Réda Johnson (born 21 March 1988) is a former professional footballer who played as a defender. He is currently first team coach at Cardiff City.

He most notably played for Sheffield Wednesday, Gueugnon, Amiens, Plymouth Argyle and Coventry City. Born in France, he played for the Benin national team.

Club career Born in Marseille, Johnson began his career as a professional footballer in 2005 with Gueugnon."Argyle sign Johnson" . Plymouth Argyle. Retrieved 14 September 2010. He spent two years with the club but didn't make an appearance in Ligue 2 before joining Amiens. He made his debut on 24 August 2007 and went on to make a further eleven appearances in all competitions during the 2007–08 season. He was restricted to eight league appearances the following season as Amiens were relegated to Championnat National. New manager Serge Romano identified Johnson as one of the club's more saleable assets and agreed that he could leave if a suitable offer materialised. He joined Scottish club Aberdeen on trial in July 2009,"Dons run rule over Johnson" . STV. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2010. and looked set to join them permanently after impressing their manager Mark McGhee."McGhee closes on Johnson signing" . STV. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2010.

He then played in a pre-season game for English club Plymouth Argyle, and joined permanently for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract a few days later."Plymouth snap up defender Johnson". BBC Sport. 29 July 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2010. He made his debut on 22 August 2009,"Derby 2–1 Plymouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 September 2010. and made a further 24 appearances in his first season with the club. He won earned many plaudits for his performances but couldn't prevent Argyle from being relegated."Argyle defiant despite relegation". BBC Sport. 20 April 2010. He scored his first senior goal in September 2010 against Colchester United,"Colchester 1–1 Plymouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 September 2010. while captaining the team in the absence of Carl Fletcher."Happy Réda" . Plymouth Argyle. Retrieved 14 September 2010. Johnson was sold to Sheffield Wednesday in January 2011 for an undisclosed fee."Sheffield Wednesday sign Plymouth Argyle's Reda Johnson". BBC Sport. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011. He scored on his league debut to rescue a point for his new club against Charlton Athletic."Sheff Wed 2–2 Charlton". BBC Sport. 15 January 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.

It was announced on 5 July 2014 that Johnson had signed for Coventry City on a one-year contract, with a negotiation clause for a further year. He scored twice on his debut for Coventry, in a 3–2 defeat to Bradford City.

On 5 February 2020, Eastleigh Football Club released a statement that the contract with Reda had been terminated with immediate effect.

On 24 June 2021, Johnson was announced to have joined Dover Athletic in the role of player-coach. Johnson was released by the club after one season following relegation.

International career On 11 February 2009, Johnson made his debut for Benin in a friendly against Algeria."Algeria 2, Benin 1" DZ Foot. Retrieved 1 November 2009.

Coaching career In late-2023, Johnson joined Cardiff City as a coach on placement, taking the club's under-15 side to victory in the regional floodlit cup final.

Personal life On 5 January 2011, Johnson appeared in court charged with false imprisonment of a woman whilst at the house of an unnamed Blackburn Rovers player. Both Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle, his club at the time of the incident, claimed to have no knowledge of the incident until the court appearance."Former Plymouth Argyle defender is accused of false imprisonment". The Herald. Retrieved 6 January 2011.

The case was dropped due to lack of evidence at his return to court on 7 April 2011, with Johnson later talking of his innocence and relief that his name had been cleared."‘My relief’, says Sheffield Wednesday’s Reda Johnson after name is cleared". The Star. Retrieved 11 April 2011.

He went on to win the PFA Player in the Community award in 2014."Championship: Sheffield Wednesday's Reda Johnson crowned PFA Player in the Community ". Sky Sports. Retrieved 28 March 2014.

Career statistics

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAmiens2008–09Ligue 2701000—80Plymouth Argyle2009–10Championship2500000—2502010–11League One172001010192Total422001010442Sheffield Wednesday2010–11League One16330——1932011–12League One2474020003072012–13Championship1660010—1762013–14Championship1922100—213Total75189130008719Coventry City2014–15League One2051100102262015–16League One122000000122Total327110010348Eastleigh2016–17National League21350—002632017–18National League13100—001312018–19National League33200—203522019–20National League10221—10133Total77871—30879Dover Athletic2021–22National League4010—0050Career total23635193405026538

Honours Sheffield Wednesday Football League One runner-up: 2011–12

References

External links