Johnson, 32, has struggled with retirement, he freely admits, being forced from his profession by a heart condition revealed during the 2014 MLS playoffs.
Former Sounder Eddie Johnson retains the skills and persona that made him one of the most feared — and controversial — forwards in Major League Soccer and beyond.
Playing in Steve Zakuani’s charity match — which featured former U.S. national-team star Landon Donovan and current national-team defender Oguchi Onyewu — on Sunday in Tukwila, Johnson netted a hat trick and vented his frustration at bemused teammates.
Speaking at a pho restaurant in Bellevue a few days later, he was as candid and outspoken as ever.