Tag: mark hughes

Johnson: I Have No Regrets Leaving Liverpool

Glen Johnson made 200 appearances during his six-year stint on the Merseyside before joining Stoke City when his contract with the Reds expired in the summer. Glen Johnson insists he bears no grudges over his Liverpool exit and claims he rejected the chance to stay at Anfield.

The belief had been that Glen Johnson was forced to leave the Anfield against his own wishes. However, the former West Ham right-back claims he has no regrets over his departure as he left on his terms. He said: “I had a very good time [at Liverpool] and enjoyed the majority of it. But I turned down a new contract at the end of the day, so it ended exactly how I would like.”

He revealed that he met Mark Hughes who said to him everything that he wanted to hear. He says he’s settling in well and he feels welcomed in the club so it couldn’t have been going any better at the moment. Liverpool missed out on a Champions League spot after a disastrous end to the 2015/2016 season that saw them win just one of their final six matches, including a 6-1 drubbing at Stoke on the last day.

Rodgers brought in Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino and James Milner as part of a massive overhaul the next summer that has seen skipper Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling join Johnson out the exit door. Johnson began his career at West Ham United, spending time on loan at Millwall, and was signed by Chelsea for a £6 million fee after West Ham’s relegation in 2003. He helped Chelsea win the 2004–05 Premier League title and the 2005 League Cup Final. In June 2006, Johnson joined Portsmouth on loan for the 2006–07 season.  Following a successful season on loan at Fratton Park, Johnson joined Pompey a permanently for a fee of around £4 million.