played for Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. He was a three-time MLS Defender of the Year Award winner.
Clinton Drew Dempsey is an American former professional soccer player who is a sports analyst on the television program Soccer on CBS Sports. He played as a forward and midfielder for Premier League clubs Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur and in Major League Soccer for clubs New England Revolution and Seattle Sounders FC. Considered one of the greatest American players of all time, he is frequently debated with Landon Donovan for the title. Dempsey is Fulham's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer (50) and is tied with Donovan for the record of most international goals scored by an American player (57).
Brian Robert McBride is an American former soccer player who played as a forward for Columbus Crew, Fulham and Chicago Fire. He is the fifth-highest all-time leading goalscorer for the United States national team.
Brian Ching is an American former professional soccer player who played for twelve years in Major League Soccer and represented the U.S. national team for eight years.
Michael Sheehan Bradley is an American former professional soccer player who is currently an assistant coach at Norwegian club Stabæk.
Kenneth Scott Cooper Jr. is an American former soccer player who played as a forward. He began his soccer career with Manchester United but failed to break through to the first team. He went on to play for clubs in Portugal, Germany, England, the United States, and Canada.
Patrick Edward Joseph Ianni is an American retired professional soccer player who played as a defender. He spent nine seasons in MLS for the Houston Dynamo, Seattle Sounders FC, and Chicago Fire.
William David Johnson is a Canadian soccer player who plays for Central Florida Panthers in the National Premier Soccer League and the Central Florida Crusaders in the National Indoor Soccer League. A versatile midfielder, Johnson has represented Canada internationally.
Edward James Lewis is an American former soccer player and entrepreneur.
Bradley Ray Evans is an American retired professional soccer player who played as a midfielder. He is now a color commentator for radio broadcasts of Seattle Sounders FC matches.
Josmer Volmy "Jozy" Altidore is an American professional soccer player who plays as a striker. He last played for the Major League Soccer club New England Revolution.
Fredy Henkyer Montero Muñoz, known as Fredy Montero (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈfɾeðimonˈteɾo], is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Deportivo Cali. He was the all-time top scorer for the Seattle Sounders until being surpassed by Raúl Ruidíaz in 2024. He scored 79 goals with the club across two stints: from 2009 to 2012, and from 2021 to 2023. Montero has been called up to the Colombia national team five times, scoring once in an unofficial match against Catalonia.
Marcelo Nicolás Lodeiro Benítez, commonly known as Nicolás Lodeiro, is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer club Orlando City SC.
Osvaldo Alonso Moreno is a Cuban former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He defected from Cuba in 2007 and became a U.S. citizen in 2012. During his decade-long career with Seattle Sounders FC, Alonso played as a defensive midfielder who was known for his style of harassing, tackling and covering the field, while getting forward to supply enough offense to be considered a threat. This style of play had earned the nickname "Honey Badger" from Seattle fans for his fearless, aggressive playing style.
Sanna Nyassi is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a forward. He played for the Gambia national team from 2010 to 2015, making fourteen appearances.
Lamar Neagle is an American professional soccer player who plays for the Tacoma Stars in the Major Arena Soccer League. He has spent most of his career with the Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer over the course of several stints; Neagle has also played for Montreal Impact and D.C. United in Major League Soccer, as well as Mariehamn in Finland.
Seattle has had professional soccer clubs for over four decades who have played in various leagues since the 1970s. These include three incarnations of the Seattle Sounders FC, playing in the North American Soccer League, United Soccer League, and Major League Soccer.
The 2014 D.C. United season was the club's nineteenth season of existence, and their nineteenth in Major League Soccer, the top tier of the American soccer pyramid.
The 2014 Seattle Sounders FC season was the club's sixth season in Major League Soccer, the United States' top-tier of professional soccer. Including previous Seattle Sounders franchises, this was the 34th season of a soccer team playing in the Seattle metro area.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)