Ronny Johnsen

Jean Ronny Johnsen (born 10 June 1969) is a Norwegian former footballer who played at both professional and international levels as a centre back or defensive midfielder.

For other people with similar names, see Ronny Johnson.

Ronny Johnsen
Johnsen in 2017
Personal information
Full name Jean Ronny Johnsen[1]
Date of birth (1969-06-10) 10 June 1969[2]
Place of birth Sandefjord, Norway
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Defensive midfielder
Youth career
Sem
Stokke
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1991 Eik-Tønsberg 98 (24)
1992–1993 Lyn 31 (7)
1994–1995 Lillestrøm 23 (4)
1995–1996 Beşiktaş 22 (1)
1996–2002 Manchester United 99 (7)
2002–2004 Aston Villa 49 (1)
2004–2005 Newcastle United 3 (0)
2005–2008 Vålerenga 59 (6)
Total 384 (50)
National team
1991–2007 Norway 62 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Johnsen played club football in Norway, Turkey, and England for Sem, Stokke, Eik-Tønsberg, Lyn, Lillestrøm, Beşiktaş, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Vålerenga.

He was capped 62 times for Norway, and competed at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Born in Sandefjord, Johnsen grew up in Stokke where he played for the local sides Sem IF and Stokke IL during his youth.[3] He started his senior career as a striker in the second tier side Eik-Tønsberg in 1987,[4] but was retrained as a centre back by head coach Nils Johan Semb. Johnsen wanted to play as a striker and after he transferred to Lyn ahead of the 1992 season he played as a striker for the club in Tippeligaen. Half-way through the 1994 season, Johnsen transferred to Lillestrøm, where he was used more as a centre back than a striker,[5] before he moved to Beşiktaş in 1995. After a half season in Turkey, Johnsen was approached by Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson who wanted to sign him. Johnsen turned down the first offer,[6] but transferred to Manchester United during the summer of 1996, and signed a five-year contract with the club. With a fee of £1.2million,[7] Johnsen became the then most expensive Norwegian defender.[8]

While at Manchester United, he won 4 league titles (1997, 1999, 2000, and 2001), and one FA Cup in 1999 with the club. He was also a part of the team that won the UEFA Champions League in 1999. He covered the central midfield position in Manchester United's away win over Juventus in the semi-final. He also played the whole of the final in Barcelona, this time in defence, alongside Jaap Stam. He has the rare distinction of also winning four medals in four consecutive appearances with the club. He was on the pitch for the title clincher, FA Cup final, and Champions League final in 1999, and because of injury, the 2000 league title clincher against Tottenham Hotspur. Although he fell well short of the 10 appearances required for a title winner's medal in 2000, he received a title winner's medal through special dispensation – similar to the one credited to Dion Dublin for the same reason seven years earlier. The following season, he just met the criteria for a title medal.

While at Manchester United, he scored eight goals in all competitions – the first coming against Chelsea in the FA Charity Shield in August 1997. He remained with them until his contract expired at the end of the 2001–02 season, when he was given a free transfer.

In 2002, Johnsen and fellow Norwegian international Øyvind Leonhardsen had a trial at German side Schalke 04. After that move fell through, Johnsen signed with Aston Villa. In two years at Aston Villa, he scored once in the league, against Leeds United in February 2004.[9] After leaving Aston Villa, Johnsen was offered a trial at Southampton and played against Chievo Verona in a friendly, ultimately he could not agree terms with the club.[10] Johnsen then signed for Newcastle United but only played a handful of games before being released with concerns over his fitness levels.

In February 2005, Johnsen announced his retirement from professional football. Shortly afterwards he changed his mind, signing a one-year contract with the Norwegian club Vålerenga. Subsequently, he renewed this contract three times for the following 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Johnsen retired as an active football player on 3 November 2008, with Vålerenga losing their final game of the 2008 season 1–0 to SK Brann.

