Lee David Johnson (born 7 June 1981) is an English professional football manager and former player, who is the manager of Hibernian. Prior to becoming a manager, he played for Brighton & Hove Albion, Yeovil Town, Heart of Midlothian, Bristol City, Derby County, Chesterfield and Kilmarnock. Johnson made his managerial debut with Oldham Athletic in 2013 with a 3–0 victory over Hartlepool United. He went on to lead Oldham to safety soon afterwards. On 25 February 2015 it was announced that Johnson would take over as head coach of Barnsley. He guided the club to an eleventh-placed finish, after five victories, six draws and only three defeats. On 6 February 2016, Johnson was appointed as the new manager of relegation-threatened Bristol City after an undisclosed compensation fee was agreed between the Robins and Barnsley. Under Johnson's management, City eventually finished a comfortable twelve points above the relegation zone in eighteenth place, Johnson went on to manage Bristol City for over 200 games. Following a run of four consecutive defeats, on 4 July 2020, Johnson was dismissed as head coach of Bristol City; he was the longest-serving manager in the Championship prior to his departure. On 5 December 2020 Johnson became head coach of Sunderland. He won the EFL Trophy in Sunderland's first Wembley triumph since Bob Stokoe guided the club to win the 1973 FA Cup Final. A short run of poor results and a heavy defeat away to Bolton Wanderers led to Johnson's time at the Stadium of Light coming to an abrupt end and he was replaced by Alex Neil. Johnson was appointed Hibernian manager on 19 May 2022 Early life Born in Newmarket, Suffolk, Johnson is the only child of Caron and football coach Gary Johnson. He began his career as a youth player with Arsenal, but left the club aged 17 after a feud with a coach. He then went on to join Watford, whose youth system was run by his father; he did not make a senior appearance for the club prior to his departure in 2000. Playing career In 2000, Johnson signed for Brighton & Hove Albion, scoring in his only appearance for the club against Cardiff City in the Football League Trophy, before having a non-contract spell with Brentford during the final months of the 2000–01 season, in which he failed to receive a call into the squad. He then went on to