Albert Johanneson

Infobox Football biography
playername = Albert Johanneson


fullname = Albert Louis Johanneson
dateofbirth = March 13, 1940
cityofbirth = Johannesburg
countryofbirth = South Africa
dateofdeath = death date and age|1995|9|28|1940|3|13
cityofdeath = Leeds
countryofdeath = England
height = height|meters=1.70
nickname =
position = Left winger
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1961-1970
1970-1972
clubs = Leeds United
York City
caps(goals) = 172 (48)
026 0(3)

Albert Louis Johanneson (born Johannesburg, South Africa, March 13 1940; died Leeds, September 28 1995) was one of the first high-profile black players, of any nationality, to play top-flight football in England.

Career

Johanneson, a skilful and swift left winger, joined Leeds United in 1961 and stayed there for nine years. He was in the side which won promotion from the Second Division in 1964 and, a year later, became the first black player to feature in an FA Cup final.

Leeds lost the final to Liverpool, and Johanneson played disappointingly below his best. This was a trait of his game which was all too common; as with many players reliant on flair, he had a tendency to vanish from matches for long periods.

A spate of injuries and the emergence of Eddie Gray over the following seasons left Johanneson on the sidelines, and he made only ten further starts for Leeds until 1970, when manager Don Revie released him.

Johanneson joined York City and played there for two years before retiring. Life after football did not treat him well, although Leeds United and his old team-mates stayed in touch and tried to help him as he sunk into alcoholism, which took his finances and ended his marriage.

Johanneson received treatment and assistance several times for his illness, but it eventually overpowered him and he died in 1995, a recluse in the flat in which he lived alone. Most of his team-mates attended his funeral.

Notes

External links

* [http://www-users.york.ac.uk/~sph2/lufc/mag/albert.htm Biog]
* [http://www.leedsfans.org.uk/leeds/players/207.html Leeds Fans.org]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2005/10/12/sport_united_johanneson_inside_out_feature.shtml Albert Johanneson's story]
* [http://www.furd.org/default.asp?intPageID=26 George Best on Albert]
* [http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/seasons/196364part1.htm Review of 1963-64 ]
* [http://sport.guardian.co.uk/boxing/story/0,,2008952,00.html The Guradian]
* [http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/sports/greats/albert-johanneson.htm South Africa info]
* [http://www.wafll.com/wafll-gallery/images/Albert_Johanneson-604.html Photo of Albert signing contract]
* [http://www.ozwhitelufc.net.au/1961-1975.php Division statistics]
* [http://www.nationaudio.com/News/EastAfrican/060999/Sports/Sports2.html Remembering Albert Johanneson]