Mark McKenzie (soccer)

Mark Alexander McKenzie (born February 25, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as defender for Belgian club Genk. He has represented the United States at senior international level.

For the Scottish player, see Mark McKenzie (footballer).

Mark McKenzie
McKenzie playing for Philadelphia Union
Personal information
Full name Mark Irwin Robert Alexander McKenzie
Date of birth (1999-02-25) February 25, 1999
Place of birth The Bronx, New York, U.S.[1]
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Genk
Number 2
Youth career
2015–2016 Philadelphia Union
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Wake Forest 16 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Bethlehem Steel 17 (0)
2018–2020 Philadelphia Union 48 (2)
2021– Genk 3 (0)
National team‡
2017 United States U18 5 (0)
2018 United States U20 12 (3)
2019– United States U23 3 (0)
2020– United States 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of January 30, 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of December 9, 2020

Youth and college soccer

Growing up in Bear, Delaware, McKenzie began playing club soccer for Delaware Rush and Wilmington Rangers before being brought into the Philadelphia Union Academy.[2] In December 2015, McKenzie committed to play college soccer at Wake Forest University starting in 2017, joining his academy teammates Matthew Real and Joseph DeZart.[3] McKenzie made his first start for the Deacons as a freshman against Clemson University.[4] He registered 16 appearances and 5 starts for the Deacons.[5]

Professional career

Bethlehem Steel

McKenzie's performance in the academy ranks earned him call-ups to the Bethlehem Steel FC roster, the Union's USL team. He made his professional debut against New York Red Bulls II in June 2016.[6] Over two seasons, McKenzie made 8 appearances for the Steel as an amateur player.[2]

Philadelphia Union

On January 18, 2018, McKenzie signed a homegrown player contract with Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union.[2][7] He made 20 appearances his rookie season with the Union, mostly starting alongside fellow homegrown centerback, Auston Trusty.[8] McKenzie's appearances and performance on the backline earned him a nomination for the 2018 MLS Rookie of the Year Award.[9]

After losing his starting spot in the first team during the first half of the 2019 season, he reentered the line-up establishing himself as an initiator of attacks as a left-sided centerback.[10] He would retain his starting role through the 2020 season, earning accolades along the way. By mid-season, he made the Best IX for the MLS is Back Tournament.[11] McKenzie's first professional goal for the Union was a long-range equalizer against D.C. United in October 2020.[12] McKenzie finished the season with two goals and three assists from 22 matches, contributing to the Union's first trophy in the 2020 Supporters' Shield. His performances named him to the MLS Best XI and nominated for the 2020 Defender of the Year (finishing second in the voting).[13][14]

Genk

On January 7, 2021, McKenzie joined Belgian First Division A side Genk, signing a four-and-a-half year deal.[15] McKenzie made his debut for Genk on January 24, starting in a 3–2 loss against Club Brugge.[16]

International career

McKenzie has spent time in the US development ranks, being called into under-15 and under-16 camps. In 2017, McKenzie was called into the United States under-18s for the Slovakia Cup.[17] He made 7 appearances for the team in 2017.[2] His performances earned him 2016–17 Conference Best XI honors for the US Development Academy Eastern Conference under-18s.[18][19]

McKenzie received a call-up to the United States under-20 squad to compete in the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. McKenzie scored 3 goals during the qualifying group stages and captained the team in a 7–0 victory against Suriname.[20]

On December 20, 2018, McKenzie received his first senior call up for a friendly against Panama.[21] On February 1, 2020, McKenzie earned his first senior cap for the national team as a substitute in a friendly match against Costa Rica.[22]

Career statistics
As of January 30, 2021[23]
Club performance League Cup Other Total
ClubSeasonLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Bethlehem Steel FC 2016 USL 3†0—30
2017 USL 6†0—60
2018 USL 20—20
2019 USL 60—60
Total1700000170
Philadelphia Union 2018 MLS 1903000220
2019 MLS 70100080
2020 MLS 222—00222
Total4824000522
Genk 2020-21 Belgian First Division A 30000030
Career Total6824000722

†Indicates appearances earned as academy call-up.

Honors
Philadelphia Union

Individual

References
  1. "Mark McKenzie | MLS Profile". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  2. "Philadelphia Union Sign Homegrown Defender Mark McKenzie". Philadelphia Union. January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  3. "Another Union Academy defender commits to Wake Forest". Brotherly Game. December 11, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  4. John Dell (November 14, 2017). "McKenzie making the most of his chance to play for Deacons". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  5. "Mark McKenzie | Wake Forest Profile". Wake Forest Sports. Archived from the original on January 21, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  6. "Bethlehem Steel FC Fall 1–0 to New York Red Bulls II". Bethlehem Steel FC. June 5, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  7. Alicia Rodriguez (January 18, 2018). "Philadelphia Union sign defender Mark McKenzie to Homegrown contract". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  8. Jonathan Tannenwald (October 26, 2018). "Union's Mark McKenzie, a Bronx native, set to play biggest game of his career at Yankee Stadium against New York City FC". philly.com. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  9. Matthew Ralph (October 31, 2018). "Mark McKenzie lone finalist for MLS year-end awards". Brotherly Game. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  10. Adam Cann (January 7, 2021). "McKenzie's growth has him ready for Europe". PhiladelphiaUnion.com. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  11. "MLS is Back Tournament Best XI presented by BODYARMOR". MLSsoccer.com. August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  12. Ian Nicholas Quillen (October 14, 2020). "DC United 2, Philadelphia Union 2 | 2020 MLS Match Recap". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  13. "2020 MLS Best XI presented by Home Depot". MLSsoccer.com. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  14. "McKenzie finishes runner-up for MLS Defender Of The Year". PhiladelphiaUnion.com. November 18, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  15. "'We got him!': welkom Mark McKenzie" (in Dutch). K.R.C. Genk. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  16. "Former Philadelphia Union teammates Brenden Aaronson, Mark McKenzie make European league debuts". MLSsoccer.com. January 24, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  17. "Mark McKenzie named to United States U18 roster for Slovakia Cup". Brotherly Game. April 18, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  18. "2016–2017 Development Academy End-of-Year Awards". U.S. Soccer Development Academy. July 13, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  19. "Mark McKenzie & Brenden Aaronson make Development Academy Best XIs". Brotherly Game. July 14, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  20. "USA clinches spot in CONCACAF U-20 Championship Qualification stage with 7–0 win vs. Suriname". U.S. Soccer. November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  21. "Berhalter Calls 27 Players to Chula Vista For U.S. MNT's 2019 January Camp". www.ussoccer.com.
  22. Jonathan Tannenwald (February 4, 2020). "Jim Curtin lauds Brenden Aaronson and Mark McKenzie after Union duo's USMNT debuts". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  23. "United States – M. McKenzie – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". us.soccerway.com.
  24. "Philadelphia Union win 2020 MLS Supporters' Shield on regular season's final day". Major League Soccer. November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
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