Bjørn Johnsen

Bjørn Johnsen

Johnsen with Litex Lovech in 2015
Personal information
Full name Bjørn Maars Johnsen
Date of birth (1991-11-06) November 6, 1991
Place of birth New York City, New York, United States
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Heart of Midlothian
Number 20
Youth career
2010 Vålerenga
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011 Tønsberg 10 (3)
2012 Antequera 13 (3)
2012–2013 Atlético Baleares 10 (0)
2013–2014 Louletano 28 (10)
2014–2015 Atlético CP 27 (14)
2015–2016 Litex Lovech 33 (12)
2016 Litex Lovech II 6 (5)
2016– Heart of Midlothian 14 (5)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 24, 2016.


Bjørn Maars Johnsen (born November 6, 1991) is a Norwegian-American professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Heart of Midlothian.

Early life

Born in New York City to a Norwegian father and an American mother,[1] Johnsen grew up in North Carolina and attended Broughton High School in Raleigh, where he played on the school's soccer team.[2]

Club career

Early career

Johnsen started his football career in Vålerenga and Tønsberg, staying there for two seasons, until he signed with fourth tier Spanish team CD Úbeda Viva, in Antequera in January 2012.[3] Eight months later, on August 5, 2012, Johnsen joined Segunda División B side Atlético Baleares,[3] where he played alongside Walter Pandiani.[4]

Atlético CP

On July 17, 2014, Johnsen signed with Portuguese club Atlético CP on a 2-year deal.[5] In August he won the award for Player of the Month in the Segunda Liga, after scoring 9 goals in five games.[6] His strong performances saw him being scouted by such teams as Benfica, Sporting CP and Belenenses, but the transfer never arrived.[7][8] According to the Portuguese press Benfica offered €300,000 plus two of their players, but Atletico wanted €500,000 and thus rejected the offer.[9]

Litex Lovech

After half a season, 31 matches and 16 goals with Atletico, Johnsen joined the Bulgarian team Litex Lovech for two and a half years.[10] He made his debut on February 28, 2015 in a home win against Ludogorets Razgrad.[11] On 23 May he scored a hat trick in a match against Ludogorets for a 4–2 win.[12] On December 12, 2015, he was sent off after an altercation with Miguel Bedoya in an ill-tempered A PFG match against Levski Sofia that was eventually abandoned after the Litex players were ordered off the pitch.[13]

Heart of Midlothian

On July 22, 2016, Johnsen completed a move to Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian, on a 3 year deal. He made his debut on August 20, 2016, appearing as a substitute in a 5–1 victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle played at Tynecastle, where he assisted a Sam Nicholson goal with one of his first touches.[14]

Statistics

Club

As of May 16, 2016[15]
Club performanceLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalTotal
ClubLeagueSeasonAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tønsberg 2011 2. Divisjon 10300––103
Antequera 2011–12 Tercera División 13300––133
Atlético Baleares 2012–13 Segunda División B 10010––110
Louletano 2013–14 Campeonato Nacional 28100000–2810
Atlético CP 2014–15 Segunda Liga 27140042–3116
Litex Lovech 2014–15 A Group 13620–00156
2015–16 19641–22259
Litex Lovech II 2015–16 B Group 65–––65
Heart of Midlothian 2016–17 Scottish Premiership 145000000145
Career Total 1405271422215357

    International career

    Due to his dual citizenship, he is able to play for both Norway and the United States.[16]

    Honors

    References

    1. ↑ Brian Sciaretta (June 3, 2015). "Bjorn Marrs Johnsen Seeks Breakthrough in Bulgaria". American Soccer Now. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
    2. ↑ Tommy Kopetskie (September 24, 2009). "Wolverines fall short at Broughton". NorthRaleighSports.com. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
    3. 1 2 "Bjorn Maars Johnsen formará parte de la primera plantilla del Atco Baleares" [Bjorn Maars Johnsen will make part of the first team of Atco Baleares]. Mallorca Esporte (in Spanish). August 5, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
    4. ↑ "Nordmenn i spansk fotball" [Norwegians in Spanish football]. Fotballsonen (in Norwegian). April 5, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
    5. ↑ "Bjorn Maars para reforçar o ataque" [Bjorn Maars joins to bolster offense]. Sou Atlético (in Portuguese). July 17, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
    6. 1 2 "Bjorn recebeu o prémio de melhor jogador da 2ª Liga" [Bjorn receives award for Best Player of the Segunda Liga]. Liga Portugal (in Portuguese). November 2, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
    7. ↑ "Benfica assegura Bjorn Johnsen" [Benfica secures Bjorn Johnsen]. Correio da Manhã. November 21, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
    8. ↑ "Leões também estão atentos a Bjorn Maars" [Lions also track Bjorn Maars]. Record (in Portuguese). November 5, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
    9. ↑ "Norsk spisstalent kan bli lagkamerat med Nani" [Norwegian striker could partner with Nani]. Dagbladet (in Norwegian). November 5, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
    10. ↑ "Bjorn Johnsen troca o Atlético pelo Litex Lovech" [Bjorn Johnsen changes Atlético for Litex Lovech]. Sapo Desporto (in Portuguese). February 24, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
    11. ↑ "Lovech vs. Ludogorets 1 – 0". Soccerway. February 28, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
    12. ↑ "Рядко срещана комична дузпа и Чворович помогнаха за впечатляващ обрат на Литекс срещу Лудогорец" [Rare comic penalty and Chvorovich helped Litex beat Ludogorets]. Sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). May 23, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
    13. ↑ "Levski Sofia vs. Litex Lovech Matchcast". topsport.bg. December 12, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
    14. ↑ "Dire Caley Thistle thrashed 5–1 by ruthless Hearts". www.inverness-courier.co.uk.
    15. ↑ "Johnsen Statistic". soccerway.com.
    16. ↑ "Who will be the next dual-national to join U.S. Soccer?". American Soccer Now. February 19, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2015.

    External links

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