What does an 18-year old young man aspiring to play professional soccer in the United States usually do to achieve his goals? Organized club ball versus high school, going pro early versus college; these are the routes many Americans must decide to take. But Chicago Fire forward Will Johnson, born in Canada, yet raised in England and the United States, has something that many young Americans would love to have - the option to go overseas.
Johnson was born in Toronto but spent most of his youth growing up in Liverpool, England, while supporting local side and current European Champions, Liverpool Football Club. He remembers his decade there for hooking him on the "beautiful game", while looking up to various members of the local "Reds".
"I lived in Liverpool for 10 years, so I really liked watching Jamie Redknapp and Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman. Those three were my favorites when I was growing up," said Johnson. "Now it's Steven Gerrard. He's the best player in the world, in my opinion."
Making the shift from a soccer-crazed, blue-collar town in England to suburban Chicago due to a parental work-related move, Johnson said he "for sure" became a fan of yet another team clad in red. He would take in Fire games whenever possible, watching local Chicago heroes and "Ring of Fire" members Peter Nowak, Frank Klopas and Lubos Kubik compete while cementing his passion for the sport.
"When I first found out we got a team I was going nuts," said Johnson. "I said 'One day I want to play for them,' and I'm lucky I have my chance now."
Johnson would start his career by taking the typical suburban American path to professional soccer by joining a well-known club team, in his case the Chicago Magic. He would soon move on to Sockers FC, which made things easier for his family.
"We found out about the Sockers, who were only 20 minutes from my house," said Johnson. "So I went over there for a trial and they greeted me very well. It was a great experience."
It was at that point in Johnson's life that he felt it was time to make the uncertain transitional leap from taking tests and studying nightly to practicing his soccer-related skills daily. He would make sure to finish high school through supplemental home schooling to follow his daily training regimen - quite the decision to make for someone at age 17. Even though it was a risk, Johnson still feels he made the right decision.
"I decided my junior year of high school that, with all the tests and things coming up, I really wasn't interested in that. So I wanted go overseas and be with a professional club," said Johnson. English side Blackburn Rovers would give him his first taste of professional training, inviting him to stints in 2003 and 2004. "My parents are British so I have a British passport, which enables me to go over there whenever I feel like it. I thought I'd go over there and get a year of experience, because I wasn't ready for MLS yet. I played and got some great experience while I was there. I got to do some finishing drills with Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, which was unbelievable. When I came back I talked to the Fire and ended up being able to train here."
It was this international advantage that gained him the experience to join the Fire in training in 2004 and ultimately sign a discovery contract with the Chicago club this past February.
While training with the Fire, Johnson was starting to get national team recognition, both at home and abroad. The U.S. youth national team ranks came calling first, with the Canadian national team eventually landing the up-and-coming striker. He would get his first taste of national team action with the "Maple Leafs," ironically, in two international friendlies against his adopted country.
"The first time I played for Canada was actually December 2004, right before [U-20 Championships] qualifying. I had been to a few U.S. national team camps, but I don't have U.S. citizenship so I eventually went to Canada for the U-20 Championships."
It was during his time with the Canadian U-20 national team, both in qualifying for the U-20 Championships and the tournament itself in Holland, that Fire head coach Dave Sarachan felt the Ontario native began to step up his game.
"When he came back from the U-20 World Championship, he came back with better fitness and more confidence, raising his level of play considerably," said Sarachan. "He's getting minutes now which is always a boost for a player's confidence, and he got his first [MLS] goal in Colorado. He's now moved himself up the depth chart where we feel comfortable playing him."
That goal in Colorado, which was nominated for the Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Week award, should be a sign of things to come for the young striker, who at the age of 18 becomes the third youngest player to play for the "Men in Red" behind midfielders Craig Capano (16) and DaMarcus Beasley (17), respectively.
Johnson recalls his strike at INVESCO Field at Mile High: "The field was unbelievable, and just incredibly flat. A ball came across and I thought, 'Why not?' and I just hit it and it ended up going in. It's always good to get the first one out of the way."
Part of that advanced maturity and professional attitude can be attributed to Fire defender C.J. Brown, whom Johnson has become closer with since the two began car-pooling from their nearby suburban homes to the Fire's practice facility in Lake Forest. He feels that by watching how Brown conducts himself as a pro, he can learn much.
"The first couple times I was sort of nervous driving with him. I mean, I was once paying to watch him play and now I see everyday how he handles himself. He's here [at practice] early, he's professional, and if he gets an injury he takes care of it. Even hearing the stories he tells, especially with the '98 team and the past, I've learned so much. C.J.'s really been the main one to help me out."
In regards to Johnson's development, Sarachan still feels that, although he shows maturity beyond his years, he still has much to learn. "Yeah he's young. When I was 18 I think I was still driving with my permit, so he's more advanced for his age in regards to his professionalism, his desire and his commitment to be a good pro," explained Sarachan. "He's still learning the ropes, such as the physical nature of our league, but he's got a great future."
While Johnson has called the United States and the Chicagoland area his home for the last eight years and is settling in quite nicely with the Fire, he feels that if he can make his mark in his adopted hometown, Europe will be his next destination. Catching the European soccer bug is nothing new to American fans of the game, but for Johnson it is a matter of returning to his roots.
"For the future I definitely want to head back to Europe, because it's almost a different game there. I've been a Liverpool fan my whole life so I'd love to have a chance to play for them," Johnson said.
Such aspirations seem so far away at this point, but Johnson's future is in his own hands. If he begins to step up his play consistently as other ex-MLS forwards such as Brian McBride, Shaun Bartlett and Joe-Max Moore have done in the past, his chance to live a life-long dream of playing overseas could finally come true.
