Jemal Johnson

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Jemal Johnson
Johnson as a Lokomotiv Sofia player in 2011.
Personal information
Full name Jemal Pierre Johnson[1]
Date of birth (1985-05-03) May 3, 1985 (age 38)[1]
Place of birth Paterson, New Jersey, United States[2]
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Position(s) Winger
Striker
Youth career
Manchester United
2001–2004 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Blackburn Rovers 6 (0)
2005 → Preston North End (loan) 3 (1)
2006 → Darlington (loan) 9 (3)
2006–2007 Wolverhampton Wanderers 20 (3)
2007 → Leeds United (loan) 5 (0)
2007–2011 Milton Keynes Dons 96 (12)
2010 → Stockport County (loan) 16 (2)
2010 → Port Vale (loan) 6 (0)
2011 Lokomotiv Sofia 14 (1)
2011 Southend United 5 (0)
2012 Dover Athletic 10 (1)
2012 Tamworth 1 (0)
2013 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 11 (1)
2013–2014 New York Cosmos 20 (1)
2015–2017 Jacksonville Armada 74 (7)
2018–2019 Fresno FC 59 (16)
Total 356 (48)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jemal Pierre Johnson (born May 3, 1985) is an American former professional soccer player. In a 15-year career, he scored 53 goals in 391 league and cup appearances.

He started his career at Premier League club Blackburn Rovers, making several appearances for the club between 2004 and 2006, having graduated through the club's academy. After a season at Wolverhampton Wanderers, he joined Milton Keynes Dons in summer 2007. As well as these three clubs, he has also spent loan periods at Preston North End, Darlington, Leeds United, Stockport County, and Port Vale. He spent the first half of 2011 with Bulgarian side Lokomotiv Sofia, before returning to England in the summer to sign for Southend United; he was released by Southend in December 2011, and two months later signed with Dover Athletic. He joined Tamworth in September 2012. Having made one appearance for the club, he left Tamworth to return to the United States with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. He went on to play for the New York Cosmos in the 2014 season, for Jacksonville Armada the following three seasons, and then joined Fresno FC in January 2018.

Career[edit]

Blackburn Rovers[edit]

Though born in the United States, Johnson's family moved to Macclesfield when he was five years old.[4] Originally signed by Manchester United, Johnson joined Blackburn Rovers' Academy when he was sixteen.[2]

Johnson made his first-team debut as a substitute in Rovers' FA Cup Third round 1–1 tie at Cardiff City on January 8, 2005, replacing Paul Dickov after 89 minutes.[2] He scored his first senior goal, in his first start, on January 29 at Ewood Park, in Blackburn's Fourth Round 3–0 victory over Colchester United.[5] He also played in the Fifth Round goalless draw with Burnley at Turf Moor, but played not further part in Rovers' semi-final run. He also made three substitute appearances in the Premier League during the 2004–05 season.

In October 2005, he joined Championship side Preston North End on loan,[6] he played three games at Deepdale, scoring against Hull City.[7] In March 2006 he joined League Two Darlington on a six-week loan,[8][9][10] manager David Hodgson having tracked him since July 2004.[11] Johnson scored three times in nine starts.

Wolverhampton Wanderers[edit]

Having failed to establish himself in the Rovers first-team, Johnson joined Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2006 for an undisclosed fee.[12] He scored two match-winning goals in his first two league games for the club – to the delight of manager Mick McCarthy,[13] but by the end of the season he scored just one further goal. He joined Leeds United on a three-month loan in February 2007, but had a frustrating time at Elland Road, making just five appearances. Back at Molineux he was placed on the transfer list.[14]

Milton Keynes Dons[edit]

In August 2007, Paul Ince's Milton Keynes Dons paid an undisclosed fee for Johnson, and he signed a two-year contract.[15] In his first season at the club, he scored some vital goals, including one against Swansea City to help get the Dons into the Football League Trophy final. He also played at Wembley in the final itself, as the Dons beat Grimsby Town 2–0 to lift the trophy. He also helped the club top the League Two table.

