Mark McKenzie (soccer, born 1999)
American soccer player (born 1999)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mark Alexander McKenzie (born February 25, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as center-back for Ligue 1 club Toulouse and the United States national team.
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McKenzie with the United States in 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Mark Alexander McKenzie[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | February 25, 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | The Bronx, New York, US[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.84 m)[3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Center-back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Toulouse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | Philadelphia Union | 48 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2024 | Genk | 104 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Toulouse | 60 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | United States U18 | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | United States U20 | 12 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | United States U23 | 3 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020– | United States | 27 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of May 19, 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 five 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 eight 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]
Toulouse
On August 16, 2024, McKenzie signed with Toulouse in France.[21]
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.[22] He made seven 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.[23][24]
McKenzie received a call-up to the United States under-20 squad to compete in the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. McKenzie scored three goals during the qualifying group stages and captained the team in a 7–0 victory against Suriname.[25] Mark was named captain of the under-20 squad.[26] On December 20, 2018, McKenzie received his first senior call up for a friendly against Panama.[27]
On February 1, 2020, McKenzie earned his first senior cap for the national team as a substitute in a friendly match against Costa Rica.[28]
McKenzie earned his World Cup qualifying debut in September 2021, starting in a 1–4 comeback win at Honduras.[29]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played March 15, 2026[30]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bethlehem Steel FC | 2016 | USL | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2017 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||||
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||||
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | 17 | 0 | |||||
| Philadelphia Union | 2018 | MLS | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 0 | 10 | 0 | |||
| 2020 | 22[c] | 2 | — | — | 4[d] | 0 | 26 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 48 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | 59 | 2 | |||
| Genk | 2020–21 | Belgian Pro League | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[e] | 0 | 1[f] | 0 | 28 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | 36 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 4 | ||||
| 2023–24 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10[g] | 1 | — | 44 | 1 | |||
| 2024–25 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 104 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 128 | 5 | ||
| Toulouse | 2024–25 | Ligue 1 | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 1 | ||
| 2025–26 | 23 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 53 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 60 | 1 | ||||
| Career total | 122 | 7 | 20 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 263 | 8 | ||
- Includes U.S. Open Cup, Belgian Cup and Coupe de France
- Appearance(s) in MLS Cup playoffs
- Includes three appearances in MLS is Back Tournament group stage
- Three appearances in MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage, one appearance in MLS Cup playoffs
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
- Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League, six appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa Conference League
International
- As of match played March 31, 2026[31]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2020 | 2 | 0 |
| 2021 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 27 | 0 | |
Honors
Philadelphia Union
Genk
United States U20
United States
Individual
- CONCACAF Under-20 Championship Best XI: 2018
- MLS is Back Tournament Best XI: 2020[14]
- MLS Best XI: 2020[16]
