Will Johnson (soccer)

William "Will" Johnson ( born January 21, 1987 in Toronto ) is a Canadian soccer player. The Canadian national team is mostly used on the right side of offensive and is with the Portland Timbers since 2013 under contract. His grandfather Brian Birch was a professional footballer in England.

Club career

Johnson was born in Canada, but he moved as an infant with his family to the English Merseyside. At the age of ten years, the family moved to the Chicago area. Therefore, Johnson owns next to the Canadian citizenship and a British and U.S. passport. Up to the age of 17, he remained in Chicago, before returning to England to play in the youth academy of Blackburn Rovers.

In 2005 he signed with the U.S. team Chicago Fire SC his first professional contract and came to six inserts in Major League Soccer ( MLS). In March 2006, about a month before the season started, he was released by Chicago Fire out of his contract after signing a new contract ( a relatively poor doped developmental contract ) declined. Johnson graduated in consequence, a trial with Dutch first division club SC Heerenveen and received by the club a three-year contract.

After his first season, in which he came to 14 missions, he was awarded the the 2007/08 season at the Erstligaaufsteiger De Graafschap and was able to achieve with the club avoid relegation. After his return, he played no role in the plans of new coach Trond Sollied and was released from his contract. He then returned in the MLS, the Chicago Fire still had the league 's internal transfer rights. For the pick of the fourth round of the MLS SuperDraft 2009 and the pick of the second round of the MLS SuperDraft 2011, he moved to Real Salt Lake. In the last few games of the 2008 season, he came to a total of nine league operations, scoring two goals. His goal against FC Dallas, as he anlupfte a cross in the penalty area and shot short volley into the goal, was elected by the fans to the gate of the year 2008. In 2009 he won the MLS Cup with Real Salt Lake. After a total of five seasons, he moved in 2013 to the Portland Timbers.

National

Johnson was between 2004 and 2007 to the regulars of the Canadian U -20 team. 2005 and 2007 he participated with the team at the Junior World Championship.

He was appointed without previous match for the CONCACAG Gold Cup in calling forth the Canadian national team in 2005, came during the tournament but not used. His international debut he gave in November 2005 in a friendly against Luxembourg, since he comes sporadically inserts.

With the Canadian Olympic team (U -23) in 2008, he played in the qualifying tournament for the Olympic football tournament in China. It failed with the team at the crucial semi-final match 0-3 to the United States. During the tournament he scored three goals and was second top scorer behind Freddy Adu, also he was elected to the team of the tournament. 2009, he was a regular player for the Canadian contingent at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.