AMSTERDAM – Fabian Johnson probably has no idea he's already embarked on a record chase, but we're here to tell you that is exactly what happened when the Borussia Mönchengladbach attacker helped the visitors post a DfB-Pokal first-round victory on Monday night.
The US international did not register an assist in the 4-1 win at St. Pauli, but he earned the start from a strong wing stable and put in a solid shift. With the Foals in three competitions again this year – including entrance to the Champions League group stage, which will constitute their first appearance in the last 32 of the tournament since 1978 – one might imagine Johnson has a great shot at besting his career-high matching total of eight assists across all competitions from last term.
The thing is, notching nine helpers by the end of this new campaign would tie the all-time record for assists in a single campaign by an American playing in one of Europe's honor divisions. This standard was set by then-Rapid Vienna rookie forward Terrence Boyd when he teed up the winner in a closing day blanking of SV Ried in May of 2013, and then matched last season by former Chivas USA midfielder Bryan de la Fuente at Armenian side Ararat.
Should Johnson go two better and hit double digits, he will take the top-flight record for his own and tie the mark shared by Bobby Convey and Eddie Lewis that includes top second flight assist totals in the ranking. If he chalks up 11 or more, he becomes the undisputed heavyweight set-up man among all the American exports to have ever suited up across the pond. You can check out the top 15 American playmaking hauls of all-time (counting all first divisions, plus the English, German, Italian and Spanish second flight) in the chart below.
So the obvious question becomes: Can he do it? Barring injury woes, the obvious answer is: Why on Earth not?
Of course, it's never easy to stay in the line-up with competition from 'Gladbach wingers Andre Hahn, Thorgan Hazard and Patrick Hermann. Last season, Johnson was the new arrival and needed time to properly crack the starting 11. With a handful of injury absences added in along the way, he managed just nine league starts last season, with another five in cup competitions.
For the campaign, Johnson put up his eight assists (six Bundesliga, two Europa League) in 1,918 minutes of action, or roughly one every 240 minutes. There is no initial hill to climb this time and the attacked has improved, with Lars Stindl arriving to spring counters and Josip Drmic acquired to bull through the area for finishes.
Long story short: If Johnson can manage to start even half of 'Gladbach's 2015/16 matches and can simply maintain his assist rate from last year, he should fall right around 10 with some sub appearances tacked on. And that goes for if the club falls out of the Champions League at the end of the group phase and out of the German Cup at the next hurdle.
If they make longer cup runs or if he gets more than 50 percent of the left wing starts or if his rate of assist production rises, look out to the record books. Ladies and gentleman, get your click counters warmed up and ready. The chase is afoot.
Most assists, single campaign
10 Convey, Reading (05/06)
10 Lewis, Preston NE (04/05)
9 Boyd, Rapid Vienna (12/13)
9 De la Fuente, Ararat (14/15)
9 Kazlauskas, Helmond (12/13)
9 Romero, FC Pyunik (14/15)
8 Dempsey, Fulham (11/12)
8 F. Johnson, 'Gladbach (14/15)
8 F. Johnson, H'heim (11/12)
8 Kljestan, Anderlecht (12/13)
8 Lewis, Leeds (06/07)
8 Stewart, NAC (01/02)
7 Altidore, Sunderland (13/14)
7 Altidore, AZ (12/13)
7 Altidore, Hull (09/10)
7 Dempsey, Tottenham (12/13)
7 Jones, Schalke (12/13)
7* Kazlauskas, Helmond (11/12)
7 Parkhurst (12/13)
