MICHAEL Johnson was considered one of England’s brightest young talents when he made his first team debut for Manchester City in 2006.
However, injuries and mental health issues led to him retiring aged only 24. Here’s what we know.
Johnson made his Premier League debut in October 2006
Who is Michael Johnson and what clubs did he play for?
Michael Johnson is an English former midfielder.
After playing in the youth academies of Leeds, Feyenoord, Crewe Alexandra, Liverpool and Everton, Johnson joined the Manchester City youth team in 2004.
In 2006, he helped Manchester city reach the FA Youth Cup final, where they faced Liverpool.
He captained the team for most of that season, due to previous skipper Micah Richards graduating to the first team that season.
Johnson was given his chance in 2006 by then-manager Stuart Pearce, making his Premier League debut in October of that year, a 4-0 defeat away to Wigan Athletic.
He scored his first goal for the club against Derby in August 2007, finishing into the top corner after exchanging passes with Brazilian midfielder Elano.
He scored his second Premier League goal in the next month against Aston Villa, a solo effort capped off with a low finish past Then-Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson.
His new manager Sven Goran Eriksson was giving him regular football, and rejected a £12million bid form Liverpool for the midfielder in 2008.
He also appeared on two occasions for the England under-21 team between 2007 and 2008.
What happened to Michael Johnson?
He started the 2008/09 season in good form, but a succession of injuries to his hamstring, knee and a double hernia brought a halt to his progress.
His last appearance of that season was against Brighton and Hove Albion in the League Cup, where he suffered an abdominal injury and didn’t return until the 2009/10 ore-season.
After making two appearances in the 2009/10 season, scoring once in a League Cup game against Scunthorpe, Johnson suffered a knee injury in training which ruled him out for the season.
After a year out through injury, he was given a chance on loan at Leicester City under former boss Eriksson in the 2011/12 season.
However, after only nine appearances for the Foxes, he suffered another knee injury, ending his time with the club.
He was arrested on two different instances of drink-driving in 2012, eventually being banned for three years.
He was released by City in December 2012.
Johnson retired soon after at the age of 24, having only made 54 club career appearances.
His mental health also suffered from around this time, entering The Priory twice due to his struggles.
Where is Michael Johnson now?
Johnson has become an active businessman in the years since his retirement from football.
He opened a restaurant in Didbury in 2014, and started an estate agents in 2015.
You’re Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
Movember, www.uk.movember.com
Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm