Collins John
{{short description|Dutch footballer}}
{{distinguish|John Collins (footballer, born 1968)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Collins John
| image = Collins John.jpg
| caption = John with Riverhounds, 2014
| image_size = 175px
| fullname = Collins John
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|10|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = Zwedru, Liberia
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| position = Striker
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2002
| youthclubs1 = DES Nijverdal
| youthyears2 = 2002–2004
| youthclubs2 = Twente
| years1 = 2002–2004
| clubs1 = Twente
| caps1 = 35
| goals1 = 11
| years2 = 2004–2009
| clubs2 = Fulham
| caps2 = 95
| goals2 = 20
| years3 = 2007–2008
| clubs3 = → Leicester City (loan)
| caps3 = 11
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2008
| clubs4 = → Watford (loan)
| caps4 = 5
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2008–2009
| clubs5 = → N.E.C. (loan)
| caps5 = 5
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2009–2010
| clubs6 = Roeselare
| caps6 = 11
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2010
| clubs7 = Chicago Fire
| caps7 = 17
| goals7 = 3
| years8 = 2011
| clubs8 = Gabala
| caps8 = 3
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2011–2012
| clubs9 = Mes Sarcheshmeh
| caps9 = 4
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2012–2013
| clubs10 = Barnet
| caps10 = 1
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2013
| clubs11 = Piast Gliwice
| caps11 = 2
| goals11 = 0
| years12 = 2013
| clubs12 = Piast Gliwice II
| caps12 = 3
| goals12 = 1
| years13 = 2014
| clubs13 = Pittsburgh Riverhounds
| caps13 = 12
| goals13 = 4
| years14 = 2019–2022
| clubs14 = Buitenboys
| caps14 = 5
| goals14 = 0
| totalcaps = 209
| totalgoals = 41
| nationalyears1 = 2001
| nationalteam1 = Netherlands U16
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2004–2006
| nationalteam2 = Netherlands U21
| nationalcaps2 = 9
| nationalgoals2 = 4
| nationalyears3 = 2004
| nationalteam3 = Netherlands
| nationalcaps3 = 2
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| pcupdate =
| ntupdate =
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}}
{{medal|Country|{{fb|NED}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|UEFA European Under-21 Championship|}}
{{Medal|W|2006 Portugal|}}
}}
Collins John (born 17 October 1985) is a former professional footballer who played as a striker. Born in Liberia, he represented the Netherlands national team.
John notably played in the Premier League for Fulham where he notched up 23 goals in 111 appearances, in all competitions, in a five-year stay at Craven Cottage. He also played in the English football league for Leicester City, Watford, and Barnet, in the Eredivisie for FC Twente and NEC Nijmegen, in Belgium for K.S.V. Roeselare, the United States for Chicago Fire, Azerbaijan for Gabala FC and in Iran for Mes Sarcheshmeh F.C.
Career
=Club=
John started his professional career at Dutch first division side FC Twente as a 17-year-old, going on to score 11 league goals during one and a half seasons combined. He was signed by Fulham on 31 January 2004, cited by manager Chris Coleman as a way to expand attacking options in the future.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2004/january/31/collins-john-signs|title=Fulham FC}} He signed for a fee thought to be in the region of £600,000 where he was introduced at Loftus Road by John Collins, his reverse namesake. His debut for the club came as a substitute for Mark Pembridge against Chelsea in a 2–1 defeat at Stamford Bridge on 20 March.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3507776.stm | work=BBC News | title=Chelsea 2-1 Fulham | date=20 March 2004}} He then scored two goals in each of his next two games against Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers.{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3574343.stm
|title=Leicester City 0-2 Fulham
|publisher=BBC
|date=10 April 2004 |access-date=17 February 2025}}{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3592783.stm
|title=Fulham 3-4 Blackburn
|publisher=BBC
|date=12 April 2004 |access-date=17 February 2025}}
Following an auspicious start, John scored 11 league goals in 2005–06, despite only starting 15 of the 37 in which he appeared. With a further two goals in other competitions, he was Fulham's top goalscorer that season. A goal against Middlesbrough on 20 November 2005, a volley from his weaker foot, was later to be named "Goal of the Month" by the BBC, and was in the running for "Goal of the Season".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/match_of_the_day/4200450.stm|title= Goal of the month November 2005|date=16 May 2006|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2009-07-23}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/4431084.stm|title= Middlesbrough 3–2 Fulham|date=20 November 2005|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2009-07-23}}
John started six of the first seven Premiership games of 2006–07, but then lost his place and started only three more times in 2006. Coming on as a second-half substitute, and having had two goals disallowed earlier in the match, he scored his twentieth league goal at Manchester City, in November 2006.
