Edward William Johnson (born 20 September 1984) is an English former footballer, who ended his career with Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer. He was a midfielder but also played as a striker and represented his country at the under-16, under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels. He is now employed as under-20s manager for Dundee. Born in Chester, Johnson began his career with Crewe Alexandra and Manchester United's academies. He had loan spells with Royal Antwerp, Coventry City and Crewe Alexandra, before he was released by Manchester United in 2006 and joined Bradford City, where he played 64 league games in two seasons. He was released from Bradford in 2008, and after initially turning down a move to Chester City, he was given a trial at Crewe, which was unsuccessful, and instead he joined Chester where he spent six months before his contract was terminated to allow him to move to Austin Aztex. His form during two seasons in the United Soccer Leagues First Division won him a transfer to Portland Timbers at the end of the 2010 season. Early life Johnson was born in Chester, England, on 20 September 1984. He attended Boughton Heath Primary School, Christleton High School and The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School in the city. Despite growing up as an Everton supporter, Johnson started his football career at Crewe Alexandra's academy at the age of 10. In 1999, he signed for Premier League side Manchester United as a junior player. Club career Manchester United Johnson signed as a trainee at Manchester United in 2001. Two years later, he was part of their FA Youth Cup-winning team, scoring in the final against Middlesbrough, and had his first involvement with the first team. He made his debut for United on 28 October 2003 against Leeds United when he came on as a 112th-minute substitute in a 3–2 League Cup victory at Elland Road. Johnson was loaned out to the Belgian club Royal Antwerp in January 2004 where he made 11 appearances, scoring five goals, including a 20-yard strike on his debut against Heusden-Zolder. In July 2004, he was sent on loan to Championship-side Coventry City for the 2004–05 season in order to gain first-team experience. He scored on his Coventry debut in a 2–0 victory against Sunderland on 7 August 2004, before he scored a second later that month in a 4–1 defeat of Nottingham