Glen Johnson

At 40 years old, Glen Johnson has this physical status:

Glen McLeod Cooper Johnson (né Stephens, 1984) is an English former professional footballer who played mainly as a right back. Johnson began his career at West Ham United, spending time on loan at Millwall, and Chelsea acquired him for a £6 million fee following West Ham's relegation in 2003.

He was instrumental in Chelsea's 2004–05 Premier League title and 2005 League Cup Final.

Johnson joined Portsmouth on loan for the 2006–07 season in June 2006.

Following a fruitful season on loan at Fratton Park, Johnson joined Pompey permanently for a £4 million price. As Portsmouth defeated Cardiff City 1–0, Johnson played 99 times for Portsmouth and competed in the 2008 FA Cup Final.

In 2009, Johnson paid a £17.5 million fee to Liverpool.

Johnson appeared in 200 games at Anfield, including winning in the 2012 League Cup Final.

He joined Stoke City on a free transfer in July 2015 and made 64 appearances in three seasons before retiring. From 2003 to 2014, Johnson was capped 54 times by the England national team, from 2003 to 2014.

He was drafted in England's squads for the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups and UEFA Euro 2012.

Early life

Following his mother's separation from his parents, he was identified as Glen Stephens at the time of his birth. He was named by his parents, Wendy Johnson and John Stephens, after former England midfielder Glenn Hoddle. He was born in Greenwich, Kent, and grew up in Dartford, Kent, where he attended Temple Hill Primary School and then Leigh CTC School. He was raised by his mother and grew up with his younger brother and older half-sister.

He lived in a hostel at one point in his childhood because his mother had nowhere to live. Johnson says his mother was instrumental in his development of a football career, "She had a rough time raising three children as a single parent with no support apart from the goodwill of close friends, and there were times when we had nowhere to stay." At one point we were homeless and living in a hostel, but after mum recovered from a few years of hard work and passed her driving test so she could bring me to football every week, we got a fresh start.

Personal life

Sam Taylor, a former West Ham United player, helped create the Glen Johnson Soccer School in 2007. The football academy is based in Dartford, Kent, and its primary aim is to provide training and education in local schools. One of his students is currently working at West Ham United.

Johnson and his former Millwall colleague Ben May were arrested at a B&Q store in Dartford, Kent, in January 2007, attempting to rob bathroom fittings. Both were fined £80. "Ben was doing up his toilet, so we went to B&Q and discovered one of those sets where you get everything in one box," Johnson said. However, he wanted a seat with a slow-close lid, so we took out the seat and replaced it with a new one. The new seat was £2.35 more costly, which we didn't know. We went through the cash register, paid for it, and then the security guard approached us and said he had been watching on CCTV. We just burst out laughing.

Where's Jeremy Beadle then?

But the police are on their way,' he said, "This is serious, and the cops are on their way." The cops woke up and were yelling, and they were joking about it. "Can we not just pay the £2.35?'" I said to the security guard. "No, this is a serious offence," he said. So, we had two options: go to court and try to get it out or pay an on-the-spot fine. We couldn't be bothered going to court so we paid the fine, but doing so made us look guilty."

Glen Johnson and his brother, Lewis Johnson, bought Johnsons Real Estate in 2007. 'Glen was the developer of Johnsons Real Estate in 2007 and has led the team ever since,' according to the Johnson Real Estate web site.' He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Johnsons Real Estate.

After being caught speeding in North Wales in December 2013, Johnson was barred from driving for six months; he later appealed his appeal.

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Club career

Johnson was a product of the West Ham United youth system run by Tony Carr from the age of nine, becoming a 15-year-old first year scholar in 2000. On August 1, 2001, just shy of his 17th birthday, he began a three-year professional deal with the club. He made regular appearances for West Ham reserves in 2001–2002 but was unable to make it to the first team. On October 17, 2002, he signed his first four-week loan contract with Millwall, making his First Division debut in an away loss against Norwich City on October 19th. His loan was twice extended by a month before being recalled early to Upton Park after losing seven weeks in a Millwall shirt and his last appearance in a Millwall shirt came in another away loss to Crystal Palace on Friday.

