Mo Johnston

Lore & Background

Johnston started his career in 1981 with Partick Thistle and scored 41 goals in two and a half seasons there. He moved to Watford for £210,000 in November 1983, scoring 20 goals in 29 league games and helping them reach their first FA Cup final, which they lost 2–0 to Everton. He began the 1984–85 season at Watford, getting three goals in nine First Division games before returning to Scotland. At Celtic, he scored 14 league goals in 27 games in his first season, 15 goals in 32 games in 1985–86 as Celtic won the league, and 23 goals from 40 games in 1986–87. He moved to Nantes in 1987 and scored 22 goals in two seasons. After initially claiming he would never return to Scotland, he reconsidered and appeared at a press conference to announce he would sign for Celtic at the end of his contract with Nantes. In July 1989, he opted not to return to Celtic and instead joined Rangers. He was Rangers' first major Roman Catholic signing, angering both Celtic and Rangers supporters. He won over many Rangers fans in November 1989 by scoring a late winning goal in an Old Firm derby. He signed for Everton on 18 November 1991 for £1.5M, scoring seven goals in 21 league games in 1991–92 and three goals in 13 games in 1992–93. He was given a free transfer in October 1993. He returned to Scotland with Hearts, making 31 appearances and scoring four goals in his first season, then was given another free transfer in February 1995. He joined Falkirk, scoring one goal in the remainder of that season and five in the next as Falkirk were relegated. In 1996 he moved to MLS with Kansas City Wiz (later Wizards), scoring 31 goals in 149 games and adding a goal in 15 playoff games, and was part of the Wizards team that won the MLS Cup in 2000. He made his Scotland debut in 1984 and played regularly under Andy Roxburgh from July 1986. He was dropped from the 1986 World Cup squad after a late night incident during preparations for a play-off against Australia. He played in all three of Scotland's matches in the 1990 World Cup, scoring a penalty against Sweden. He retired from international competition after their early elimination, briefly returned for Euro qualifiers in late 1991, got injured against Switzerland, and permanently retired in 1992 after 14 goals in 38 caps. After retiring as a player in 2001, he was an assistant coach to Bob Bradley for the MetroStars from 2003 to 2005, then

In Their Own Story

When Johnston stepped onto the pitch at Ibrox, the roar from the stands was a fractured sound—half cheer, half jeer—a noise he had heard before but never with such consequences attached to it. He tucked his jersey into his shorts and looked toward the tunnel where his past waited in the stands across the city. The referee waved him on. Johnston took a deep breath and sprinted forward to meet the ball. In that moment, he wasn't just a striker; he was a bridge being built over a chasm that had existed for generations.

Reader's Guide

Johnston won the Scottish Cup with Celtic in 1984–85 and the Scottish Premier Division with Celtic in 1985–86. With Rangers, he won the Scottish Premier Division in 1989–90 and 1990–91, and was a Scottish League Cup runner-up in 1989–90. He was an FA Cup runner-up with Watford in 1983–84. He won the MLS Cup, Western Conference (MLS), and Supporters' Shield with Kansas City Wizards in 2000. He won the Rous Cup with Scotland in 1985. Individually, he was an MLS All-Star in 1996, 1997, and 1998.

Did You Know?

• Johnston was the second player to cross the Old Firm divide since World War II, after Alfie Conn.
• He was the first open Catholic to play for Rangers since World War I.
• He scored a penalty for Scotland against Sweden in the 1990 World Cup.
• He was nicknamed 'Trader Mo' for trading nine players in the first half of Toronto FC's inaugural season.