For years, Portland’s Will Johnson has been an MLS mainstay. But in 2013, the Timbers captain is taking full advantage of his new role.
By all accounts, Will Johnson is in the midst of the best season of his nine-year pro career. On paper, it’s not hard to see why. After registering 10 goals in 120 MLS games heading into the 2013 campaign, the midfielder has notched a team-high five goals in just 12 games for the Timbers. Just don’t tell Johnson it’s a banner year. “People have been saying this is my best season, based on the numbers,” he acknowledges. “That just tells me they haven’t watched closely enough.”
And he might be right. Before this season began, Johnson had already made a name for himself as a cornerstone of the Canadian national team and one of Major League Soccer’s most dependable central midfielders during his five seasons with Real Salt Lake. But after being traded to the Timbers this off-season as one of a core of new starters on an overhauled roster, Johnson says the bump in goals is simply the result of a new box-to-box midfield job that allows him more freedom to attack. “Everything’s different here. We have a different formation and my role is different,” he says. “It’s a team where everybody’s contributing.”
Regardless, the Toronto-born and Liverpool-raised 26-year-old stands out—he’s the one wearing the captain’s armband. “It’s a lot of responsibility, but it felt like the next step in my career,” he says of his first captaincy. The early returns are impressive. Johnson says he’s more vocal on and off the field, and has the added responsibility of taking penalties and free kicks (he’s scored from both).
There’s early buzz he’ll crack the MLS All-Star Game roster—the last time he earned that honour was in 2009. What’s more, he’s led Portland from third-worst in the league last season to battling for top seed in the West, making him a favourite of the Timbers Army, one of the most raucous crowds in MLS. But, he admits, there’s still work to do if the playoffs—and maybe even the Supporters’ Shield—are to come to Portland. “We’re a work in progress on the field. We have an identity, but there’s still a lot of soccer left to be played.” All the more reason for fans to keep a very close eye.
This story originally appeared in Sportsnet magazine. Subscribe here.