EFL Youth Development Week is now well underway, and today we speak to the youngest outfield player to represent the Sunderland first team in over 50 years.
Defender Zak Johnson made his debut in October 2021 with the club still a Sky Bet League One outfit, thus participating as a senior side in the Papa John’s Trophy – of which at the time, we were holders following 2020 success.
Under the Wearside lights, with around a minute left on the clock of injury time and with the Lads leading Manchester United Under-21s by two goals to one, Johnson became the last of NINE debutants to feature. He was aged just 16 years and 141 days, smashing a long-standing outfield record at his boyhood club.
“I had trained with the first team, but I was still a first-year scholar. It was the Manchester United game and I had been named on the bench for the first time,” Johnson, now 17, recalls.
“No, I didn’t have any idea that I would [get onto the pitch]. I’d occasionally be sent out to warm up and at the time I thought even this is good enough, just being in the environment. And then I think it was in the 90th minute, Lee Johnson sent me out specifically to warm up.
“At that point I thought, because we were protecting a 2-1 lead and still looked quite comfortable, he might want to throw me on as a young player but also a defender.”
The teenager – who has been a mainstay in our U21 side so far this campaign – dissects the surreal moment by the minute, as well as the fascinating conversation in the car home with his proud and excited Sunderland-supporting father.
“I got told in the first minute of stoppage time that I was going to come on, and I was there ready with my shirt on, number 58. And the ball wouldn’t go out of play! It was the longest time of my life just waiting on the touchline.
“I was wondering if the referee would blow the whistle. I came on in the 94th for Stephen Wearne, who had headed the winner. As he came off the pitch and I realised I was going on in front of all the fans in a first-team game – to experience that at such a young age is something I’ll never forget.
“My dad picked me up after the game – Sunderland is in our family, and my dad knows all the facts about players. We were going through players and the ages they made their debuts, and he couldn’t name any more than two players who played before 16, and none in the last few decades.”
With a special milestone achieved, a series of promising performances at U21 level helped secure a three-year professional deal for Johnson, after just one year of his scholarship.
He briefly explains his rapid rise through the ranks on Wearside, and demonstrates the psychology of his focus to work and be the best, showing his professionalism comes through actions as well as just on paper.
“To then find out I’d broken the record in 50 years was very emotional – I’d been at the club almost all my life, supported the club all my life along with my family, and worked hard to reach that point which I believe is only the start.
“The next step was to earn my first professional contract – that was of course such a proud and surreal moment, as sometimes I feel like I’m still a scholar. But I have to get my head down, show that I’m a professional player on merit and I need to make sure I can be the best version of myself to push towards the first-team squad.
“I first went along to Sunderland at six, and again for good at eight – I was a right-winger, believe it or not. Then I was a right-back, and now primarily a centre-half. I’d been playing in the local Russell Foster Youth League and worked my way up. It just feels like a huge achievement and I know I’m only 17, but I want to make these years count.”
Assisted by player care staff at the Academy of Light, Johnson – inspired by looking after his brother – has spent the considerable time away from his football career in a brilliant way, helping out children with special needs at the Barbara Priestman Academy.
Despite his career picking up further pace, he is eager to expand his attributes as an individual, both on and off the pitch, to ensure his future holds no bounds moving forward.
“I’d been helping out a lot at the Barbara Priestman. It was first encouraged for me by our former Head of Player Care, Michele Di Mascio.
“Michele guided me at the start and then let me do my own thing with it – ever since he left the club and I signed my professional deal, it has slowed down a bit – but in the future I really want to continue offering my help and it’s something I now have some experience in.
“I want to develop as a person as well as a player, broaden my skillset. I believe that’s hugely important for any footballer, especially a young player coming through as you never know what the future holds.”