International career

Johnsen did not represent Norway at youth level; but while Johnsen was playing for Eik at the second tier,[3] national team coach Egil Olsen, because of a recommendation from Nils Johan Semb,[5] included Johnsen in his squad without having seen him play. Johnsen made his debut for the Norwegian national team in a friendly match against Sweden in 1991.[3] He played as wing, striker and midfielder during his early career at the national team, before he was used primarily as a centre back. Johnsen played some of the matches in the qualification for the 1994 FIFA World Cup,[5] and played as a striker when Norway won 3–0 away against Poland in 1993 and qualified for the World Cup,[11][12] but was left out of the squad that travelled to the United States. Four years later, Johnsen was an obvious choice as a centre back, and played all four matches in the 1998 FIFA World Cup.[5] Johnsen played 61 matches for Norway, until May 2004 when he played against Wales.[13] Three years later, he made a comeback for the national team, and played the whole match home against Argentina, which was Johnsen's last match at international level.[5] He was 38 years and 73 days when he was last capped, making him the second-oldest player for the Norwegian national team, only beaten by Gunnar Thoresen.[14]

Career statistics
Club Season League League National Cup1 League Cup Continental2 Other3 Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lyn 1992 Tippeligaen 121————121
1993 196————196
Total 317————317
Lillestrøm 1994 Tippeligaen 103————103
1995 131————131
Total 234————234
Beşiktaş 1995–96 1.Lig 221————221
Manchester United 1996–97 Premier League 31020009000420
1997–98 22231105011324
1998–99 22350108010373
1999–2000 300000000030
2000–01 11100104010171
2001–02 10100009000191
Total 99710130350311509
Aston Villa 2002–03 Premier League 260003000—290
2003–04 2311030——271
Total 491106000—561
Newcastle 2004–05 Premier League 30002000—50
Vålerenga 2005 Tippeligaen 23100—00—231
2006 19300—00—193
2007 17200—00—172
2008 6000———60
Total 65600—00—656
Career totals 292261111103503035228

1 Includes FA Cup, Norwegian Football Cup and Turkish Cup.

2 Includes Champions League and UEFA Cup.

3 Includes FA Community Shield and Turkish Super Cup

Honours

Manchester United

Vålerenga

Individual

References
  1. "Jean Ronny Johnsen" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Football Federation. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  2. "Jean Ronny Johnsen" (in Turkish). Turkish Football Federation. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  3. Sonstad, Trym Oust (14 November 2008). "Her er Ronny Johnsens karrierehøydepunkter" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  4. Sørensen, Alex (14 November 2008). "Ronny Johnsen takket nei til United" (in Norwegian). TV 2. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  5. "Ronny Johnsen – Hall of Fame" (in Norwegian). TV 2. 20 December 2012. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  6. "Ronny Johnsen takket nei til United" (in Norwegian). TV 2. 13 August 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  7. Metcalf, Rupert; Nixon, Alan (6 July 1996). "Di Matteo seals move to Chelsea". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  8. "Ronny Johnsen". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  9. "Aston Villa 2–0 Leeds". BBC. 7 February 2004. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/3542598.stm
  11. Koren, Eirik; Elster, Kristian (1 April 2010). "Ronny Johnsen kan bli spiss" (in Norwegian). NRK. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  12. "Ronny: – Vi slår Polen" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. Norwegian News Agency. 30 August 2001. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  13. "Hareide vil ha Ronny Johnsen" (in Norwegian). Nettavisen. 3 August 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  14. Lyngøy, Roar (7 June 2013). "Kapteinen tror ikke han kopierer eldstemann" (in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  15. "Ronny Johnsen: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  16. "Man Utd 2–0 Newcastle". The Guardian. London. 22 May 1999. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  17. "Manchester United v Newcastle United, 11 August 1996". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  18. "Charity remains at home". The Irish Times. Dublin. 4 August 1997. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  19. "United crowned kings of Europe". BBC News. 26 May 1999. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  20. https://us.soccerway.com/players/jean-ronny-johnsen/7997/
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