:Michael Johnston (Welsh footballer)
{{short description|Welsh footballer}}
{{For|players with similar names|Michael Johnston (disambiguation){{!}}Michael Johnston|Michael Johnson (disambiguation)#Sports{{!}}Michael Johnson}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name =
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|12|16|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height =
| currentclub = Bangor 1876
| position = Centre-back, Left back, Right back
| youthyears1 = 2006–2007|youthclubs1=Tranmere Rovers U18
| years1 = 2007–2008|clubs1=Tranmere Rovers|caps1=|goals1=
| years2 = 2007–2008|clubs2= →Bangor City (loan)|caps2=|goals2=
| years3 = 2008–2015|clubs3=Bangor City|caps3=239|goals3=
| years4 = 2015–2016|clubs4=Llandudno|caps4=15|goals4=
| years5 = 2016|clubs5=Caernarfon Town|caps5=|goals5=
| years6 = 2016–?|clubs6=Brickfield Rangers|caps6=5|goals6=
| years7 = 2019–|clubs7=Bangor 1876 |caps7=3|goals7=0
| nationalyears1 = |nationalteam1=Wales U17|nationalcaps1=|nationalgoals1=
| nationalyears2 = |nationalteam2=Wales U19|nationalcaps2=3|nationalgoals2=0
| manageryears1 = 2022–| managerclubs1 = Bangor 1876
}}
Michael Johnston (born 16 December 1987) is a Welsh footballer who is player-manager of Bangor 1876. He plays as a defender.
Playing career
Michael Johnston began his career in the Tranmere Rovers youth system, and was a member of the Wales under-17 and under-19 teams.{{Cite news |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/welsh-premier-league-10-greatest-11045355 |title=Welsh Premier League: 10 Greatest Defenders |last=Jones |first=Dave |work=Daily Post |date=15 March 2016 |access-date=19 June 2017}} He joined Tranmere's reserve squad in 2007, and was loaned to Bangor City that September. After being voted Bangor City's player of the season, he joined them on a free transfer in April 2008. He remained with the club for eight seasons, winning three Welsh Cups and the Welsh Premier League championship in 2010–2011.{{Cite news |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/welsh-premier-league-transfer-round-up-9368367 |title=Welsh Premier League Transfer Round-up: Bangor City legend joins league newcomers |last=Jones |first=Dave |work=Daily Post |date=1 June 2015 |access-date=19 June 2017}}
Johnston signed with Llandudno in 2015, where he played mostly at right back.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/33956702 |title=Welsh Premier League: Llandudno ready for Premier challenge |last=Williams |first=Aled |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 August 2015 |access-date=19 June 2017}} He joined Caernarfon Town in July 2016, and moved to Brickfield Rangers in September.{{Cite web |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/brickfieldrangersfc/news/brickfield-rangers-captured-the-signing-of-caernar-1690402.html |title=Brickfield Rangers Captured the Signing of Caernarfon Town Player |last=Roberts |first=Ben |publisher=Pitchero |date=17 September 2016 |access-date=19 June 2017}}
In 2012, Dave Jones of the Daily Post nominated Johnston for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, writing "I cover the Welsh Premier week in, week out and he's one of the best defenders I've seen."{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/9405145/Bangor-City-striker-Les-Davies-deserves-Uefa-Best-Player-nomination-says-Welsh-journalist-who-backed-him.html |title=Bangor City striker Les Davies deserves Uefa 'Best Player' nomination says Welsh journalist who backed him |work=The Telegraph |date=17 July 2012 |access-date=19 June 2017}} In 2016 Jones named him one of the ten best defenders in WPL history.
In June 2019 he signed for Bangor City phoenix club Bangor 1876.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebangoraye.com/bangor-1876-announce-management-team-and-sign-les-davies/|title=Bangor 1876 announce management team and sign les Davies|date=22 June 2019}}
Management career
In February 2022 he was appointed joint manager of Bangor 1876 alongside Mel Jones.{{cite web |title=Familiar duo take the helm at Bangor 1876| url=https://www.thebangoraye.com/familiar-duo-take-the-helm-at-bangor-1876/ |publisher=The Bangor Aye |access-date=11 February 2022}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnston, Michael}}
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Men's association football player-managers
Category:Bangor 1876 F.C. players
Category:Bangor City F.C. players
Category:Caernarfon Town F.C. players
Category:Llandudno F.C. players
Category:Tranmere Rovers F.C. players
Category:Welsh men's footballers
Category:Welsh football managers