HIS dad was nicknamed Magic, and his tutelage has clearly done the trick.
Except when he lost.
Since then, Max has kicked on to play in the Champions League and hopes to pick up a Scotland cap under Steve Clarke[/caption]
On those occasions Allan Johnston would sometimes not discuss the game with his son, Max, when they were both together at Queen of the South.
Not now though.
Nowadays Johnston junior in Austria‘s Bundesliga with reigning champions Sturm Graz.
And instead of silent drives out of Dumfries, Dortmund’s famous Yellow Wall roar was on his agenda this season.
Champions League football has come quickly for the 21-year-old. It seemed a far-flung dream at Palmerston and as he came through the ranks at Motherwell.
Right-back Max made his debut in 2021 – almost 30 years after his dad did likewise with Hearts.
Allan, a winger by trade, later moved to Rennes under a freedom of contract then Sunderland and pitched up at Dick Advocaat‘s Rangers before being sold to Middlesbrough.
It was on Teesside Max was born, but representing Scotland has never been in question.
He’s been a regular in national squads at youth level since signing for the Steelmen as a 12-year-old and is now in the mix to follow in dad’s footsteps again with a cap to begin catching up on dad Allan’s 18.
So far, he’s been emulating his old man with some distinction.
Following him into the beautiful game and moving away abroad – again under a freedom of contract – to experience new cultures.
And new competitions.
Graz featured in the Champions League this season with Johnston picking up five appearances and plenty of game-time – two more than dad managed with Rangers.
By coincidence one of those games was a 5-0 drubbing of the very Austrians who his son now represents.
But Graz have been the ones dishing out high-scoring wins at home this season – albeit beaten 5-0 by Atalanta in the UCL league phase.
They’re on course to retain their league title – though currently neck and neck with Austria Vienna at the top on 23 points.
They did the double last season – delivering Johnston’s first football silverware – and placing him in the upper echelons of European football this season.
“It’s amazing – something to be proud of,” he told BBC Scotland.
Johnston is loving life in Graz[/caption]
The city mixes historic buildings with modern sculptures from Europe’s city of culture 2003[/caption]
He helped win the Austrian Bundesliga last season – lining up Champions League football against the likes of Borussia Dortmund[/caption]
“Whenever the Champions League comes up in conversation, you get goosebumps. Dortmund away, I started, and it was amazing playing in front of the Yellow Wall.
“Moments like that you just need to make sure you take it in and appreciate it as much as possible – they’re moments and experiences that will stick with you forever.”
Graz didn’t make it beyond the new-look league format but Johnston feels like a winner already as he lives it up in Austria’s culinary capital.
“Players like [Aaron Hickey and Lewis Ferguson] have taken the step abroad and it’s worked out for them.
“That was a key part of my decision to go and try something different and just be brave and go for it. Why not? It was a no-brainer,” he said.
“Once I went over, I understood how big the club is. The city’s beautiful. It’s something I wanted to do – move away, see the world and I’ve been lucky to move to such an amazing place.”
Before his big flitting though, he made his way through the Scottish game.
Stints at Queen of the South and Cove Rangers prepared him for Motherwell’s top team and the teen took his chance – landing the Scottish Football Writers’ Association (SFWA) Young Player of the Year award in 2022/23.
Max in action for QOTS with dad in the background[/caption]
Allan Johnston was capped 18 times and scored twice[/caption]
He featured in Scotland’s memorable win over Germany in 2001[/caption]
And it was that grounding – and fatherly advice, sometimes – that contributed to his rapid ascent.
“I was so lucky to be able to get my first loan in the Scottish Championship. Obviously, my dad was the manager and that was a huge help.”
“When we didn’t get the best of results, he just wouldn’t speak a word sometimes!
“I would get in the car and think, ‘this is going to be brutal’. But it’s something I would never change.
“It’s a moment I will treasure forever, playing under my dad.”
The next achievement he’ll treasure is a Scotland cap – one that he’s waited patiently for over 12 months since his first call into Steve Clarke‘s set-up.
It’s next on the list to catch dad, who played 18 times between – 1998 and 2001 – scoring twice.
Johnston Jnr even wore his old man’s strips as he cheered on his current team-mates with the Tartan Army at last summer‘s Euros.
For all the personal plaudits, and Champions League appearances, handing over his cap and jersey would mean just as much as the personal plaudits and Champions League appearances – if not more.
He said: “My dad has shown me a lot of his Scotland highlights. He’s shown me the clips, the games and his strips. I was actually wearing one of his tops when I was watching the Euros with my mates in the summer.
“If I can get my first Scotland cap it would be a special moment. If I get that cap I will give my first strip to my parents, for sure.
“It would be something special.”
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