Réda Johnson (born 21 March 1988) is a former professional footballer who played as a defender. He is currently under-15s manager at Cardiff City.

Réda Johnson
Johnson playing for Eastleigh in 2017
Personal information
Full name Réda Johnson[1]
Date of birth (1988-03-21) 21 March 1988 (age 36)[2]
Place of birth Marseille, France
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Cardiff City (under-15 manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Gueugnon 0 (0)
2007–2009 Amiens 7 (0)
2009–2011 Plymouth Argyle 42 (2)
2011–2014 Sheffield Wednesday 75 (18)
2014–2016 Coventry City 32 (7)
2016–2020 Eastleigh 77 (8)
2021–2022 Dover Athletic 4 (0)
Total 237 (35)
International career
2009–2014 Benin 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:17, 25 May 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 March 2017

He most notably played for Sheffield Wednesday, Gueugnon, Amiens, Plymouth Argyle and Coventry City. Born in France, he played for the Benin national team.

Club career

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Born in Marseille, Johnson began his career as a professional footballer in 2005 with Gueugnon.[3] He spent two years with the club but didn't make an appearance in Ligue 2 before joining Amiens. He made his debut on 24 August 2007 and went on to make a further eleven appearances in all competitions during the 2007–08 season.[3] He was restricted to eight league appearances the following season as Amiens were relegated to Championnat National.[3] New manager Serge Romano identified Johnson as one of the club's more saleable assets and agreed that he could leave if a suitable offer materialised.[3] He joined Scottish club Aberdeen on trial in July 2009,[4] and looked set to join them permanently after impressing their manager Mark McGhee.[5]

He then played in a pre-season game for English club Plymouth Argyle,[3] and joined permanently for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract a few days later.[6] He made his debut on 22 August 2009,[7] and made a further 24 appearances in his first season with the club.[2] He won earned many plaudits for his performances but couldn't prevent Argyle from being relegated.[8] He scored his first senior goal in September 2010 against Colchester United,[9] while captaining the team in the absence of Carl Fletcher.[10] Johnson was sold to Sheffield Wednesday in January 2011 for an undisclosed fee.[11] He scored on his league debut to rescue a point for his new club against Charlton Athletic.[12]

It was announced on 5 July 2014 that Johnson had signed for Coventry City on a one-year contract, with a negotiation clause for a further year.[13] He scored twice on his debut for Coventry, in a 3–2 defeat to Bradford City.[citation needed]

On 5 February 2020, Eastleigh Football Club released a statement that the contract with Reda had been terminated with immediate effect.

On 24 June 2021, Johnson was announced to have joined Dover Athletic in the role of player-coach.[14] Johnson was released by the club after one season following relegation.[15]

International career

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On 11 February 2009, Johnson made his debut for Benin in a friendly against Algeria.[16]

Coaching career

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In late-2023, Johnson joined Cardiff City as a coach on placement,[17] taking the club's under-15 side to victory in the regional floodlit cup final.[18]

Personal life

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On 5 January 2011, Johnson appeared in court charged with false imprisonment of a woman whilst at the house of an unnamed Blackburn Rovers player. Both Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle, his club at the time of the incident, claimed to have no knowledge of the incident until the court appearance.[19]

The case was dropped due to lack of evidence at his return to court on 7 April 2011, with Johnson later talking of his innocence and relief that his name had been cleared.[20]

He went on to win the PFA Player in the Community award in 2014.[21]

Career statistics

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Johnson with Coventry City in 2014
As of 13 November 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Amiens 2008–09[22] Ligue 2 7 0 1 0 0 0 8 0
Plymouth Argyle 2009–10[23] Championship 25 0 0 0 0 0 25 0
2010–11[24] League One 17 2 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 19 2
Total 42 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 44 2
Sheffield Wednesday 2010–11[24] League One 16 3 3 0 19 3
2011–12[25] League One 24 7 4 0 2 0 0 0 30 7
2012–13[26] Championship 16 6 0 0 1 0 17 6
2013–14[27] Championship 19 2 2 1 0 0 21 3
Total 75 18 9 1 3 0 0 0 87 19
Coventry City 2014–15[28] League One 20 5 1 1 0 0 1[a] 0 22 6
2015–16[29] League One 12 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 2
Total 32 7 1 1 0 0 1 0 34 8
Eastleigh 2016–17[22] National League 21 3 5 0 0 0 26 3
2017–18[30] National League 13 1 0 0 0 0 13 1
2018–19[31] National League 33 2 0 0 2[b] 0 35 2
2019–20[32] National League 10 2 2 1 1[c] 0 13 3
Total 77 8 7 1 3 0 87 9
Dover Athletic 2021–22[33] National League 4 0 1 0 0 0 5 0
Career total 236 35 19 3 4 0 5 0 265 38
  1. ^ a b Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ 2 appearances in National League play-offs
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

Honours

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Sheffield Wednesday

References

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  1. ^ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "Réda Johnson" Archived 26 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Argyle sign Johnson" Archived 2 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  4. ^ "Dons run rule over Johnson" Archived 13 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. STV. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  5. ^ "McGhee closes on Johnson signing" Archived 13 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. STV. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Plymouth snap up defender Johnson". BBC Sport. 29 July 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  7. ^ "Derby 2–1 Plymouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  8. ^ "Argyle defiant despite relegation". BBC Sport. 20 April 2010.
  9. ^ "Colchester 1–1 Plymouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  10. ^ "Happy Réda" Archived 16 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  11. ^ "Sheffield Wednesday sign Plymouth Argyle's Reda Johnson". BBC Sport. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  12. ^ "Sheff Wed 2–2 Charlton". BBC Sport. 15 January 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  13. ^ "Reda Johnson: Coventry City sign Sheffield Wednesday defender". BBC Sport. 5 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  14. ^ "REDA AGREES TO JOIN". www.doverathletic.com. 24 June 2021.
  15. ^ "RETAINED LIST 2022/23". www.doverathletic.com. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Algeria 2, Benin 1" Archived 18 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine DZ Foot. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  17. ^ "How Premier League offers coaches from all areas paths to the top". www.premierleague.com. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  18. ^ "City's U15s crowned EFL Floodlit Cup winners". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Former Plymouth Argyle defender is accused of false imprisonment"[permanent dead link]. The Herald. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  20. ^ "‘My relief’, says Sheffield Wednesday’s Reda Johnson after name is cleared". The Star. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  21. ^ "Championship: Sheffield Wednesday's Reda Johnson crowned PFA Player in the Community ". Sky Sports. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  22. ^ a b Réda Johnson at Soccerway. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  23. ^ "Games played by Réda Johnson in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  24. ^ a b "Games played by Réda Johnson in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  25. ^ "Games played by Réda Johnson in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  26. ^ "Games played by Réda Johnson in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  27. ^ "Games played by Réda Johnson in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  28. ^ "Games played by Réda Johnson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  29. ^ "Games played by Réda Johnson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  30. ^ "Games played by Réda Johnson in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  31. ^ "Games played by Réda Johnson in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  32. ^ "Games played by Réda Johnson in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  33. ^ "Games played by Réda Johnson in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
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