Multiple German clubs were circling for Mark McKenzie’s signature this summer, but the American defender will be heading to France instead.
Toulouse have finalized their acquisition of McKenzie permanently from Belgian side Genk, both clubs announced Friday. The move ends McKenzie’s four-year stay with Genk and provides him with a new opportunity in France’s Ligue 1.
“It’s always special to be the first to do something, no matter what it is, so it’s an honor to represent the United States so far,” McKenzie said in a club interview when asked about being the first American to play for Toulouse. “It adds a bit of pressure, yes, but I have to raise my own standards, lead the way and maybe inspire some in America. It’s a win-win for the Club and me.”
McKenzie was a consistent starter with Genk over the past three seasons, logging a combined 128 appearances and scoring five goals. He won the Belgian Cup during his time in Genk, as well as increased his involvement with the U.S. men’s national team.
The 25-year-old made the move to Genk during the 2020-21 Pro League season after coming through the ranks with the Philadelphia Union. McKenzie made 59 appearances in MLS, winning the Supporters’ Shield prior to his move abroad.
McKenzie has earned 13 USMNT caps to date, being part of the CONCACAF Nations League-winning side in 2019-20.
Toulouse hosts Nantes on Sunday in its Ligue 1 opener.
Gary,
Gonzo had a habit making at least one howler per one USMNT game. They did not always result in a goal for the other side but they could have. So even though that I don’t blame Gonzo for that rather insane own goal, his well-earned reputation did him in.
He was a really good defender except for those times when he wasn’t.
Hope it turns out ti be s good move for him. Our CB pool is a bit light.
this would be a good move for McKenzie! It’s time he stepped up to a bigger, more competitive league and if this pans out he’ll keep himself locked into NT call ups and maybe more playing time. Chris Richards did not look good this summer, neither did CCV, and with Ream aging out probably as soon as the next NT roster is called in, there are chances for CB’s like McKenzie and Trusty to make a case for themselves
if you are frustrated, and your response to the frustration is to recycle the same names causing your frustration, you are going about it wrong. it’s the same mentality where arena rotated among besler, cameron, and omar. the idea is seemingly the ego that i believe these are my best three, ergo this is my best chance, and i couldn’t be wrong. then omar literally sends us home. since a tie would have done the job, one starts thinking, what if brooks had been given a game, or miazga or Z got youthful opportunity. i thought brooks sucked but in that context, did he suck less? but we’d kind of settled on a particular set.
my hope is we get out of GB’s dumb pattern of assuming his conclusions the first game we play. that we run several CB out there. that the ones who perform over time stick around. that performance dictates as opposed to the circular belief the coach knows what he’s doing and this is who the coach likes.
i think ream needs pastured, and then we need some fresh faces like EPB and some europeans and noobs in, plus give some of the old guard some minutes too.
re mckenzie specifically, my critique has been that he is sometimes lazy getting back, and thus somewhat out of shape and facing his own net, as opposed to in slot and facing forward. he also gets crap for distribution when we build from the back but honestly over the sweep of time, who hasn’t? at a point when no one seems to do it right, it’s just bad tactics relative to the pool on hand.
As regards Omar and the T&T fiasco, I think most all of us following the team closely then were gobsmacked when Arena picked Omar over Cameron. Cameron had had several good seasons in the EPL and Omar had a bad penchant for screwing up in critical spots. Being a Galaxy fan I remember a couple of times when Omar gave up tying or winning goals in critical games.
Gary,
Gonzo had a habit making at least one howler per one USMNT game. They did not always result in a goal for the other side but they could have. So even though that I don’t blame Gonzo for that rather insane own goal, his well-earned reputation did him in.
He was a really good defender except for those times when he wasn’t.