Johnson's Premier League and West Ham debut came on January 22, 2003, this time against Charlton Athletic, when he came on for midfielder Édouard Cissé. He made 15 League appearances and one FA Cup appearance in 2002–03, becoming the most influential member of the West Ham team as the year progressed. On March 18, 2003, he signed a new four-year contract to remain in east London, indicating his desire to help maintain the club in the top flight. Nevertheless, his last outing in a Hammers shirt came on the 11th day of the season, in a 2–2 draw away at Birmingham City, who ordered the Hammers to relegate to the First Division.

Johnson joined Chelsea Chelsea, signing on July 15 for a £6 million fee two months after West Ham United's relegation. Roman Abramovich's first purchase came on August 13th in an away victory over ilina in the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League, and his first Chelsea goal came in the corresponding home leg two weeks later. His league debut came on August 17th in an Anfield victory over Liverpool, but he had to wait until September 29 for his first league goal, netting the first of a 5–0 victory over Newcastle United. In 2003–04, he made 19 appearances in league as Chelsea finished as runners-up.

Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini was sent off late in Chelsea's FA Cup fifth-round match against Newcastle United in the following season, and with no substitutions remaining, Johnson went in goal. Although he did not concede, Newcastle were already 1–0 up and went through at Chelsea's expense. When he came on as a second-half replacement for Chelsea in the 2005 League Cup Final, Chelsea won 3–2 against Liverpool after extra time. He made 16 appearances, enough for a medal, as the Premier League took the Premier League this season, but they were unable to get a trophy for their next season after only having four appearances in the league.

In June 2006, Johnson joined Portsmouth on a season-long loan. On his return to Chelsea, Johnson began the 2007 FA Community Shield, Chelsea's loss to Manchester United, as well as the season's first Premier League match against Birmingham City.

Johnson was signed to Portsmouth on a four-year contract, possibly costing £4 million. In the first match after his move, a 3–1 loss at Arsenal, he was given a start, and the club's regular right back became the club's regular right back. Johnson scored his first goal in over three years against Wigan Athletic in a 2–0 victory after dribbling from the halfway line on October 20. He was instrumental in the 2008 FA Cup Final against Cardiff City, where Johnson defeated them 1–0. Shortly after Johnson's cup victory, he and Portsmouth substitute goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown had their winners' medals stolen from their hotel rooms. After the medals were not returned, the FA remade medals for Johnson and Ashdown.

Johnson won the Goal of the Month award for November and then the Goal of the Season award for September on November 22, 2008, and later received the Goal of the Month award. Johnson seemed to have put an end to rumors that he would transfer to Liverpool for a reported £9 million by resuming a four-and-a-half year with Portsmouth on January 9, 2009, although rumors have argued that Johnson might make a big money move to Liverpool in the future. -- According to Daniel Burke, the youngest member of The Times' "Top 50 Portsmouth players" list in late April 2009. Despite Portsmouth finishing in the bottom-half of the Premier League, just seven points above the relegation zone, Johnson was included in the PFA Team of the Year for 2008–2009.

On June 13, a Portsmouth representative revealed that a "good bid" had been received for Johnson, with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City all being considered potential suitors. Portsmouth made a bid worth £18.5 million from Liverpool on June 16, 2009. Portsmouth confirmed a bid from Chelsea two days later, but it was up to the player as to who he wanted to join. Liverpool was reported to have suspended the £10 million bid on the ground that they owe £7 million by Portsmouth after the purchase of Peter Crouch in the summer of 2008, with Liverpool able to waive the fee on signing Johnson. Liverpool revealed the transfer on June 22, 2009, and Johnson signed a four-year deal on June 26, 2009. Johnson made his Premier League debut on August 16, 2009, losing by Tottenham Hotspur 2–1.

Johnson played in a man-of-the-match match against Stoke City on his homecoming in 2009, scoring his first goal for the club and also providing an assist in a match where he caused countless problems for the opposition defense. In a 3–2 victory over Bolton Wanderers on August 29, Johnson scored his second goal for Liverpool. During a league match against Aston Villa that put Johnson's medial collateral ligament tear in his right knee, which then-Liverpool boss Rafael Bentez said would keep him out of action for at least a month. Johnson returned from injury in March, scoring his third goal for the club against Sunderland at Anfield. Johnson went on to make eight more appearances for the remainder of the season, including assisting Liverpool in the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League where they were disqualified by Atlético Madrid. In his debut season with the Reds, Johnson played 35 times and scored three goals.

