Damien Johnson
Encyclopedia
Damien Michael Johnson (born 18 November 1978) is a Northern Irish
footballer who plays as a midfielder
for Plymouth Argyle
, but as of 19 July 2011 he is on loan at Huddersfield Town
for a second consecutive season.
He began his career with 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 season on loan with Huddersfield Town
. He represented the Northern Ireland national team
over an eleven year period, earning 56 caps
.
, 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.
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
.
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
.
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.
at Brammall Lane on 13 September 2011.
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". Such is his value to the national team that Johnson is hugely popular with the "Green and White Army" of Northern Ireland fans, not least for his 100% effort and commitment.
On 29 July 2010, Johnson announced his retirement from international football.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
footballer who plays as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, but as of 19 July 2011 he is on loan at Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
for a second consecutive season.
He began his career with Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
and spent five years with the club, as well as spending time on loan with Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
. He moved to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in 2002, where he spent the next eight seasons and became the club's captain. Johnson was transferred to Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
in 2010 and spent the 2010–11 season on loan with Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
. He represented the Northern Ireland national team
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
over an eleven year period, earning 56 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
.
Blackburn Rovers
His first English team was Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, for whom Johnson signed as a trainee, from Portadown F.C. in 1997, making his debut in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
on 30 September 1997, a 1–0 defeat to Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, in which he picked up a yellow card.
Loaned to Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
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.
Birmingham City
On 8 March 2002, Johnson moved to Birmingham CityBirmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
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
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
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
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
. 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
Mehdi Nafti
Mehdi Ben Sadok Nafti is a Tunisian footballer who plays for Real Valladolid in Spain, as a defensive midfielder.During his professional career, he played in four different countries in representation of five teams, namely Toulouse, Racing de Santander and Birmingham City.-Club career:Nafti made...
.
Plymouth Argyle
Johnson signed for Football League ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
club Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, 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
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
.
2010-11 Season
On 5 August 2010, he joined Huddersfield TownHuddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
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
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
at Meadow Lane
Meadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...
. In December 2010, he suffered a cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligaments are pairs of ligaments arranged like a letter X. They occur in several joints of the body, such as the knee...
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 2nd debut for the Terriers came in the 3-0 win against Sheffield UnitedSheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
at Brammall Lane on 13 September 2011.
International career
Johnson earned his first Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
call up on 29 May 1999, when he came on as a substitute
Substitute (football)
In association football, a substitute is a player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player. Substitutions are generally made to replace a player who has become tired or injured, or who is not performing well; there may also be tactical reasons such as...
in the 1–0 away win against the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
. Further appearances as substitute followed against Finland
Finland national football team
The Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg national football team
The Luxembourg national football team is the national football team of Luxembourg, and is controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation. The team play most of their home matches at the Stade Josy Barthel, in Luxembourg.- History :...
, Malta
Malta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
, and Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
, before he made his first full appearance versus Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
at Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, 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". Such is his value to the national team that Johnson is hugely popular with the "Green and White Army" of Northern Ireland fans, not least for his 100% effort and commitment.
On 29 July 2010, Johnson announced his retirement from international football.