Pascal Johansen (born 28 April 1979) is a French former professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...

who played as a

midfielder In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an Glossary of association football terms#O, outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in t ...

Career

Pascal Johansen was born in

Colmar Colmar (; ; or ) is a city and commune in the Haut-Rhin department and Alsace region of north-eastern France. The third-largest commune in Alsace (after Strasbourg and Mulhouse), it is the seat of the prefecture of the Haut-Rhin department ...

Alsace Alsace (, ; ) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in the Grand Est administrative region of northeastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine, next to Germany and Switzerland. In January 2021, it had a population of 1,9 ...

. He is a younger brother to Frédéric Johansen, former player of

FC Mulhouse Football Club de Mulhouse (; commonly referred to as FCM or simply Mulhouse) is a Football in France, French association football club based in Mulhouse. The club was founded in 1893 and currently play in the Championnat National 3, the fifth le ...

and one of France's most promiseful prospects, who died in a car crash in 1992. Johansen followed his brothers' footsteps, also becoming a footballer, and was signed by RC Strasbourg as a youngster. He made his first pro appearance against harsh rivals

FC Metz Football Club de Metz () is a Football in France, French association football club based in Metz, Lorraine. The club was formed in 1932 and plays in Ligue 1, the highest division in the French football league system, for the 2025–26 Ligue 1, ...

on 15 January 2000 and quickly established himself as a regular first team player at the age of 21. The following season he was among the rare satisfactions in a team that won the

Coupe de France The Coupe de France (), also known in English language, English as the French Cup or less commonly as the France Cup, is the premier Single-elimination tournament, knockout cup competition in French football organised by the French Football Fed ...

but was relegated to Ligue 2 after a terrible season in the league. Johansen played the full match in the 2001 Coupe de France Final in which they beat

Amiens SC Amiens Sporting Club (; commonly referred to as Amiens SC or simply Amiens) is a French association football club based in the northern city of Amiens in the Hauts-de-France region. The club was formed in 1901 and play in Ligue 2, the second d ...

on penalties. In 2002, after Strasbourg earned promotion from Ligue 2, Johansen was transferred to Olympique Marseille. His first season was successful with the club earning a Champions League berth. Early in the 2003–04 season, OM manager

Alain Perrin Alain André Christian Perrin (; born 7 October 1956) is a French professional Manager (association football), football manager and former Football player, player. Perrin made his managerial breakthrough at Troyes AC, Troyes, whom he took from t ...

, who had recruited Johansen to Marseille, was sacked and replaced by

José Anigo José Anigo (born 15 April 1961) is a French professional football manager and former player. Career Anigo was born in Marseille, and after a tough childhood went on to play for his home town club for eight years where he established a reputatio ...

. This change relegated Johansen of the bench and he did not take part in Marseille's 2004 UEFA Cup final when they reached the finals against Valencia FC. Johansen subsequently went back, on loan, to Strasbourg for the 2004–2005 season, winning the

Coupe de la Ligue The Coupe de la Ligue (), known outside France as the French League Cup, was a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel. The tournament was established in 1993 and, unlike the Coupe de France ...

. He was then definitively transferred, but struggled in a team that was again relegated at the end of the 2005–2006 season. Strasbourg regained immediately its place in France's top division after only one year at the lower stage with Johansen as a regular team member in the second half of the season.

References

External links

* 1979 births Living people Footballers from Colmar French men's footballers French men's futsal players French people of German descent Men's association football midfielders Ligue 1 players Ligue 2 players RC Strasbourg Alsace players Olympique de Marseille players FC Metz players Grenoble Foot 38 players FC Mulhouse players US Raon-l'Étape players 20th-century French sportsmen {{france-footy-midfielder-1970s-stub