Full name Damien Michael Johnson Name Damien Johnson | Years Team Height 1.75 m | |
 | ||
Number 20 (Fleetwood Town F.C. / Midfielder) | ||
Playing position Date of birth (1978-11-18) 18 November 1978 (age 42) Similar Maik Taylor, David Dunn, Jeff Kenna | ||
Damien johnson
Damien Michael Johnson (born 18 November 1978) is a Northern Irish former footballer who is currently working as an academy coach at Blackburn Rovers.
Contents
- Damien johnson
- Damien johnson goal vs west brom 06 07
- Blackburn Rovers
- Birmingham City
- Plymouth Argyle
- 201011 season
- 201112 season
- Fleetwood Town
- International career
- Honours
- References
He began his career with Portadown FC in his native Northern Ireland from whom he signed as a trainee for Blackburn Rovers and spent five years with the club, as well as spending time on loan with Nottingham Forest. He moved to Birmingham City in 2002, where he spent the next eight seasons and became the club's captain. Johnson was transferred to Plymouth Argyle in 2010 and spent the 2010–11 and 2011–12 season on loan with Huddersfield Town. He represented the Northern Ireland national team over an eleven-year period, earning 56 caps.
Damien johnson goal vs west brom 06 07
Blackburn Rovers
His first English team was Blackburn Rovers, for whom Johnson signed as a trainee, from Portadown F.C. in 1997, making his debut in the League Cup on 30 September 1997, a 1–0 defeat to Preston North End, in which he picked up a yellow card.
Loaned to Nottingham Forest on 28 January 1998, Johnson played in five games, and, despite accruing a yellow card in his last February appearance, performed well for the team.
Blackburn won the 2002 League Cup Final a few days before Johnson left the club. Despite not being part of the squad for the final Johnson had contributed to a few games earlier in the cup run, including scoring a goal against Manchester City.
Birmingham City
On 8 March 2002, Johnson moved to Birmingham City for £50,000 and in September 2004, he signed a new three-year contract.
Johnson was named the Birmingham City captain for the 2006–07 season but in one of his first games as captain, he angered fans when he first threw his captain's armband and then his shirt on the floor when he was substituted late on.
On 28 October 2006, Johnson's jaw was broken in two places after he was elbowed in the face by West Brom defender Paul Robinson during a tackle that has since drawn criticism. Despite the broken jaw, Johnson played on until the final whistle.
In 2007, he signed a three-year deal keeping him at Birmingham City until 2010.
At the opening of the 2007–08 season he injured his hamstring in a pre-season friendly. Further injuries followed, and Johnson regained fitness only in December. He played his first league game on 15 December 2007, replacing the suspended Mehdi Nafti.
Plymouth Argyle
Johnson signed for Football League Championship club Plymouth Argyle, on 1 February 2010, on a free transfer, signing a two-and-a-half year contract. Upon Johnson's departure, Birmingham manager Alex McLeish said: "He is always a terrier of a player and played a significant part in us returning to the Premier League. I wish him all the best."
He scored his first goal for Argyle in his fourth appearance, on 16 February 2010 against Swansea City.
2010–11 season
On 5 August 2010, he joined Huddersfield Town on a season-long loan deal with a view to a permanent move. He made his Terriers debut two days later as a late substitute in the 3–0 win over Notts County at Meadow Lane. In December 2010, he suffered a cruciate ligament injury against Brighton which ruled him out for the remainder of the season. Johnson remained at the club until the end of the season to complete his rehabilitation and was nominated for the Player of the Year award. In all, he made 23 appearances.
2011–12 season
The club confirmed on 18 July 2011 that he was set to sign on another season-long loan deal, which was confirmed the next day. His second debut for the Terriers came in the 3–0 win against Sheffield United at Brammall Lane on 13 September 2011.
Fleetwood Town
On 7 June 2012, Johnson joined newly promoted Football League Two club Fleetwood Town. Just over a year later, on 9 October 2013, Johnson left the club by mutual consent.
International career
Johnson earned his first Northern Ireland call up on 29 May 1999, when he came on as a substitute in the 1–0 away win against the Republic of Ireland. Further appearances as substitute followed against Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, and Hungary, before he made his first full appearance versus Yugoslavia at Windsor Park, Belfast, in August 2000.
After a period when his international appearances were restricted by serious injury, Johnson made his 49th appearance for NI in the 3–0 World Cup Qualifying victory in San Marino on 11 February 2009, when he was the BBC's "Man of the Match".
On 29 July 2010, Johnson announced his retirement from international football.