Mark McKenzie (soccer)
Mark Alexander McKenzie is an American professional soccer player who plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Mark Irwin Robert Alexander McKenzie | ||
Date of birth | 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]
References
- "Mark McKenzie | MLS Profile". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- "Philadelphia Union Sign Homegrown Defender Mark McKenzie". Philadelphia Union. January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- "Another Union Academy defender commits to Wake Forest". Brotherly Game. December 11, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- John Dell (November 14, 2017). "McKenzie making the most of his chance to play for Deacons". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- "Mark McKenzie | Wake Forest Profile". Wake Forest Sports. Archived from the original on January 21, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- "Bethlehem Steel FC Fall 1-0 to New York Red Bulls II". Bethlehem Steel FC. June 5, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- Alicia Rodriguez (January 18, 2018). "Philadelphia Union sign defender Mark McKenzie to Homegrown contract". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- 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.
- Matthew Ralph (October 31, 2018). "Mark McKenzie lone finalist for MLS year-end awards". Brotherly Game. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
- "Mark McKenzie named to United States U18 roster for Slovakia Cup". Brotherly Game. April 18, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- "2016-2017 Development Academy End-of-Year Awards". U.S. Soccer Development Academy. July 13, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- "Mark McKenzie & Brenden Aaronson make Development Academy Best XIs". Brotherly Game. July 14, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- "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.
- "Berhalter Calls 27 Players to Chula Vista For U.S. MNT's 2019 January Camp". www.ussoccer.com.
- 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.