Johnson struck six times in 2008–09, as the Dons finished two points off an automatic promotion place to the Championship. He did not feature in the play-off encounter with eventual promotion winners Scunthorpe United. His contract ran out in May 2009;[16][17] however, he re-signed with the club in July 2009,[18] penning a new two-year deal after former Wolves player Paul Ince returned to the management post.[19]

Despite starting the 2009–10 season well,[20] scoring a hat-trick against Northampton Town in a pre-season friendly,[21] he lost his first-team place in November. In January 2010, MK Dons announced that Johnson was to join League One Stockport County on loan for the remaining six months of the season, alongside teammates Jabo Ibehre, Danny Swailes and Richie Partridge.[22][23] All four MK Dons players, plus Colchester United's David Perkins started for County against Swindon Town on January 19.[24] He went on to score two goals in sixteen appearances for Stockport during his loan spell, as the club dropped out of the league in bottom place – a whole 25 points from safety.

Johnson had trials with two Major League Soccer clubs in August 2010 – D.C. United[25] and Kansas City Wizards,[26] but neither club offered him a contract. New Zealand club Wellington Phoenix FC did offer him a contract, though nothing came of the offer.[27] Back at Stadium MK he once again found himself on the bench. He joined Port Vale on a one-month loan in September 2010,[28][29] manager Micky Adams intending to use the player on the wing following Lewis Haldane's injury and Abdulai Bell-Baggie's departure.[30] Vale seemed to have extended Johnson's loan spell by a further month, however, his parent club recalled him at the last minute.[31] In January 2011 Johnson left Milton Keynes Dons when his contract was terminated by mutual consent.[32]

Lokomotiv Sofia[edit]

In January 2011, he rejected offers from English league clubs and instead moved to Bulgaria to play for top-flight side Lokomotiv Sofia.[33] On 28 February, he made his first appearance for the "Railwaymen" in a 2–0 home win against Montana. He left the club by mutual consent in the summer, following a fourth-place finish in the league.

Southend United[edit]

In July 2011, Johnson returned to England to sign a twelve-month contract (with an option to extend) with League Two side Southend United.[34] He made two starts and five substitute appearances for the "Shrimpers" before October 28,[35] when he was placed under police arrest for his alleged role in a fight outside a nightclub in Ilford.[36][37] On November 30, Southend United confirmed that he was under a two-week club suspension whilst a "full review" into his actions took place.[38][39] Three weeks later the club announced that he would be released.[40]

Non-League football[edit]

In February 2012, he signed for Dover Athletic until the end of the season, having impressed impressing boss Nicky Forster on trial.[41] He was not offered a contract at the end of the 2011–12 season however, and was released in May 2012.[42]

Johnson joined Conference National side Tamworth on non-contract terms in September 2012. However, he played just 18 minutes as a substitute, before leaving The Lamb Ground.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers[edit]

Johnson joined Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League for the spring period of the 2013 season. On June 23, he played in an international friendly against Brazilian side Cruzeiro Esporte Clube in front of a season high crowd at Lockhart Stadium.[43]

New York Cosmos[edit]

In June 2013, it was confirmed by the New York Cosmos and their head coach Giovanni Savarese that Johnson would be playing for them starting in the fall period of the 2013 season.[44] During the Cosmos' pre-season tour of England Johnson suffered a knee injury against Leyton Orient, ruling him out of action for the beginning of the fall season.[45] He made his Cosmos' debut on November 2, playing 18 minutes as a substitute in a 1–0 win over the Atlanta Silverbacks. Due to his knee injury this was the only action Johnson saw in the 2013 campaign.

In 2014, Johnson was a regular contributor to the Cosmos attack. On 26 July, he scored his first goal for the Cosmos in a 1–1 draw with his former club, Fort Lauderdale Strikers.[46] Playing primarily on the left wing, Johnson had one goal and two assists in 19 appearances during the 2014 NASL regular season.[47]

Jacksonville Armada[edit]

In December 2014, Johnson made the move to newly formed NASL club Jacksonville Armada.[48] He scored the first goal of the opening game of the 2015 regular season, which in addition to making him Armada's first competitive goalscorer, his strike at 12 seconds into the game set the modern-era NASL record for fastest goal.[49] He ended the 2015 season with five goals in 29 matches. He scored two goals in 24 appearances across the 2016 season. The 2017 season would be his last at Hodges Stadium, and he played 24 games without scoring a goal for Mark Lowry's "Boys in Blue".

