Allan Johnston

Allan Johnston (born 14 December 1973) is a Scottish football player and coach, who was most recently the manager of Queen of the South.

Johnston started his professional playing career with Heart of Midlothian and then followed on to French club Rennes before a spell in English football with Sunderland before returning to Scotland with Rangers.

Johnston then returned to England with Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday.

Johnston returned to Scotland and played out his playing career with Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Queen of the South.

Johnston played for Scotland 18 times in full internationals, and also played for the Scotland under-21 and B international teams.

Johnston began his career with Heart of Midlothian, becoming a first-team regular in the mid-1990s.

In January 1996, Johnston scored his first career hat-trick, scoring all three goals in a 3–0 win against Rangers at Ibrox.

Johnston picked up a Scottish Cup runners-up medal that season in the defeat to Rangers where Brian Laudrup dominated the final.

During the summer of 1996, Johnston moved to French club Rennes (Aberdeen defender Gary Smith making the same move), but he left after less than one season.

Johnston finished the season with FA Premier League side Sunderland as they were relegated to the Football League First Division.

Johnston was the scorer of the final competitive goal at Roker Park in a 3–0 win over Everton in the final home game of the 1996/97 season.

Although Sunderland were defeated in the 1998 play-off final, the club won the title the following season.

Johnston made 18 appearances for Scotland between 1998 and 2002, and was also capped at under–21 level.

During the summer of 1999, with just one year left on his contract, Johnston began negotiations about an extension.

During this time, interest in Johnston was expressed by Rangers and after negotiations broke down with Sunderland, Johnston stated his desire to move to Glasgow.

Despite previously being a first-team regular he never appeared for Sunderland in 1999–2000 season and was subsequently loaned to Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers, the latter with whom he appeared in the FA Cup semi-final.

However in the semi-final versus Aston Villa he was one of two Bolton players to have their penalty saved by David James as they crashed out in a shoot-out.

At the end of the 1999–00 season, having not featured for Sunderland in the entire campaign, Johnston moved to Rangers on a free transfer, scoring on his debut in a Champions League qualifying match against FBK Kaunas.

He scored twice more for Rangers, his strikes coming against Herfolge in another Champions League qualifier and Brechin in the Scottish Cup.

Little over twelve months later, in late August 2001 and with the FA Premier League season already underway, Johnston moved to Middlesbrough in a £600,000 deal, making his debut in the derby defeat to Newcastle United the following weekend.

Johnston scored in his second match against West Ham but failed to score again all season, missing February and March due to injury.

The following season, Johnston spent much of the season on loan with Sheffield Wednesday, scoring twice, having only played in two League Cup matches for Boro, subsequently missing the entire 2003–04 season.

Johnston signed for Kilmarnock in August 2004, reuniting him with former Hearts management team Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown.

In April 2007, with his contract about to expire, Johnston agreed a new two-year deal, which wasn't extended upon its expiry in June 2009, resulting in his release from Rugby Park.

On 8 August 2009, Johnston played in a trial match for St Mirren against Wigan Athletic.

After the match, manager Gus MacPherson said that he would love to sign him, but felt he might be out of their price range.

After making 10 appearances for St Mirren, he was released at the end of the season.

In July 2010 Johnston played as a trialist in four games for Dumfries club Queen of the South.

Johnston was then confirmed on the club's website as having signed a one-year contract on 16 July 2010.

Johnston's competitive league debut for Queens was on 22 August 2010 when he played in central midfield during a 3–1 away win at Cowdenbeath.

Johnston scored his first Queens goal in a league win at Palmerston Park versus Partick Thistle on 18 September 2010.

Queen of the South announced on 21 June 2011 that Johnston had signed a contract as player coach.

Johnston started his managerial career in 2012, as player-manager of Queen of the South.

Johnston won the Second Division championship in his first season as a manager, then moved to Kilmarnock.

Johnston departed Rugby Park after 18 months after a dispute with the club's board about the sale of a player.

On 3 May 2012, Johnston was appointed as Queens new player-manager.

Johnston led Queens to a historic double in his first full season in management, winning the Scottish Second Division Championship and the Scottish Challenge Cup.

Johnston and his assistant, Sandy Clark both signed two-year contracts to join Kilmarnock as the club's new management team on 24 June 2013.

Queen of the South receive around £30,000 in compensation.

Johnston was appointed manager of Dunfermline Athletic in 2015, where he won the League One Championship in his first season.