Mark McKenzie (soccer, born 1999) facts for kids
McKenzie with the Philadelphia Union in 2019
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | February 25, 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | The Bronx, New York, United States | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 feet 0 inches (1.84 m) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Center-back | ||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Toulouse | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Philadelphia Union | ||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2019 | Bethlehem Steel | 17 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | Philadelphia Union | 48 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2024 | Genk | 104 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Toulouse | 16 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||
| National team‡ | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | United States U18 | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | United States U20 | 12 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | United States U23 | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2020– | United States | 17 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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† Appearances (Goals). |
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Mark Alexander McKenzie (born February 25, 1999) is an American professional soccer player. He plays as a center-back for the French club Toulouse. Mark also plays for the United States national team.
Contents
Mark McKenzie's Early Soccer Journey
Starting in Delaware
Mark McKenzie grew up in Bear, Delaware. He started playing club soccer at a young age. His first teams were Delaware Rush and Wilmington Rangers. Later, he joined the Philadelphia Union Academy. Mark's father is from Jamaica, so he has Jamaican roots.
Playing in College
In 2017, Mark went to Wake Forest University for college soccer. He joined his friends and teammates from the academy there. Mark played 16 games for the Wake Forest Deacons. He started five of those games.
Mark McKenzie's Professional Career
First Steps with Bethlehem Steel
Mark's great play in the academy got him noticed by Bethlehem Steel FC. This team was connected to the Philadelphia Union. He made his first professional appearance in June 2016. Over two seasons, he played eight games for Bethlehem Steel.
Time with Philadelphia Union
On January 18, 2018, Mark signed a special contract with Major League Soccer team Philadelphia Union. This type of contract is for players who grew up in the team's youth system. In his first year, he played 20 games for the Union. He often played alongside another young defender, Auston Trusty. Mark's strong performance earned him a nomination for the 2018 MLS Rookie of the Year Award.
In 2019, Mark worked hard to get back his starting spot. He became known for helping start attacks from the back. He kept his starting role through the 2020 season. He even made the "Best XI" team during the MLS is Back Tournament. Mark scored his first goal for the Union in October 2020. It was a long-range shot against D.C. United. He helped the Union win their first trophy, the Supporters' Shield, in 2020. Because of his excellent play, he was named to the MLS Best XI. He also finished second for the 2020 Defender of the Year award.
Moving to Genk
On January 7, 2021, Mark joined Genk, a team in Belgium. He signed a contract for four and a half years. Mark played his first game for Genk on January 24. He played 16 games in his first season. He also helped Genk win the Belgian Cup.
Joining Toulouse
On August 16, 2024, Mark McKenzie signed with Toulouse. This team plays in France.
Mark McKenzie's International Career
Playing for Youth National Teams
Mark spent time playing for different US youth teams. He was called up to the under-15 and under-16 camps. In 2017, he played for the United States under-18s. He played seven games for that team.
Later, Mark joined the United States under-20 squad. He played in the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. Mark scored three goals in the group stages. He was also the captain of the team in a big 7–0 win against Suriname.
Playing for the Senior National Team
On December 20, 2018, Mark was called up to the senior national team for the first time. He made his official debut on February 1, 2020. This was in a friendly game against Costa Rica. In September 2021, Mark played his first World Cup qualifying game. The US team won 4–1 against Honduras.
Mark McKenzie's Achievements and Awards
Team Honors
- Philadelphia Union
- Supporters' Shield: 2020
- Genk
- Belgian Cup: 2020–21
- United States U20
- CONCACAF U-20 Championship: 2018
- United States
- CONCACAF Nations League: 2019–20, 2023–24
Individual Awards
- CONCACAF Under-20 Championship Best XI: 2018
- MLS is Back Tournament Best XI: 2020
- MLS Best XI: 2020
Images for kids
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McKenzie with the Philadelphia Union in 2019
See also
In Spanish: Mark McKenzie para niños
