Mark McKenzie (soccer, born 1999)

Mark Alexander McKenzie (born February 25, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as center-back for Belgian Pro League club Genk and the United States national team.

For the Scottish player, see Mark McKenzie (footballer, born 2000).

Mark McKenzie
McKenzie with the Philadelphia Union in 2019
Personal information
Full name Mark Alexander McKenzie[1]
Date of birth (1999-02-25) February 25, 1999
Place of birth The Bronx, New York, United States[2]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.84 m)[3]
Position(s) Center-back
Team 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 76 (4)
International career‡
2017 United States U18 5 (0)
2018–2019 United States U20 12 (3)
2019 United States U23 3 (0)
2020– United States 13 (0)
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's soccer
CONCACAF Nations League
Winner2021 United States
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 22, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of September 12, 2023

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.[4] He is of Jamaican descent through his father.[5] McKenzie played college soccer at Wake Forest University starting in 2017, joining his academy teammates Matthew Real and Joseph DeZart.[6] McKenzie made his first start for the Deacons as a freshman against Clemson University.[7] He registered 16 appearances and 5 starts for the Deacons.[8]

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.[9] Over two seasons, McKenzie made 8 appearances for the Steel as an amateur player.[4]

Philadelphia Union

On January 18, 2018, McKenzie signed a homegrown player contract with Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union.[4][10] He made 20 appearances his rookie season with the Union, mostly starting alongside fellow homegrown centerback, Auston Trusty.[11] McKenzie's appearances and performance on the backline earned him a nomination for the 2018 MLS Rookie of the Year Award.[12]

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.[13] He retained his starting role through the 2020 season, earning accolades along the way. By mid-season, he made the Best XI for the MLS is Back Tournament.[14] McKenzie's first professional goal for the Union was a long-range equalizer against D.C. United in October 2020.[15] 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).[16][17]

Genk

On January 7, 2021, McKenzie joined Belgian First Division A side Genk, signing a four-and-a-half year deal.[18] McKenzie made his debut for Genk on January 24, starting in a 2–3 loss against Club Brugge.[19] He finished his first season making 16 appearances in all competitions and helped Genk win the Belgian Cup.[20]

International career

McKenzie 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.[21] He made 7 appearances for the team in 2017.[4] His performances earned him 2016–17 Conference Best XI honors for the US Development Academy Eastern Conference under-18s.[22][23]

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.[24] Mark was named Captain of the under-20 squad.[25] On December 20, 2018, McKenzie received his first senior call up for a friendly against Panama.[26]

On February 1, 2020, McKenzie earned his first senior cap for the national team as a substitute in a friendly match against Costa Rica.[27]

McKenzie earned his World Cup qualifying debut in September 2021, starting in a 1–4 comeback win at Honduras.[28]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played October 26, 2023[29]
Club performance League National cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Other Total
ClubSeasonDivision AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Bethlehem Steel FC 2016 USL 30———30
2017 USL 60———60
2018 USL 20———20
2019 USL 60———60
Total170———170
Philadelphia Union 2018 MLS 19030—1[lower-alpha 2]0230
2019 MLS 7010—2[lower-alpha 2]0100
2020 MLS 222——1[lower-alpha 2]0232
Total 48240—40562
Genk 2020–21 Belgian Pro League 13030——160
2021–22 Belgian Pro League 220203[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 4]0280
2022–23 Belgian Pro League 36430——394
2023–24 Belgian Pro League 50—91—141
Total 7648012110975
Career total 1416110121501697
  1. Includes U.S. Open Cup and Belgian Cup
  2. Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
  3. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  4. Appearance in Belgian Super Cup

International
As of match played September 12, 2023[30]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States 202020
202160
202220
202330
Total130

Honors

Philadelphia Union

Genk

United States U20

United States

Individual

References
  1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: USA" (PDF). FIFA. June 13, 2019. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 6, 2020.
  2. "Mark McKenzie | MLS Profile". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  3. "Mark McKenzie". KRC Genk. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  4. "Philadelphia Union Sign Homegrown Defender Mark McKenzie". Philadelphia Union. January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  5. "USMNT vs. Jamaica: For Mark McKenzie, 'it's all love' if his father roots for underdog Reggae Boyz Thursday". CBSSports.com.
  6. "Another Union Academy defender commits to Wake Forest". Brotherly Game. December 11, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  7. John Dell (November 14, 2017). "McKenzie making the most of his chance to play for Deacons". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  8. "Mark McKenzie | Wake Forest Profile". Wake Forest Sports. Archived from the original on January 21, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  9. "Bethlehem Steel FC Fall 1–0 to New York Red Bulls II". Bethlehem Steel FC. June 5, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  10. Alicia Rodriguez (January 18, 2018). "Philadelphia Union sign defender Mark McKenzie to Homegrown contract". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  11. 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.
  12. Matthew Ralph (October 31, 2018). "Mark McKenzie lone finalist for MLS year-end awards". Brotherly Game. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  13. Adam Cann (January 7, 2021). "McKenzie's growth has him ready for Europe". PhiladelphiaUnion.com. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  14. "MLS is Back Tournament Best XI presented by BODYARMOR". MLSsoccer.com. August 13, 2020. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  15. Ian Nicholas Quillen (October 14, 2020). "DC United 2, Philadelphia Union 2 | 2020 MLS Match Recap". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  16. "2020 MLS Best XI presented by Home Depot". MLSsoccer.com. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  17. "McKenzie finishes runner-up for MLS Defender Of The Year". PhiladelphiaUnion.com. November 18, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  18. "'We got him!': welkom Mark McKenzie" (in Dutch). K.R.C. Genk. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  19. "Former Philadelphia Union teammates Brenden Aaronson, Mark McKenzie make European league debuts". MLSsoccer.com. January 24, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  20. Larry Henry Jr. (April 25, 2021). "Mark McKenzie comes off bench to help Genk win Belgium Cup Final". SBIsoccer.com. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  21. "Mark McKenzie named to United States U18 roster for Slovakia Cup". Brotherly Game. April 18, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  22. "2016–2017 Development Academy End-of-Year Awards". U.S. Soccer Development Academy. July 13, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  23. "Mark McKenzie & Brenden Aaronson make Development Academy Best XIs". Brotherly Game. July 14, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  24. "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.
  25. "Mark McKenzie named Captain of U-20 US Squad". chasingacup.com. November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  26. "Berhalter Calls 27 Players to Chula Vista For U.S. MNT's 2019 January Camp". www.ussoccer.com.
  27. 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.
  28. Nancy Armour (September 8, 2021). "Ricardo Pepi starts for United States men's national soccer team in World Cup qualifier vs. Honduras". USA TODAY. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  29. "M. McKenzie". Soccerway.
  30. Mark McKenzie at National-Football-Teams.com
  31. "Philadelphia Union win 2020 MLS Supporters' Shield on regular season's final day". Major League Soccer. November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  32. "Onuachu with an assist as Genk clinch Belgian Cup title after Standard Liege win". Goal. April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  33. "Christian Pulisic, Ethan Horvath lead U.S. over Mexico in Nations League final". ESPN. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
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