Michael Johnson (footballer born 1973)

Michael Owen Johnson (born 4 July 1973) is a former footballer who played as a defender, primarily at centre-half, although he also played left-back when called upon. He made more than 550 appearances in the Football League and Premier League, including more than 250 games for Birmingham City and more than 100 each for Notts County, the club where he began his professional career, and for Derby County. Although born in Nottingham, England, he is a full Jamaican international and played 12 times for the Jamaican national team. He retired as a player at the end of the 2008/09 season, and took up the post of youth team manager with Notts County.

Playing career

Notts County

Johnson began his career at Notts County, making his league début in the 1991/92 season at the age of 18, playing 5 games as County were relegated from the First Division, the season before the Premier League was founded. It would be 10 years before Johnson played in the highest league in England again.

Johnson became a first team regular in the following season, playing 37 league games in the 1992/93 season and helping County avoid a second successive relegation. The 1993/94 season was more successful for County as they finished 7th, missing out on the playoffs by three points. In contrast, the 1994/95 season was disastrous. County finished bottom and were relegated to the Second Division (the third tier of English league football). At the end of the season, Johnson left County, joining Birmingham City,...
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