John signed for Leicester City on 23 October 2007 on a three-month loan deal.{{cite news
| title = Foxes seal striker John loan deal
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/7058437.stm
| work = BBC Sport
| date = 23 October 2007
| access-date = 2007-01-05}} He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat to Sheffield United a few hours later,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7054165.stm Leicester 0–1 Sheff Utd], BBC Sport 23 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-24 and scored his first league goal in a 2–0 win over Barnsley on 27 October.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7054128.stm Leicester 2–0 Barnsley], BBC Sport 28 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-28
John scored his last goal against Colchester United six days later, in a 1–1 away draw.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7065214.stm Colchester 1–1 Leicester], BBC Sport 3 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-03 He returned to Fulham after making a total of eleven league appearances for Leicester.
On 25 January 2008, John joined Watford on a loan deal until the end of the 2007–08 season, with the option of a permanent move after that. He struggled with his fitness during his time at the club, making only three starts and two substitute appearances. In April 2008 he returned to Fulham after tearing a thigh muscle.
On the 2008 transfer deadline day, John moved to NEC Nijmegen on a one-year loan deal, with the Dutch side also obtaining a transfer option.[http://www.nec-nijmegen.nl/layout.php?p=11&NieuwsID=1639 Collins John to N.E.C. loaned by Fulham] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905005154/http://www.nec-nijmegen.nl/layout.php?p=11&NieuwsID=1639 |date=5 September 2008 }} {{in lang|nl}} In Nijmegen John suffered with continual problems. Although he was important as a substitute in two UEFA Cup matches, he failed to make an impression in the Dutch league. In January 2009 he went on trial at Charlton Athletic but wasn't offered a contract. Back in Nijmegen he was suspended to the reserve squad by manager Mario Been. On 3 March John returned to Fulham after both NEC and John didn't see any reason for continuing the loan. In March, John requested to train with Dutch side Heracles Almelo, alongside his brother Paddy, till the end of the 2008–09 season. The request was denied because John had no intention to play for Heracles in the next season.
He chose to sign for Belgian Pro League side Roeselare signing a 2-year contract.{{cite news
| title = KSVR strikt Nederlandse international Collins John
| url = http://www.ksvr.be/index.php?id=10
| publisher = KSV Roeselare
| date = 2 July 2009
| access-date = 2009-07-02}} On 3 December, John was suspended and demoted to the reserve squad for disciplinary reasons by manager Dennis van Wijk. On 14 December Roeselare terminated John's contract.[http://footgoal.net/suite.php?selection=47958 Officiel : John et Roulers se séparent] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217080536/http://www.footgoal.net/suite.php?selection=47958 |date=17 December 2009 }}
John joined Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire during their pre-season training camp on 29 January 2010 with a view to signing before the start of the 2010 MLS season.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=186500 |title=Fulham - Fulham - Striker Links up with Chicago Fire! |access-date=30 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210115707/http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=186500 |archive-date=10 February 2010 |url-status=dead }} On 11 March 2010, Chicago Fire hired him on a free transfer.{{cite news| url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2010/03/thursday_kickaround_43.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924135614/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2010/03/thursday_kickaround_43.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=24 September 2012 | newspaper=The Washington Post | access-date=2010-04-30 | title=Thursday kickaround}} After a disappointing season in MLS, John was released by Chicago on 24 November 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2010/11/john-krol-released |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128064247/http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2010/11/john-krol-released |archive-date=28 November 2010 |title=John, Krol Released {{!}} Chicago Fire Soccer Club}}
John joined Gabala FC in Azerbaijan on 25 January 2011.{{cite news| url=http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/01/25/collins-john-looking-to-relaunch-career-in-azerbaijan/36250/ | work=InsideFutbol | access-date=2011-01-31 | title=Collins John Looking To Relaunch Career in Azerbaijan}} After failing to revive his career in Azerbaijan, John handed in a transfer request. John went on trial with Nottingham Forest and flew to Portugal with them for a pre-season break.
He signed a one-year contract with Iran Pro League side Mes Sarcheshmeh on 20 December 2011.{{cite news| url=http://www.goal.com/iran/news/1825/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/2011/12/20/2811428/%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%85-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%82-%D9%81%D9%88%D9%84%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%B3-%D8%B3%D8%B1%DA%86%D8%B4%D9%85%D9%87-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%AA | work=Goal.com | access-date=2011-12-20 | title=Collins joined Mes Sarcheshmeh}} In the summer of 2012, John agreed to sign for Gençlik Gücü S.K. in Northern Cyprus, but the transfer fell through. On 22 September 2012, John joined League Two side Barnet.
