Max Johnston (footballer)

Summary

Max Johnston (born 26 December 2003) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Austrian Bundesliga side Sturm Graz.

Max Johnston
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-12-26) 26 December 2003 (age 20)[1]
Place of birth Middlesbrough, England
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
Sturm Graz
Number 2
Youth career
Motherwell
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2023 Motherwell 19 (3)
2021–2022Queen of the South (loan) 25 (2)
2022Cove Rangers (loan) 11 (0)
2023– Sturm Graz 10 (0)
2023–Sturm Graz II 7 (0)
International career
2019 Scotland U16[2] 1 (1)
2022– Scotland U19[3] 2 (0)
2022– Scotland U21 1 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 March 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 09:55, 20 November 2022 (UTC)

Club career edit

Johnston signed for Motherwell at 12 years old, progressing through the club's academy system,[4] then joining up with the first-team squad ahead of the 2020–21 season.[1] Johnston debuted for the Steelmen on 13 February 2021, as a substitute in the Lanarkshire derby versus Hamilton Academical.[5][6]

On 1 September 2021, Johnston signed for Queen of the South on a season long loan deal, with the former Doonhamers manager being his father Allan.[7] He was then loaned to Cove Rangers in September 2022.[8] After making 10 appearances with Cove, Johnston was recalled on 1 January 2023.[9] He then became a regular in the Motherwell first team, and won the SFWA Young Player of the Year award for 2022–23.[10]

On 25 July 2023, Austrian Bundesliga club Sturm Graz announced the signing of Johnston on a contract until the summer of 2027.[11]

International career edit

Johnston represented Scotland at under-16 level, scoring on his debut versus Australia in 2019. On 17 March 2022, Johnston was called up late to the Scotland under-19 squad.[12]

He was added to the full Scotland squad for the first time in October 2023, following withdrawals by Aaron Hickey and Andrew Robertson.[13]

Personal life edit

Johnston's father is former Scotland international Allan, and his uncle Sammy is also a former player.[4]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 3 March 2024[14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Motherwell 2020–21[15] Scottish Premiership 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 2 0
2021–22[16] Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0
2022–23[17] Scottish Premiership 17 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 - 19 3
Total 19 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 3
Queen of the South (loan) 2021-22 Scottish Championship 25 2 2 0 0 0 - 4 1 31 3
Cove Rangers (loan) 2022–23 Scottish Championship 11 0 0 0 0 0 - 11 0
Sturm Graz 2023–24 Austrian Bundesliga 10 0 2 0 - 5[a] 0 - 17 0
Sturm Graz II 2023–24 2. Liga 7 0 - 7 0
Career total 72 5 6 0 0 0 5 0 4 1 87 6
  1. ^ One appearance in the UEFA Champions League, two appearances in the UEFA Europa League and two appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours edit

Individual

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Max Johnston Motherwell F.C player profile". motherwellfc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Max Johnston Scottish FA player profile". scottishfa.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Max Johnston Scottish FA player profile". scottishfa.co.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  4. ^ a b McGilvray, Andy (16 January 2021). "Rangers hero's son is a new Academy graduate at Motherwell". dailyrecord.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Motherwell 1–4 Hamilton: Stephen O'Donnell sent off as Accies run riot to move off bottom". skysports.com. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  6. ^ Banks, Ben (19 February 2021). "Motherwell manager Graham Alexander looking for response against old pal as he praises Max Johnston". nottheoldfirm.com. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  7. ^ "QosFC: Welcome - Max Johnston".
  8. ^ "Max Johnston joins Cove Rangers on loan". motherwellfc.co.uk. Motherwell FC. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  9. ^ Club, Motherwell Football; Gibson, Scott (1 January 2023). "Max Johnston recalled from Cove Rangers". Motherwell Football Club. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  10. ^ a b Grant, Michael (21 May 2023). "SFWA Young Player of the Year Max Johnston: It's my time to kick on". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  11. ^ "SCHOTTISCHE POWER FÜR DEN SK STURM". sksturm.at (in German). SK Strum Graz. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  12. ^ "QosFC: Max Johnston".
  13. ^ "Scotland squad to play France: Max Johnston called up as Aaron Hickey withdraws". BBC Sport. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  14. ^ Max Johnston at Soccerway
  15. ^ "Games played by Max Johnston in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Games played by Max Johnston in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Games played by Max Johnston in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 July 2021.