Johnson got off to a slow start in 2010-11, but boss Roy Hodgson dismissed him in November 2010 because his results during this time had not been up to international standards. Johnson held on-the-air conversations with Hodgson, and the two played down their differences. After recovering from being out of the game due to a groin strain, Johnson scored his first goal of the 2010-11 Premier League against West Ham United at Anfield on November 20, 2010. In a humiliating 3–1 loss, Johnson got up and played the full 90 minutes against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on January 5th. Johnson suffered an injury against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns earlier this season, but he recovered later in the season's final four matches, including a 52-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage. In 2010–11, Johnson played for Liverpool, netting in sixth place.

Johnson signed a contract extension at Liverpool on July 6, 2011, the length of which was not revealed by the club. After being set up by Charlie Adam, Johnson scored a solo goal against his former club, Chelsea, at Stamford Bridge on November 20th. Liverpool defeated 2–1. This was the deciding goal, with Liverpool winning 21-0. Liverpool won the 2012 League Cup Final against Cardiff City, beating the crossbar in the first minute and scoring his penalty in the penalty shoot-out on February 26, 2012, winning his first trophy for Liverpool since 2006. Liverpool finished in 8th position under Kenny Dalglish's leadership, although Liverpool advanced to Europe thanks to their League Cup victory.

Johnson scored Liverpool's first goal in a 3–2 victory over his old club West Ham on December 9, 2012. In 2012–13, he played 43 games as Liverpool finished seventh and advanced to the round of 32 in the UEFA Europa League, losing out to Zenit Saint Petersburg. In 2013–14, Johnson appeared 30 times for Liverpool, when the team barely lost out on the Premier League championship. In a 1–0 victory over Stoke City on Friday, Johnson was the only goal for Liverpool. Johnson revealed on May 24th that he would leave Liverpool at the end of the season. Johnson was fired by the club on June ten.

Johnson signed a two-year deal with Stoke City on July 12, 2015. Stoke defeated Liverpool 1–0 on August 9, his first match for the club. In 2015–16, Johnson was Mark Hughes' first-choice right back before suffering a season-ending knee injury against AFC Bournemouth on February 13. Before suffering his injury, Johnson played 29 times for Stoke, and the team went on to finish ninth place in ninth position. Stoke suffered from a lack of form early in the campaign, and Hughes cited Johnson's absence as one of the principal reasons. In April 2017, Johnson signed a one-year contract extension with Stoke. In 2016–17, Johnson made 25 appearances in 2016–17, while Stoke finished in 13th place.

Stoke suffered with playing time in 2017–18, making only ten appearances in the EFL Championship, although Stoke suffered with relegation. At the end of the season, Stoke released him.

Johnson announced his resignation on January 21, 2019.

International career

Johnson made his full England debut against Denmark on November 18, 2003, against Denmark, coming on as a replacement for the injured Gary Neville after 16 minutes.

Following a poor showing in England's friendly in Denmark in August 2005, Luke Young, Neville's understudy, was forced to leave his role as Neville's understudy in the squad. Johnson did not make any further England appearances under Sven-Göran Eriksson or his replacement Steve McClaren, but he was not named in Fabio Capello's first squad in January 2008.

Johnson was instrumental in the 6-2 win over Andorra in 2010 and he had four assists in the ensuing 6–0 victory over the same team for whom he was named man of the match. On Saturday, Johnson scored his first goal for England in a friendly match against Mexico, which ended 3–1 to England.

In February 2011, Johnson kicked off England's new calendar year by assisting Ashley Young's winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Denmark in Copenhagen.

Johnson was named in new England boss Roy Hodgson's UEFA Euro 2012 squad on May 16th. He appeared in England's second warm-up match, a 1–0 victory over Belgium at Wembley Stadium after missing England's 1–0 friendly victory over Norway due to injury. He appeared in all three of England's group matches, helping England to win their group with a draw against France and victories over Sweden and Ukraine. He started for England in their quarter-final match against Italy, in which they were disqualified on penalties.

Johnson was selected in the 23-man England squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup on May 12th. During England's group stage match against Uruguay, Johnson made a run down the right wing and speared a cross across the penalty area to Wayne Rooney, who scored, but Uruguay went on to win 2–1.

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