Career
He played mainly as a centre back from 1983 until 1999, notably in the Premier League for Chelsea and in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich. He also played for Moss, Rosenborg and Strømsgodset and earned 24 caps for Norway. He moved into management in 1999 with Strømsgodset and later with Moss, Follo, Lillestrøm and Strømmen.
His playing career began in Moss, and he later joined Bayern Munich as a professional.
During his two seasons at the club he was involved in two championships in 1989 and 1990. In December 1989, he transferred to English team Chelsea, where he played for eight seasons and was voted player of the year for the club in 1995.
He scored his only goal for the club against Southampton in April 1994. Johnsen was a central defender who was capped 19 times for the Norwegian national team, participating in the 1994 World Cup.
He made 16 under-21 appearances for Norway.
Perhaps the most famous moment in Johnsen"s career came on 15 November 1989, during a match between Norway and Scotland, at Hampden Park, where he scored a goal from the middle of the pitch. The goal went around the world, even making Cable News Network"s "Play of the Day". lieutenant also caught the interest of Chelsea who purchased Johnsen later that same year.
Legendary Scottish goalkeeper Jim Leighton said about the shot twenty years later: "I"m never allowed to forget about it in Scotland, it is the furthest I"ve ever lost a goal from." Johnsen reconstructed the goal together with Leighton in 2009 on the Norwegian sports entertainment show Golden Goal.
Johnsen remained with Strømsgodset as an assistant coach for the next three years after he retired as a football player. Later he had spells with Moss (2002–2003) and Follo (2003–2006).
He also worked for Lillestrøm as a player developer. After Tom Nordlie resigned on 29 May 2008, Johnsen stepped in as caretaker, together with former Chelsea teammate Frode Grodåson
In January 2012, he agreed to coach Strømmen.
