The ink is dry, the die is cast, the bulkheads are tight. Max Johnston changes to the Mur for a training allowance of around 350,000 euros. The 19-year-old Scottish right-back has signed a four-year contract with the SK Sturm. For the Schwoazn he will appear with shirt number 2.
Managing Director Sports Andreas Schicker: “We are proud and happy that a top talent like Max Johnston has decided to join SK Sturm. Max has already proven in Scotland what great qualities he has. With his expansive style of play, he gives us another component in the full-back position and will thus positively fuel the competition. Max will have the time to internalize our game principles – we are looking forward to him and are convinced that he will bring a lot of joy to the fans in Graz.”
Max Johnston: “I’m happy to be here in Graz and to be able to play in the strong Austrian league and an international group stage. I had great conversations with Andreas Schicker and coach Christian Ilzer and am absolutely convinced that I am in the right place. I can’t wait to get started and attack with the team.”
Photo: SKSturm.at
Max Johnston has football in his blood. Both his father Allan Johnstonas well as his uncle Sammy Johnston were successful professional footballers in Scotland’s top flight. Allan – a classic “six” – began his career in 1990 at Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish capital, followed six years later by his first stay abroad Rennes Stadium. After two more or less successful years, he returned to the far north AFC Sunderlandafter loans too Birmingham City and the Wanderers from Bolton he moved back to his homeland in 2000 and signed with the Glasgow Rangers. Only a year later it went back to England FC Middlesbrough, there was also a loan change Sheffield Wednesdaybefore returning to Scotland in 2004 FC Kilmarnock went. The following four years were probably his most successful stopover, he played a total of 115 games for the “Killies“. After a short interlude at St. Mirren he switched to in 2010 Queen of the South into the third division, where his playing career came to an end and his career as a coach began. For two years he steered the fortunes of the third division before he returned to the top flight and was introduced as a manager at FC Kilmarnock. In 2015 the change followed Dunfermline Athleticfour years later Allan Johnston returned to Queen of the South, where he was head coach until 2022.
His uncle Samuel – called Sammy – was denied a really big career. From 1984 to 1990 he appropriately led the St. Johnstone FC through his difficult time after the forced relegation and made at least 176 games for the “Saints“. Well-known stations were still Patrick Thistle from Glasgow and Finn Harps from Ballybofey in Northern Ireland’s top flight.
Now for juniors: Max Johnston joined Motherwell FC’s academy in 2016 at the tender age of 13. Both “Steelmen‘ from Lanarkshire, he consistently worked his way up through the youth teams to the professional squad, where he made his debut in Scotland’s top flight in February 2021, playing at home in the ‘For park” against Hamilton Academical was lost 1:4. Johnston came on for Bevis Mugabe in the 78th minute and was able to score freshly from Salford City come head coach Graham Alexander probably convincing – a week later Johnston was even on the field for more than 90 minutes, but the home game against his father’s former club St. Johnstone was lost 0-3. Motherwell FC ended the season in ninth place. The following year saw a loan move to the club, which his father Allan was in charge of at the time – a loan to Queen of the South was meant to give the young defender the playing time he needed.
The step into the second division was exactly right for Johnston’s development – after all, he was set as a right-back in the following season and also dared to experiment in other positions. In seven games he was used as a right midfielder, at times he even played in central midfield on an interim basis. It was in this position that he scored his first goal in the 1-1 home draw against Die in November 2021 Raith Rovers. In total, he made 31 appearances, scored two goals and provided three assists before returning to Motherwell FC. He also made two appearances for Scotland that season U19 national teambut in the games against their peers from Hungary and Israel they left the field as losers.
In the 2022/2023 season, there was initially a loan change to the Cove Rangers to the second tier, playing nine games before Motherwell brought him back on January 1, 2023. From then on, Johnston became an absolute regular at Motherwell, playing in every second half game, mostly for the full 90 minutes.
Johnston is an explosive full-back with a strong drive and good speed both on and off the ball. Nine assists and five goals in 65 games also speak for a good eye for teammates, accurate high balls in the sixteen (on the Simon Wlodarczyk can already look forward to) and excellent final grades. The only drawback: When it comes to defensive work, he lacks the routine in a duel at times. A circumstance that you can forgive a 19-year-old.
Stats Max Johnston Premiership 2023: 0,66 shots per game, 62,8% accuracy of fit, 3,79 Crosses per game (31% arrived), 48,8% won his duels, in 52 winner of 106 duels on the first floor, he only grabbed 1 Color the sliding tackle, average 48 Ball contacts per game, overall he came along in the spring 13 Fouls out (0,78 per game), looked at it no only card, shot 11 on the gate (0,66 times per game), drew for 10 assists responsible (0,60), went 40 Go one-on-one (20 successful) and played 4,63 One pass per game into the last third, one of his 2 He scored with his head, the others with his left.
Johnston was honored for his performances at Motherwell FC. The Scottish Football Writers‘ Association recently named him “Young Player of the Year“.
SK Sturm fans can look forward to another young legionnaire who wants to take the next step in Graz. The fact that, according to various reports, internationally renowned clubs from the Ligue 1 or the english one Championship expressed an interest in Johnston once again shows the image that the Schwoazn have been able to build up in recent years. Sandro Ingolitschwho had to leave Graz in the summer, was replaced in the best possible way – one can only congratulate those responsible for that.
2023-07-25 18:24:13
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