Player Style Files: Keeping Up With Chicago Fire Goalkeeper Sean Johnson
David Heim
Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson, unlike most youths hopeful of playing professional soccer one day, got a late start to the game.
“I first started playing soccer when I was 10 years old, a bit later than when most people start playing,” Johnson said.
But when he did get going at age 10, he never stopped. However, he didn’t quite start off as the goalkeeper he is today. Johnson began his playing days as a field player, not transitioning to goalkeeper until he was 12.
“Ever since then, the passion and love for goalkeeping grew,” Johnson said.
Johnson analyzed his position, stating that some people think they see everything they need to know about goalkeeping, but that is hardly the case.
“One thing that people don’t know about the goalkeeping position that’s really difficult that we deal with on a game to game basis is the mental aspect,” Johnson said. “Everybody sees the physical aspect of making saves and being in the right place at the right time, but I think mentally dealing with the grind of the long season, by the end of the season you feel it.”
Johnson needs to be quick in goal in order to help his team win. But off the field, he has a little help to be quicker than everyone, particularly in his garage. Johnson is the owner of a pretty fast car.
“I have two cars currently,” Johnson said. “My most recent addition is a 2013 Lamborghini Gallardo. That car is pretty wicked. It’s definitely a scary one that’ll put you in the back of your seat."
What’s Johnson’s favorite thing about his $250,000 car? What else? It’s the top-end acceleration speed.
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