Just how do we measure Eddie Johnson’s career?

Not everyone gets to go out on top.

It’s a sad reality of sport that not every player gets to go out in a ticker tape parade with video montages and thousands of tweets from former teammates. More often than not it is a quiet end, a few papers are signed, and they are back to the real world. Sometimes there is a need for reflection. That seems to be the case with D.C. United forward Eddie Johnson.

Last week the Washington Post’s Steve Goff broke the story that Johnson would likely be retiring from professional soccer. His early retirement is likely the result of a heart condition, which appears to have first shown up before last season’s Eastern Conference Semifinal against the New York Red Bulls. Goff’s report notes that both the club, the league, and Johnson’s representatives are all remaining quiet on the issue.

Perhaps what makes Johnson’s case so interesting is that his career is very difficult to assess. By all indications he should be considered a success. Johnson scored 71 goals in his MLS career with four clubs (United, Kansas City Wizards/Sporting KC, Dallas Burn/FC Dallas, and Seattle Sounders FC) and was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year twice (2007 and 2012). He also represented the United States Men’s National Team at the 2006 World Cup, won the Gold Cup twice (2007 and 2012) and scored 19 goals in 63 appearances.

Despite a very poor run in Europe, Johnson has built himself a pretty nice career. So why does his name bring up such rancor and vitriol?

While his career certainly had achievements that any person would be proud of, the point of contention seems to be how he conducted himself both on and off of the field. On the pitch, while his goals would make the supporters jump in hysterics his complaining and sometimes lackadaisical approach to defending would anger them. Although every player gets upset at a call or a bad pass, for whatever reason Johnson always seemed to be part of the issue.

This certainly happened last season with United where Johnson got off to a slow start and never really lived up to the Designated Player tag. That is not to say that he had a terrible season; he did score 7 goals in 22 appearances and played a prominent with the club during the Group Stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. But he was not the savior that United fans had been promised after a three win season in 2013 and the supporters clearly voiced their displeasure with him at any time that they could.

Problems on the pitch often boil over to problems off of the pitch and it seemed that every team Johnson went to there was an issue. Sounders supporters will of course recall the infamous ‘pay me’ gesture at the end of the 2013 season and his subsequent suspension during the MLS Playoffs. He had similar issues with United last season getting into trouble for his comments about his teammates, former Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching, and even United supporters.

(For the record: he was never an issue in post-game press conferences. Oddly enough, a little quiet but always willing to talk about the game and what went on).

Placing Johnson’s career in the column of good or bad is complicated because even when he was doing things that would frustrate people (pay me) he was doing something positive (scoring the game-winning goal against Mexico in an October World Cup qualifier). So how do we rectify all of these different events?

Although there may not be an answer the question does point to a difference in how American soccer operates differently from many other parts of the world. Here in the United States we told time and time again that the American style of play is one where hard work can overcome skill and that the team comes above everything else. Individuality is not always appreciated. There is a balance that American soccer players, and in particular strikers, have to walk between ability and character.

But in other parts of the world, individuality on the pitch is encouraged and especially at the striker position. Even if the player might say or do something controversial they are often forgiven if they can score. While Johnson may be derided here in the United States for his easy falls to the ground and striker’s mentality, in other parts of the world he might have been seen differently.

What is also interesting is that Johnson checked all of the boxes that American soccer supporters seem to want. While our style of play is workmanlike there has been this yearning to have a superstar player, someone who could stand up their with the greats of the world game. American soccer supporters seem to be a bit more educated on the issue than they were when Johnson was seen as a ‘can’t-miss’ prospect. That may be why his international career is held in higher regard more than his domestic career.

In the end, if there is any lesson from Johnson’s career it is perhaps that most player’s careers cannot be considered good nor bad but somewhere in between. He may never be seen in the same light as a Landon Donovan or a Clint Dempsey, but his achievements on the pitch were certainly of merit. Johnson may never have a ticker tape parade but he certainly made an impact for better or worse on American soccer.