Just a few weeks following his 35th birthday, the Association declared Réda Johnson, our commanding former central defender, to be its newest recruit.
Just in time for his first-ever return to the CBS Arena for the Sky Blues versus Stoke City match, he was able to join about forty other FPs at the Legends Day 2023 reunion from the previous season (left). We are now celebrating again because Réda (born in Marseilles on March 21, 1988) turns 36 a year later! Big Man, many happy returns!
To refresh your memory, Réda began his professional career in 2005 as a trainee with the Bergundy-based FC Gueugnonnais, a Ligue 2 team. After moving after a few seasons to another French Ligue 2 team, SC Amiens, on August 24, 2007, he made his first appearance on the first squad.
Réda tried his fortunes in UK football after spending two more seasons at Amiens and making twenty appearances for the first team!
The 6’3′′ Frenchman participated in a preseason game against Plymouth Argyle on the opposite side of Britain in July 2009 after his trial with Aberdeen in July 2009 did not result in a signing. Shortly after, a three-year contract was eventually signed.
Réda was acquired by Sheffield United in January 2011 after a few seasons, 44 games, and a few goals for the south coast team. He made his league debut and went on to score 19 goals in his 87 outings for the Blades! Prior to his time at the CCFC, Réda received the PFA’s “Player in the Community” award in 2014.
Réda signed a one-year contract with the Sky Blues in July 2014 and then performed the debut trick again.
Remarkably, on August 9, 2014, he scored twice in his Sky Blue debut against Bradford City (although his new team lost 3-2). As a result, he became the first defender in club history to score two goals in his debut! He had a regular role for the Sky Blues in the 2014–15 season, scoring eight goals in his thirty-four debut appearances! Reda left the Ricoh in July 2016 after being deemed unnecessary, this time on a free transfer to non-league Eastleigh FC.
Réda played for the National League team for five seasons with the southern club, making 85 games and scoring nine goals. when departing from Eastleigh FC in February 2020, Réda became a player-coach at Dover Athletic in June 2021. However, when the team was relegated to the National League South for the current season, Réda was let go at the end of the 2021–22 campaign.
Given that his father was French-born and an American of Beninese descent, Réda could have played for four different nations. His mother was Algerian. However, he made his debut for the African nation of Benin on February 11, 2009, in a friendly match against Algeria. Between 2009 and 2014, he played a total of twelve times for this country.
GET NORE NEWS HERE
Leave a Reply