{{cite news|title=Collins John joins Barnet in free transfer move|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19686322|work=BBC Sport|access-date=24 September 2012}} On 12 October 2012 John was joined at the club by fellow former Dutch international Edgar Davids. John made his debut against Plymouth Argyle, but was substituted after just 15 minutes due to a thigh injury.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19854907 Barnet 1 - 4 Plymouth] He also played in the FA Cup against Oxford United,[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20107737 Barnet 0 – 2 Oxford United] but he was to make only two appearances for the club, and after a string of injuries, had his contract terminated by mutual consent in January 2013.{{Cite web |url=http://www.barnetfc.com/news/article/collins-johns-leaves-club-29.01.13-627017.aspx |title=Collins John leaves Barnet |access-date=29 January 2013 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232623/http://www.barnetfc.com/news/article/collins-johns-leaves-club-29.01.13-627017.aspx |url-status=dead }}
On 25 June 2013 John joined Eredivisie side Go Ahead Eagles on trial.{{cite web|title=Collins John duikt op bij Go Ahead|url=http://www.goal.com/nl/news/786/transfers/2013/06/25/4073246/collins-john-duikt-op-bij-go-ahead|publisher=goal.com|access-date=25 June 2013}} After failing to win a contract with Go Ahead Eagles, John held talks with Polish Ekstraklasa side Piast Gliwice,{{cite web|title=The player can be played with the increase of Piast|url=http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=4&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=az&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://www.azerisport.com/az/futbol/20130716114656195.html&usg=ALkJrhicb9tXMlt55SWX0jfxwhabMr8OYQ|publisher=azerisport.com|access-date=16 July 2013}} and later claimed on Twitter that he had signed a two-year deal,{{cite tweet|number=359959320089198594|user=cjohnzz|title=Signed 2yrs for Piast gliwice #football #poland |date=24 July 2013}} but in fact was only training with the club until he had proven his fitness. He eventually made his debut in the Ekstraklasa on 1 September against Śląsk Wrocław as an 82nd-minute substitute.
In March 2014 it was announced the John had signed for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL Pro, the third division of the United States soccer pyramid.{{cite web|title=PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SIGN FORWARD COLLINS JOHN |url=http://www.riverhounds.com/home/795874.html |publisher=Pittsburgh Riverhounds |access-date=7 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407095908/http://www.riverhounds.com/home/795874.html |archive-date=7 April 2014}} John debuted for the club in their second matchday of the season against the Richmond Kickers on 5 April 2014. After coming on as a 65th-minute substitute for Jason Johnson,{{cite web|title=Riverhounds vs. Kickers|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2:gp::72013+Elements/Display+E+47107+Stats/+4428813|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140406005607/http://www.uslsoccer.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2:gp::72013+Elements/Display+E+47107+Stats/+4428813|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 April 2014|publisher=USL Pro|access-date=7 April 2014}} John scored his first goal for the club in his debut, the Riverhounds' only goal in the 1–3 defeat.{{cite web|title=PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS FALL TO RICHMOND KICKERS 3-1|url=http://www.riverhounds.com/home/799719.html|publisher=Pittsburgh Riverhounds|access-date=7 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407095335/http://www.riverhounds.com/home/799719.html|archive-date=7 April 2014}} In the Riverhounds' next match, John scored again during his first game at Highmark Stadium against Wilmington Hammerheads FC, for a total of two goals in two matches.{{cite web|title=Hammerheads Defeat Riverhounds|url=http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/801519.html|publisher=USL Pro|access-date=13 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414174140/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/801519.html|archive-date=14 April 2014}} Following that match, John was suspended for three matches for "violent conduct".{{cite web|title=COLLINS JOHN SUSPENDED FOR 3 GAMES|url=http://steelarmypgh.com/2014/04/collins-john-suspended-for-3-games/|publisher=Steel Army|access-date=21 April 2014}} After making thirteen appearances and scoring four goals for the Riverhounds, John and the club mutually terminated the player's contract in July 2014, citing John's desire to return his family to Europe.{{cite web|title=PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS RELEASE FORWARD COLLINS JOHN|url=http://www.riverhounds.com/home/823913.html|publisher=Pittsburgh Riverhounds|access-date=23 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722170237/http://www.riverhounds.com/home/823913.html|archive-date=22 July 2014}}
John joined Crawley Town on trial in July 2014, scoring in a friendly against Brighton & Hove Albion.[http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/11361502.John_header_hands_Albion_half_time_deficit__with_picture_/?ref=arc John header hands Albion half-time deficit]
From the 2016–17 season, John coached the under-19 team of SC Buitenboys.{{cite news |title=Trainer Collins John wil via Buitenboys top bereiken |url=https://www.omroepflevoland.nl/sport/156484/almere-trainer-collins-john-wil-via-buitenboys-top-bereiken |work=Omroep Flevoland |date=4 February 2018 |language=nl}} He joined their first team as a player in mid-2019, competing in the Derde Klasse.{{cite news |title=Oud-international Collins John trekt voor Buitenboys zijn kicksen weer aan |url=https://www.hetamsterdamschevoetbal.nl/oud-international-collins-john-trekt-voor-buitenboys-zijn-kicksen-weer-aan/ |work=Het Amsterdamsche Voetbal |date=14 June 2019 |language=nl}}
=International=
John was part of the Netherlands under-21 squad that won the 2006 European Championship in Portugal.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eur-u21-2006det.html|title= European U-21 Championship 2006 Holland Squad List|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=2009-07-23}}
Previously, he had already made his main team debuts, appearing in a 2–2 friendly match against Sweden, on 18 August 2004. He then made his second appearance for the Netherlands when they played in a friendly match against Liechtenstein.
