Michael Johansen Explained

Michael Johansen
Fullname:Michael Bro Johansen
Birth Date:22 July 1972
Birth Place:Glostrup, Denmark
Height:1.68 m
Position:Attacking midfielder
Youthyears1:1976–19??
Youthclubs1:Rosenhøj BK
Youthyears2:19??–1990
Youthclubs2:Kjøbenhavns Boldklub
Years1:1990–1991
Clubs1:Kjøbenhavns Boldklub
Caps1:15
Goals1:1
Years2:1991–1992
Clubs2:B 1903
Caps2:26
Goals2:1
Years3:1992–1996
Clubs3:FC Copenhagen
Caps3:114
Goals3:17
Years4:1996–2000
Clubs4:Bolton Wanderers
Caps4:137
Goals4:16
Years5:2000–2004
Clubs5:AB Copenhagen
Caps5:96
Goals5:13
Years6:2004–2007
Clubs6:Greve IF
Totalcaps:388+
Totalgoals:48+
Nationalyears1:2000–2002
Nationalteam1:Denmark
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0

Michael Bro Johansen (born 22 July 1972) is a Danish former professional football player who played as a midfielder in the Danish Superliga for FC Copenhagen and for English club Bolton Wanderers. He played two games for the Danish national team in 2000 and 2002, and was an unused substitute at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He is the older twin brother of former footballer Martin Johansen, and played alongside him in several clubs.

Biography

Born in Glostrup, both Michael and Martin Johansen started playing for local Copenhagen club Rosenhøj IF at the age of four.[1] They both went on to play for Kjøbenhavns Boldklub where they made their senior debut in the second-best Danish division in 1990. They moved to Danish Superliga club B 1903 in 1991 before they signed for FC Copenhagen upon the founding of that club in 1992. They helped the club win the Danish Superliga title in its first year of existence, and in 1996 the twins parted ways as Michael Johansen moved to the English First Division to join Bolton Wanderers. Signed for £1.250.000, he became a star at Bolton, earning the nickname "Smurf", and helped the club earn promotion to the Premier League for the 1997–98 season. Bolton's stint in the Premiership only lasted a year, before the club was once again relegated to the First Division. He also helped Bolton to the FA Cup semi final in 2000, but he was one of two Bolton players to have their penalty saved by Aston Villa goalkeeper David James as they crashed out in a penalty shootout.[2] In all, Johansen played 137 matches and scored 16 goals for Bolton.[3]

In June 2000, he returned to Denmark to play for Superliga bronze winners AB Copenhagen. As Morten Olsen became Danish national team coach in 2000, he called Johansen up for his national team debut in August 2000, in a 2–0 win against the Faroe Islands. In November 2002, Johansen won his second and last cap for Denmark, in a 2–0 win against Poland. As AB was relegated following the Danish Superliga 2003-04 season, Michael moved to amateur club Greve IF where he was reunited with Martin Johansen.[4] Michael Johansen is now a FIFA-licensed player agent.[5]

Honours

Copenhagen

1994–95[6]

1995[7]

Bolton Wanderers

Notes and References

  1. Steen Uno, "Lille forskel — stor virkning", B.T. article, 18 August 1991
  2. News: Bolton miss out as Dublin delivers . . 2 April 2000 . 17 February 2010 . London . David . Lacey.
  3. http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=3641 Michael Johansen
  4. "Johansen-brødrene samlet", Politiken article, 28 July 2004
  5. Martin Kloster, "Agenter kender spillet indefra", Fyens Stiftstidende article, 3 April 2006
  6. News: Thursday 25/05 1995 at 15:00 . fck.dk. 5 January 2024.
  7. News: Wednesday 21/06 1995 at 20:00 . fck.dk. 4 January 2024.