Big interview: Bjorn Johnsen on Hearts, AZ Alkmaar and Ian Cathro

By The Newsroom
Published 30th Aug 2018, 06:30 BST
Updated 30th Aug 2018, 09:09 BST
From Hearts outcast to one of the most highly-regarded strikers in the Netherlands, Bjorn Johnsen has been on some journey over the past year or so.

When he left McDiarmid Park following a midweek defeat by St Johnstone in May 2017 with his Tynecastle career in tatters after a half-time dressing-room bust-up with former head coach Ian Cathro, imminent career ignition seemed unlikely. The American-Norwegian striker duly slipped out of Hearts a couple of months later following one season at the club which was beginning to catch fire for him under Robbie Neilson before fizzling out under his successor. Few players of recent years have kicked on significantly after being ditched by Hearts, but Johnsen is emphatically bucking this trend.

Since leaving Tynecastle, the burgeoning 26-year-old plundered 19 goals for ADO Den Haag to become the second-highest scorer in Holland’s top flight last season, established himself as a regular starter for Norway and earned himself a £2million move to Eredivisie big guns AZ Alkmaar.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad