Mark McKenzie (soccer)

Mark Alexander McKenzie is an American professional soccer player who plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.

Mark McKenzie
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, United States[1]
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Playing position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Philadelphia Union
Number 4
Youth career
2015–2016 Philadelphia Union
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 16 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Bethlehem Steel 17 (0)
2018– Philadelphia Union 29 (0)
National team‡
2017 United States U18 7 (0)
2018– United States U20 3 (0)
2020– United States 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 11, 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of February 1, 2020

Playing career

Youth and College

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 would register 16 appearances and 5 starts for the Deacons.[5]

Club

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 would make 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]

International

McKenzie has spent time in the US development ranks, being called into U-15 and U-16 camps. In 2017, McKenzie was called into the United States U-18s for the Slovakia Cup.[10] He would make 7 appearances for the team in 2017.[2] His performances would earn him 2016–17 Conference Best XI honors for the US Development Academy Eastern Conference U-18s.[11][12]

McKenzie received a call-up to the United States U-20 squad to compete in the2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. McKenzie scored 3 goals during the qualifying group stages and captained the team in a 7–0 victory against Suriname.[13]

On December 20, 2018 McKenzie received his first Senior call up for a friendly against Panama.[14] On February 1, 2020, McKenzie earned his first senior cap for the national team as a substitute in a friendly match against Costa Rica.[15]

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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. "Mark McKenzie named to United States U18 roster for Slovakia Cup". Brotherly Game. April 18, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  11. "2016-2017 Development Academy End-of-Year Awards". U.S. Soccer Development Academy. July 13, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  12. "Mark McKenzie & Brenden Aaronson make Development Academy Best XIs". Brotherly Game. July 14, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  13. "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.
  14. "Berhalter Calls 27 Players to Chula Vista For U.S. MNT's 2019 January Camp". www.ussoccer.com.
  15. 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.


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