Jean Ronny Johnsen (born 10 June 1969) is a Norwegian former footballer who played as a centre-back or defensive midfielder. Johnsen played club football in Norway, Turkey, and England for Sem, Stokke, Eik-Tønsberg, Lyn, Lillestrøm, Beşiktaş, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Vålerenga. He was capped 62 times for Norway, and competed at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Club career Born in Sandefjord, Johnsen grew up in Stokke where he played for the local sides Sem IF and Stokke IL during his youth. He started his senior career as a striker in the second tier side Eik-Tønsberg in 1987, but was retrained as a centre-back by head coach Nils Johan Semb. Johnsen wanted to play as a striker and after he transferred to Lyn ahead of the 1992 season he played as a striker for the club in Tippeligaen. Halfway through the 1994 season, Johnsen transferred to Lillestrøm, where he was used more as a centre-back than a striker, before he moved to Beşiktaş in 1995. After a half season in Turkey, Johnsen was approached by Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson who wanted to sign him. Johnsen turned down the first offer, but transferred to Manchester United during the summer of 1996, and signed a five-year contract with the club. With a fee of £1.2million, Johnsen became the then most expensive Norwegian defender. While at Manchester United, he won 4 league titles (1997, 1999, 2000, and 2001), and one FA Cup in 1999 with the club. He was also a part of the team that won the UEFA Champions League in 1999. He covered the central midfield position in Manchester United's away win over Juventus in the semi-final. He also played the whole of the final in Barcelona, this time in defence, alongside Jaap Stam. He has the rare distinction of also winning four medals in four consecutive appearances with the club. He was on the pitch for the title clincher, FA Cup final, and Champions League final in 1999, and because of injury, the 2000 league title clincher against Tottenham Hotspur. Although he fell well short of the 10 appearances required for a title winner's medal in 2000, he received a title winner's medal through special dispensation – similar to the one credited to Dion Dublin for the same reason seven years earlier. The following season, he just met the criteria for a title medal. While at Manchester