He is one of Australia’s greatest ever footballers and now Craig Johnston is joining the push behind Southern Expansion.
Southern have announced Johnston will join the club as its technical advisor for their youth programs alongside head of football Craig Foster.
Johnston made 271 appearances for English giants Liverpool winning five league titles as well as the FA Cup and European Cup. He also designed and patented the Adidas Predator football boots.
A Southern statement said Johnston would collaborate on methodologies and initiatives that will help develop the club’s youth players to a high technical proficiency by measuring, tracking and monitoring skill development at different ages with the aim to produce players able to perform at the highest international level.
“I am very excited to be coming on board with Craig Foster and the rest of the team at Southern Expansion,” Johnston said.
“Under Craig Foster’s direction, Southern has been working hard to plan innovative youth and talent ID programs. I’m looking forward to helping shape development programs for talented Southern girls and boys and I’m especially pleased to hear that the club will be providing academy coaching at no cost to local families.”
Southern Expansion, representing St George, Sutherland Shire and Illawarra, have bid for A-League and W-League licences for the 2019-20 season, with the FFA to announce two new franchises to enter the competition in October.
Foster said Johnston strengthened the club’s youth programs significantly.
“Craig was a trailblazer in the world of football and his years of experience and extraordinary success at Liverpool along with his internationally famous dedication, perseverance and commitment to improving daily as a player will prove to be a great benchmark for our young boys and girls dreaming of emulating his achievements,” he said.
“Aside from being one of our greatest ever, Craig is demonstrably one of the game’s foremost thinkers, innovators and creative minds on a global level and these are the prime attributes we are seeking in all of our staff and contributors to the club.”
