E22 | Ross McKenzie
Episode Summary | Ross McKenzie
Ross McKenzie was a first-team All American at Akron University and was on track for a professional career in the MLS.
But after a kiwi summer on the booze it didn’t work out that way.
Macca is one of New Zealand Football’s great characters: Passionate, outspoken, laid-back and always up for a laugh. He was a pro in Singapore, played for four national league clubs and was subbed in the first half of the Chatham Cup Final in front of his friends and family.
He went on to become a property tycoon and he’s also Steve’s brother-in-law!
Show notes | Ross McKenzie
1.48 Level 2: We’re back live!
2.17 How Seamus and Steve know Macca
4.36 Recollections of the 2010 Chatham Cup Final from Seamus, Steve, Shane Knowles and Macca
14.06 “The most hated man in New Zealand football”: Who is Ross McKenzie?
18.24 “Houdini”: The MAGs years
24.38 The NZ Secondary Schools tour to Europe
28.08 Go Zips: a college career at the University of Akron (with Lebron James) and Macca on dealing with the passing of his mum
37.03 Senior Year, NCAA first team All-American, the MLS Combine and the Draft, and a Jason Batty story that can’t be shared
46.02 The Red Badge All Stars and Allan Mckenzie connections help Macca earn a short stint at Dundee United
51.39 Out of favour at Auckland City and down the motorway to Waikato FC
55.32 Wasted Talent: playing beach soccer with Danyon Freeloader
57.06 My ideal life: Playing professionally in Singapore
1.04.00 Back to Dunedin to finish his university degree and playing with “the best striker I’ve ever seen”
1.09.06 We touch on Macca’s short time at Team Wellington but end up back in Dunedin with Campbell Parkin
1.12.19 Macca reminisces on his two best football years with Bay Olympic and one last hurrah with Waitakere United with Neil Emblen and the most memorable teammates of his football career
1.21.30 Macca on Steve marrying his sister and a very Happy Birthday Bon x
1.23.29 From footballer / teacher to property tycoon: Macca’s time in Dubai
1.29.59 Bits and Pieces: Back playing for Papamoa FC, potential as a future Kit Man at Melville United, and a very good contact for Seamus as an aspiring player agent
1.32.28 The 2002 New Zealand under 20 experience and an Olympic call up at 25
1.33.58 Final thoughts from Steve, Seamus and Macca