Fresno[edit]

On January 18, 2018, Johnson signed a one-year contract with newly formed United Soccer League side Fresno FC.[50] He scored nine goals in 30 games during the 2018 season as head coach Adam Smith led the team to a 12th-place finish. He scored seven goals in 33 games in the 2019 season; Fresno reached the Conference Quarterfinals, where they were beaten 3–2 by El Paso Locomotive FC at Chukchansi Park.

Style of play[edit]

Johnson is a pacey player; he also has good shooting ability from long-range, and is also effective in one-on-one situations.[44]

Career statistics[edit]

As of April 30, 2019
Club Season Division League National cup League cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Blackburn Rovers 2004–05[51] Premier League 3 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 6 1
2005–06[52] Premier League 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Total 6 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 10 1
Preston North End (loan) 2005–06[52] Championship 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
Darlington (loan) 2005–06[52] League Two 9 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 3
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2006–07[53] Championship 20 3 3 0 1 0 0 0 24 3
Leeds United (loan) 2006–07[53] Championship 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
MK Dons 2007–08[54] League Two 39 5 1 1 0 0 6[a] 2[a] 46 8
2008–09[55] League One 33 5 1 1 2 0 1[a] 0 37 6
2009–10[56] League One 17 1 0 0 1 0 2[a] 0 20 1
2010–11[57] League One 7 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 9 1
Total 96 12 4 2 3 0 9 2 112 16
Stockport County (loan) 2009–10[56] League One 16 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 2
Port Vale (loan) 2010–11[57] League Two 6 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 7 0
Lokomotiv Sofia 2010–11[58] A PFG 14 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 1
Southend United 2011–12[59] League Two 5 0 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 7 0
Dover Athletic 2011–12[60] Conference South 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 1
Tamworth 2012–13[61] Conference National 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2013[58] North American Soccer League 12 1 0 0 – – 12 1
New York Cosmos 2013[58] North American Soccer League 1 0 0 0 – – 1 0
2014[58] North American Soccer League 19 1 1 0 – – 20 1
Total 20 1 1 0 – – 21 1
Jacksonville Armada 2015[58] North American Soccer League 28 5 1 0 – – 29 5
2016[58] North American Soccer League 24 2 0 0 – – 24 2
2017[58] North American Soccer League 22 0 2 0 – – 24 0
Total 74 7 3 0 – – 77 7
Fresno 2018[58] United Soccer League 28 9 2 0 – – 30 9
2019[58] USL Championship 31 7 2 0 – – 33 7
Total 59 16 4 0 – – 63 16
Career total 356 48 19 3 5 0 11 2 391 53
  1. ^ a b c d e f Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honors[edit]

