Karl-Johan Johnsson: Things to Know About FC Copenhagen's Inspired Goalkeeper

As Anthony Martial opened up his body to slide in Manchester United's long-awaited opening goal in the third minute of extra time, Karl-Johan Johnsson was there again to deny the forward.

The Swedish goalkeeper made no fewer than 13 saves for FC Copenhagen in the Europa League quarter-final against their Premier League opponents - the most stops ever recorded in a single game in the competition's history.

Less than 30 seconds after Johnsson had denied Martial yet again, Copenhagen conceded a needless penalty - giving Bruno Fernandes the chance to finally put one past the determined goalie.

Rather than Manchester United's progress into the semi-finals of a European competition, the post-match focus was heaped on Copenhagen's number one (well, technically their number 21) as Twitter erupted with praise.

Yet, it seemed that his admirers couldn't aim this well-deserved acclaim specifically at the man between the sticks as, hours after the match, the word 'keeper' was trending on the social media platform rather than 'Johnsson'.

So, who is the inspired shot stopper that (almost) singlehandedly stopped Manchester United?

1. Highly Rated Youngster

Robin van Persie may be touting the 30-year-old for a 'big move' after his display against Manchester United, but 'Kalle' Johnsson almost joined their sky blue rivals more than a decade ago.

As a highly rated 18-year-old, Johnsson - then at Swedish side Halmstad - spent a week training with Manchester City in 2008. At the time, City and the player were thought to be keen on putting pen to paper but Halmstad's chairwoman Birgitta Johansson swiftly quashed any suggestion that they would lose their promising youngster.

2. Soft Spot for a Manchester United Legend

Had the move to City materialised, Johnsson would perhaps have kept the identity of his footballing idol a little closer to his chest. As Johnsson revealed in an interview with En Avant Guingamp's website, shortly after joining the French side in 2019, the first poster on his bedroom wall was David Beckham.

3. International Experience

After 19 appearances for various under-age sides, Johnsson made his senior international debut for Sweden as a 21-year-old in January 2012.

In total he has only amassed seven caps, all of which have been friendlies. However, Johnsson was part of the Sweden squad for the 2018 World Cup and the most recent batch of European qualifiers.

4. Relegation Woes

Johnsson was a second division player when he made his debut for the senior national team after suffering relegation with Halmstad in his first season as the club's number one goalkeeper.

After a year in the second tier, Johnsson moved to the Netherlands with NEC Nijmegen in 2013. Again, in the first season he broke into the side as a regular starter, NEC were relegated from the Eredivisie.

Johnsson completed an unwanted trio of demotions with Guingamp in 2019. The 30-year-old's first two campaigns in Ligue 1 had ended in successful mid-table finishes but - after being dropped halfway through the season - Guingamp succumbed to the drop.

5. Denmark's Goalkeeper of the Year

Between his Dutch and French sojourns, Johnsson enjoyed arguably the best period of his career with Danish side Randers.

After helping the club to an impressive fourth place finish in 2015, Johnsson was named Goalkeeper of the Year from the top two tiers of the Danish footballing pyramid - an award Peter Schmeichel won three times in four years before he joined Manchester United.

(Incidentally, another former United keeper - Roy Carroll - claimed that particular accolade in 2009.)

6. Not One to Hold His Tongue

Arriving at Copenhagen last summer was by far the biggest move of Johnsson's career to date, establishing himself as the club's first-choice keeper by September.

However, the serial title winners have endured a disappointing domestic campaign. The capital side finished second in the top flight to FC Midtjylland after a dreadful performance in the season-ending ten-game Championship Round - Copenhagen won just one of their first eight matches in the title-deciding series.

Following a slack 1-1 draw against relegation-bound Silkeborg in February, Johnsson snapped that 'the sharpness was lacking at both ends'. After dropping points again in June, Johnsson claimed that the side was playing 'too much Hawaii-football'.

However, against Manchester United, Copenhagen - spurred on by the spirited display from Johnsson between the sticks - were tough opponents. In the game, FCK squandered some of their own chances to walk away with more than just adulation for their goalkeeper.