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SANDY — Former Real Salt Lake midfielder Will Johnson won’t only be wearing a different color when he visits Rio Tinto Stadium this season. He'll also be wearing something new around his arm — the captain's armband.
The Portland Timbers, Johnson's new team, announced Tuesday that Johnson will be the club’s team captain. Former team captain Jack Jewsbury will take on the role of club captain.
“A huge honor and a massive responsibility," Johnson tweeted Tuesday night. "We won’t back down to anyone and no challenge will be seen as too big. See you Sunday. #RCTID.”
His former MLS club congratulated him by tweeting: “well-deserved, best of luck this year to you & yours, Willy.” Former RSL teammate, playmaker Javier Morales, also congratulated Johnson by tweeting, “you deserve it buddy!!”
Following the 2012 season, Johnson left Salt Lake after being traded by the Claret and Cobalt to Portland for allocation money.
While with the Salt Lake club, Johnson was a major contributor, including during the 2009 season when RSL won MLS Cup. During his five years with RSL, Johnson saw 120 games of action, 105 of which were starts. Johnson finished his years in Salt Lake with a total of nine goals and eight assists. In 2012, Johnson notched three goals and three assists for RSL in 26 matches. He played a total of 2,087 minutes on the pitch.
Johnson and the Portland Timbers will visit Rio Tinto Stadium only once during the 2013 MLS regular season, on Aug. 30. The Salt Lake club will visit Jeld-Wen Field twice, Aug. 21 and Oct. 19.
Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
