Common wisdom is that if you're a forward who already turned 24 and is playing in the Bulgarian second division, even if you're scoring at a decent (and let's remember, BMJ wasn't even the top scorer) rate, you're never going to amount to much, otherwise someone would have discovered you already. Common wisdom is sometimes wrong, though.
Nope, first division. All in all, I have to imagine that most of the small European leagues are just about the same level. I doubt the third most-popular club in Bulgaria (CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia) is going to be a lot different than the "third" most-popular in Finland, Sweden, Poland, or the Czech Republic. Yeah, he's a little old. But it doesn't take much to get to the top of the US depth chart at striker, particularly as a big, strong holdup man with some technical ability.
Many were just looking at the numbers, even back then he was scoring some crazy difficult goals, his headers were top notch. His career has taken him way off the beaten path.
Second. Bjørn turned 24 in November 2015. In December, Litex got expelled from the league following a rather scandalous refereeing decision that had them walking out of a match: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/...&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=sport The next month, in January 2016, they were allowed to return but in the second division, so after turning 24 BMJ was playing in the Bulgarian second division: https://www.novinite.com/articles/1...op+Governing+Body+Upholds+Relegation+of+Litex
I've noticed some people in this thread have lamented about his play at hearts. As I mentioned earlier when they lost the manager who brought Bjorn in the team fell apart. I watched as much of his appearances as I could and he was fantastic up until the switch happened. He went from being a focal point of the attack to just chasing down long ball after long ball... which is not his game at all. He's got a knack for scoring and as long as he stays consistent he'll keep getting PT and offers. Not many dudes out there with his ability at 6 "5".
Ah, yes, Neilson, whose last act as coach was making Perry Kitchen captain. He left with a 7 wins, 3 losses and 5 ties record. Rumor was that the fans were displeased with Robbie's love for furriners. Cathro came, benched the foreigners, including the recent-captain Kitchen, and went on to a record of 5 wins, 13 losses and 4 ties. Surprisingly, the fans in the Jambos forum were ok with it. At least it was the lads playing.
Found this funny article about the way he googled himself into a pro career: https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/hoe-de-spits-van-ado-zich-richting-een-profcarriere-googelde#
Bjorn played a match https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/229167/AZ-Jong-AZ-verliest-oefenduel-van-Excelsior A combination of AZ and young AZ played a training match against Excelsior Rotterdam. Kai played the second half (they misspelled his name) https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/229167/AZ-Jong-AZ-verliest-oefenduel-van-Excelsior https://www.azfanpage.nl/fotos-combinatieteam-az-jong-az-excelsior-2-3/
Forgot to mention many more fotographs to see when you click on fotoalbum in the text just below the first foto in the starting page.
Not sure if this got posted. Bjørn Johnsen: New Yorker op wereldreis https://t.co/hfrsGSqkwt via @nhdagblad— NH Dagblad over AZ (@nhd_az) August 9, 2018
On the bench: 1⃣1⃣ Line-up 📋 Opstelling AZ: Bizot; Svensson, Hatzidiakos, Vlaar, Ouwejan; Midtsjø, Til, Koopmeiners; Seuntjens, Boadu, Idrissi.💺 Bank AZ: De Boer, Weigelt, Wijndal, Bergsma, Kramer, Jacobs, Johnsen, Rotariu, Friday.#aznac #Eredivisie #coybir 🔴 pic.twitter.com/qa496jeUWw— AZ (@AZAlkmaar) August 12, 2018
Subs in in the 80th, scores a header in the 85th. He's so American he's even helping EPB get playing time!
Not the goal, but a reaction video: ⚽️ | AZ-spits Bjørn Johnsen bekroont zijn debuut met een doelpunt: de Noor zet de Alkmaarders op 5-0 tegen NAC. #aznachttps://t.co/ieLDlcuNki pic.twitter.com/2KquPNk1vj— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) August 12, 2018
AZ are making sure they got attacking power. They just bought from PSV the Islandic international Albert Gudmundsson. He's a winger from both sides. It's not so good news for Kai Koreniuk.