Milton Keynes Dons

New York Cosmos

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 222. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ^ a b c "Leeds United F.C. History". www.ozwhitelufc.net.au. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  3. ^ "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2010/11". footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  4. ^ "NEW LOAN SIGNING". port-vale.co.uk. September 16, 2010. Archived from the original on September 19, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  5. ^ "Blackburn 3–0 Colchester". BBC Sport. January 29, 2005. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
  6. ^ "Preston sign Johnson in loan deal". BBC Sport. October 28, 2005. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  7. ^ "Preston 3–0 Hull". BBC Sport. November 1, 2005. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
  8. ^ "Preston sign Johnson in loan deal". BBC Sport. October 28, 2005. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  9. ^ "Striker Johnson joins Darlington". BBC Sport. March 10, 2006. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  10. ^ "Blackburn trio extend loan deals". BBC Sport. April 11, 2006. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  11. ^ "Hodgson cool on Shaw link". BBC Sport. July 16, 2004. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  12. ^ "Johnson completes move to Wolves". BBC Sport. August 17, 2006. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  13. ^ "McCarthy hails impact of Johnson". BBC Sport. August 21, 2006. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  14. ^ "McCarthy begins Wolves clear-out". BBC Sport. May 18, 2007. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  15. ^ "MK Dons boss signs Wolves striker". BBC Sport. August 31, 2007. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  16. ^ Chard, James (May 19, 2009). "Six players go in Dons clear-out". Milton Keynes Citizen. Johnston Press Digital Publishing. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
  17. ^ "Six players shown Dons exit door". BBC Sport. May 19, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  18. ^ "Johnson sticks with Dons". Sky Sports. BSkyB. July 13, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  19. ^ "MK Dons swoop to re-sign Johnson". BBC Sport. July 14, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  20. ^ "Robinson happy with Johnson show". BBC Sport. August 3, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  21. ^ "Johnson hat-trick sinks Cobblers". BBC Sport. August 3, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  22. ^ "Four Set For Stockport". Milton Keynes Dons FC. January 18, 2010. Archived from the original on January 21, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  23. ^ "Stockport seal loans for quintet". BBC Sport. January 20, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  24. ^ "Stockport 0–1 Swindon". BBC Sport. January 19, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  25. ^ "MK Dons' Jemal Johnson set for trial with D.C. United". BBC Sport. July 21, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  26. ^ "Former Man United academy product Jemal Johnson on trial in KC". Kansas City F.C. August 19, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  27. ^ Ormond, Aidan (July 20, 2010). "Phoenix Look To Bolster Squad". au.fourfourtwo.com. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  28. ^ "Port Vale: Valiants complete loan signing of MK Dons winger Jemal Johnson". The Sentinel/ This is Staffordshire. September 16, 2010. Archived from the original on September 14, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  29. ^ "Port Vale sign MK Dons winger Jemal Johnson on loan". BBC Sport. September 16, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  30. ^ Shaw, Steve (September 17, 2010). "Port Vale: New boy Jemal Johnson homing in on Macc debut". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  31. ^ "Port Vale loan man Jemal Johnson returns to MK Dons". BBC Sport. October 19, 2010. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  32. ^ "Jemal Johnson allowed to leave MK Dons". BBC Sport. January 14, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  33. ^ "Johnson Pleased to be Here". Southend United F.C. July 1, 2011. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  34. ^ "Johnson wings in at Southend". Southend United F.C. July 1, 2011. Archived from the original on July 5, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  35. ^ Phillips, Chris (November 25, 2011). "Southend United manager Paul Sturrock set for talks with Jemal Johnson". Southend Echo. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  36. ^ "Southend United player arrested on suspicion of assault". Southend Echo. November 25, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  37. ^ "Club Statement: Jemal Johnson". Southend United F.C. November 25, 2011. Archived from the original on December 3, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  38. ^ "Club Statement: Jemal Johnson". Southend United F.C. November 30, 2011. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  39. ^ "Jemal Johnson suspended by Southend United". BBC Sport. November 30, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  40. ^ "Southend United sack Jemal Johnson after arrest". BBC Sport. December 19, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  41. ^ Clements, Matthew. "Johnson Adds New Dimension". Dover Athletic F.C. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  42. ^ "Forster announces retained list". Football Conference. May 7, 2012. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  43. ^ "Season-high crowd fills Lockhart Stadium as Strikers fall 4-0 to Brazil's Cruzeiro". June 23, 2013.
  44. ^ a b "Cosmos Add Two More Players to Squad". nycosmos.com. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  45. ^ Levine, Matt (September 21, 2013). "On the Road Back". bigapplesoccer.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
  46. ^ "Cosmos Seek Another Road Win". nycosmos.com. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  47. ^ "Profile". nycosmos.com. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  48. ^ "Former English Premier League striker Jemal Johnson joins Armada FC attack". armadafc.com. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  49. ^ "Jacksonville Armada sinks FC Edmonton in NASL season-opener". Edmonton Journal. April 4, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  50. ^ Moreno, Angel (January 18, 2018). "Fresno FC inks dynamic winger Jemal Johnson". Fresno FC. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  51. ^ "Games played by Jemal Johnson in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  52. ^ a b c "Games played by Jemal Johnson in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  53. ^ a b "Games played by Jemal Johnson in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  54. ^ "Games played by Jemal Johnson in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  55. ^ "Games played by Jemal Johnson in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  56. ^ a b "Games played by Jemal Johnson in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  57. ^ a b "Games played by Jemal Johnson in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  58. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Stats". Soccerway. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  59. ^ "Games played by Jemal Johnson in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  60. ^ "stats". Dover Athletic F.C. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  61. ^ "Games played by Jemal Johnson in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  62. ^ "Grimsby 0-2 MK Dons". BBC Sport. March 30, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2022.

External links[edit]

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