Club statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2 | Club
! rowspan=2 | Season ! colspan=3 | League ! colspan=2 | National cup{{efn|Includes KNVB Cup, FA Cup, Belgian Cup, Open Cup, Azerbaijan Cup, Hazfi Cup}} ! colspan=2 | League cup{{efn|Includes League Cup}} ! colspan=2 | Continental ! colspan=2 | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|FC Twente
|17 | 2 | 17 | 2 | |||||||
| 2003–04
|Eredivisie |18 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 10 | |||||
| colspan=2 | Total
!35||11||1||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||36||12 | ||||||||||
| rowspan="6"|Fulham
|8 | 4 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 4 | ||||
| 2004–05
|Premier League |27 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 6 | ||
| 2005–06
|Premier League |35 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 38 | 12 | ||
| 2006–07
|Premier League |23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 1 | ||
| 2007–08
|Premier League |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2 | Total
!95||20||7||3||6||0||colspan="2"|—||108||23 | ||||||||||
| Leicester City
|11 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 2 | ||||
| Watford
|Championship |5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | ||||
| NEC Nijmegen
|Eredivisie |5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 | ||
| K.S.V. Roeselare
|11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 0 | |||
| Chicago Fire
|2010 |17 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 3 | ||||
| Gabala
|2010–11| |3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Mes Sarcheshmeh
|4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 0 | ||
| Barnet
|1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| Piast Gliwice
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | |||
| Piast Gliwice II
|2013–14 |3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 1 | ||||
| Pittsburgh Riverhounds
|2014 |12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 5 | |||
| colspan=3 | Career total
!204||41||12||5||6||0||2||1||224||47 |
{{notelist}}
Personal life
John was born in Zwedru, Liberia, but his family emigrated to the Netherlands after the murder of his father, during the Liberian Civil War.[http://footgoal.net/suite.php?selection=41900 Officiel : Collins John à Roulers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715010501/http://www.footgoal.net/suite.php?selection=41900 |date=15 July 2009 }}
His two brothers Paddy and Ola are also footballers.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-9255923-john-collins-or-collins-john.do|title=John Collins or Collins John?|access-date=26 September 2010|date=20 February 2004|author=Leo Spall|newspaper=London Evening Standard|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606120620/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-9255923-john-collins-or-collins-john.do|archive-date=6 June 2011}}
Honours
Netherlands U21
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{90minut|25878}}
- {{MLS player|collins-john}}
- {{Soccerbase}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034921/http://www.onsoranje.nl/team-statistieken/teams/speler/25/4f8c4268-53d04716-026232 Holland stats] at OnsOranje
{{DEFAULTSORT:John, Collins}}
Category:People from Grand Gedeh County
Category:Liberian emigrants to the Netherlands
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Dutch men's footballers
Category:Netherlands men's youth international footballers
Category:21st-century Dutch sportsmen
Category:Netherlands men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Netherlands men's international footballers
Category:Liberian men's footballers
Category:Dutch people of Liberian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Liberian descent
Category:Leicester City F.C. players
Category:K.S.V. Roeselare players
Category:Chicago Fire FC players
Category:Mes Sarcheshme players
Category:Piast Gliwice players
Category:Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC players
Category:Premier League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Dutch expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Azerbaijan
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Iran
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Poland
Category:Liberian expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Liberian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
Category:Liberian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Liberian expatriate sportspeople in Azerbaijan