Egon Johnsson

Egon Johnsson (6 December 1926 – 20 July 1985) was a Swedish footballer who played as a forward. Nicknamed "Atom-Egon," he started off his career with GAIS in Sweden before signing with Stade Français in 1950. He then went on to represent RC Lens, FC Nancy, Lausanne Sports, and SC Toulon before finishing up his career with Yverdon Sport in Switzerland in 1962. Johnsson was the Ligue 2 top scorer in 1951–52 and 1957–58. He won two caps for the Sweden national team in 1949, and scored one goal. His last name is sometimes incorrectly listed as "Jönsson," "Jonsson," or "Johansson."

Not to be confused with Egon Jönsson.
Egon Johnsson
Personal information
Full name Egon Johnsson
Date of birth (1926-12-06)6 December 1926
Place of birth Höganäs, Sweden
Date of death 20 July 1985(1985-07-20) (aged 58)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Öresunds BK
Utbynäs SK
Vårgårda IK
Höganäs BK
Redbergslids IK
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1948–1950 GAIS 43 (23)
1950–1954 Stade Français 130 (74)
1955–1957 Lens 66 (52)
1957–1958 FC Nancy 41 (29)
1958–1959 Lausanne Sports 34 (18)
1959–1960 Toulon 17 (9)
1960–1962 Yverdon Sport 39 (25)
Total 370 (230)
National team
1949 Sweden 2 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Early career (–1948)

Born in Höganäs, Johnsson began his footballing career with Öresunds BK before moving on to represent Utbynäs SK, Vårgårda IK, Höganäs BK, and Redbergslids IK until signing for the Allsvenskan club GAIS in 1948.[1]

GAIS (1948–1950)

While at GAIS, Johnsson helped the team finished third in the 1948–49 Allsvenskan by scoring 14 goals in 21 games.[2][1] The following season, Johnsson scored 9 goals in 22 games as GAIS finished 5th.[2][1] It was at GAIS that Johnsson earned the nickname "Atom-Egon," referring to his strong physique and powerful shooting skills.[3]

Stade Français (1950–1954)

Johnsson signed for Stade Français in France ahead of the 1950–51 season of the French Division 1.[1] Despite Johnsson's 12 goals in 33 games in his debut season, Stade Français was relegated after finishing last in the division.[4] The following season Johnsson was the top scorer with 34 goals in 34 games as Stade Français won the 1951–52 French Division 2.[1][4] Stade Français was once again relegated from the French Division 1 after the 1953–54 season.[1] After half a season in the French Division 2, Johnsson left the club to sign for French Division 1 club RC Lens.[1]

Lens (1955–1957)

Johnsson finished second with RC Lens in league play in both the 1955–56 and 1956–57 seasons, scoring the third most goals in the league in 1956–57 with 29 goals in 32 games.[4] He was a part of the RC Lens team that finished second in the 1957 Coupe Charles Drago.[1]

FC Nancy (1957–1958)

Johnsson signed for the French Division 2 club FC Nancy in 1957.[1] Just like six years prior, Johnsson managed to become the French Division 2 top scorer, scoring 29 goals in 41 games during the 1957–58 season.[1][4] Johnsson's goals helped FC Nancy finish at the top of the French Division 2 table, winning Johnsson his second division title and securing the club a spot in the next season's top flight.[1] Johnsson left the club at the end of the season after only one year.[5]

Lausanne Sports (1958–1959)

In 1958, Johnsson moved to Switzerland to play for Lausanne Sports in the Nationalliga A.[1] He scored 18 goals in 34 goals for the Swiss club before returning to France again halfway into the 1959–60 season.[1][5]

Return to France (1960)

Upon returning to France again, Johnsson signed a contract with the French Division 1 team SC Toulon.[1] Once again he experienced relegation, as Toulon finished the season in the relegation zone of the 1959–60 French Division 1.[4] However, Johnsson still had a prolific time at the club, scoring 9 goals in 17 games during the spring season.[4]

Return to Switzerland and retirement (1960–1962)

After only half a year in France, Johnsson returned to Switzerland to sign for the Nationalliga B club Yverdon-Sport FC.[1] He spent two seasons with the club as a player-coach and scored 25 goals in 39 games before wrapping up his professional career to join the coaching staff at the Swiss third-tier club FC Martigny-Sports.[1][4]

International career

Johnson made his debut for the Sweden national team on 13 May 1949, scoring a goal on volley on a pass from Gunnar Gren in a 3–1 friendly win against England at Råsunda Stadium.[6][1][7] This was Sweden's first ever victory against England.[8]

He won his second and final cap on 2 June 1949 in a 1950 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ireland, which Sweden won 3–1.[9]

Personal life

Johnsson worked as a chiropractor after his footballing career, specializing in sports injuries.[1] He died on 20 July 1985 at 58 years of age, after having battled an incurable disease.[1]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[2][5]
Club Season Division League
AppsGoals
GAIS 1948–49 Allsvenskan 2114
1949–50 Allsvenskan 229
Total 4323
Stade Français 1950–51 French Division 1 3312
1951–52 French Division 2 3434
1952–53 French Division 1 2414
1953–54 French Division 1 239
1954–55 French Division 2 165
Total 13074
Lens 1954–55 French Division 1 127
1955–56 French Division 1 2216
1956–57 French Division 1 3229
Total 6652
FC Nancy 1957–58 French Division 2 4129
Lausanne Sports 1958–59 Nationalliga A 2312
1959–60 Nationalliga A 116
Total 3418
Toulon 1959–60 French Division 1 179
Yverdon Sport 1960–61 Nationalliga B 2316
1961–62 Nationalliga B 169
Total 3925
Career total 370230

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[10]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Sweden 194921
Total21

International goals
Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Johnsson goal.
International goals scored by Egon Johnsson[10]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1. 13 May 1949 Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden  England 3–0 3–1 Friendly [6]

Honours

Club

Stade Français

Nancy

Individual

References
  1. "Egon "Atom-Egon" Johnsson 1926-1985". Wårgårda Idrottshistoriska Sällskap (in Swedish). Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  2. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Egon Johnsson". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  3. Jakobsson, Szofia. "Alla tiders GAIS – nu kan du köpa din plansch och rösta | GAIS" (in Swedish). Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  4. "Svenska Proffs 9) Egon Johnsson".
  5. "Johnsson, Egon".
  6. "Herrar A Träningslandskamp, Sverige-England".
  7. "Historik 1949/50". gais.nu. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  8. ""Atom-Egon" från Höganäs sänkte engelsmännen". HD (in Swedish). Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  9. "Herrar A VM-kval, Sverige - Irland".
  10. "Egon Johnsson - Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll". www.svenskfotboll.se. (in Swedish). Retrieved 2020-09-14.
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