Mitchell Johnson (soccer)

Mitchell Johnson (born 26 February 1983) is an Australian association football player who currently plays for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League.

Club career

Johnson played in the Australian National Youth League for the Newcastle Breakers and the AIS.

NSL

He later played in the National Soccer League for Newcastle United between 2000 and 2004.

In 2003 Johnson was selected as a back-up player for the Australian team at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship. A strong 2002/03 NSL season led to media speculation that might be included in the Australian team for the 2004 Olympic Games, however this did not eventuate.

In August 2004 Johnson headed to Europe for unsuccessful trials with Stade Rennais and Partick Thistle.

Retirement

After being overlooked for a contract when the A-League started in 2005 Johnson embarked on a career in mining. After playing for Highfields Azzurri FC in the NBN State Football League for a number of seasons Johnson announced his retirement from football at the end of the 2007 season to focus on his career. The retirement however was short lived as he turned out for Mayfield United in the lower grades of Northern NSW Football in 2008.

Return to professional football

In November 2008 Johnson decided to give professional football a second chance when he signed and began pre-season training with NSW Premier League team A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers.

In February 2009 after a successful trial with Newcastle Jets he was signed a six month contract. He was included in the Jets' 2009 AFC Champions League squad.