Leon McKenzie
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{{Football player infobox
| playername = Leon McKenzie
| image =
| fullname = Leon Mark McKenzie
| height = 5'10
| nickname =
| dateofbirth = {{Birth date and age|1978|5|17|df=y}}
| cityofbirth = [[Croydon]]
| countryofbirth = [[United Kingdom|UK]]
| currentclub = [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
| clubnumber = 15
| position = [[Striker (football)|Striker]]
| youthyears =
| youthclubs = [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]
| years = 1995–2000<br>1997<br>1998<br>2000–2003<br>2003–2006<br>2006–
| clubs = [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]<br>→ [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] (loan)<br>→ [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]] (loan)<br>[[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]]<br>[[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]<br>[[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
| caps(goals) = 85 {{0}}(7)<br>{{0}}3 {{0}}(0)<br>14 {{0}}(8)<br>90 (46)<br>79 (20)<br>37 {{0}}(9)
| nationalyears =
| nationalteam =
| nationalcaps(goals) =
| pcupdate = 17:17, 25 May 2007 (UTC)
| ntupdate =
}}
'''Leon Mark McKenzie''' (born [[17 May]], [[1978]] in [[Croydon]]) is a professional [[football (soccer)|footballer]] who currently plays for [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]. He is the son of former British and European boxing champion [[Clinton McKenzie]] and nephew of [[flyweight]] [[boxing]] champion [[Duke McKenzie]] and politician and retired boxer [[Winston McKenzie]].
==Football career==
McKenzie began his career with his local club [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]], making his debut during the [[1995-96 in English football|1995-96]] season. In [[1997]] he was loaned to [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] and in [[1998]] to [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]], where he scored 9 goals in 15 games.
In [[2000]] McKenzie moved to [[London Road]] on a permanent basis. In three years there he scored 49 goals in 103 games.
He joined [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich]] from Peterborough in December [[2003]] for a fee of £325,000, and instantly won over the Canaries faithful by scoring twice on his debut to help beat local rival [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] at [[Portman Road]] and go top of division one. His goals made a significant contribution to Norwich's promotion to the [[FA Premier League|Premier League]] as [[Football League First Division|First Division]] champions.
Within a year, he had turned from a [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] to a [[FA Premier League|Premiership]] player. McKenzie took time to find his feet in the Premiership but he established a strike partnership with [[Dean Ashton]] which would become one of the most potent in the division during the closing stages of the [[2004-05 in English football|2004-05 season]]. His goals helped Norwich to haul themselves into contention to avoid the drop, although they were relegated on the last day of the season.
He was voted third place in the Norwich Player of The Season vote by supporters for the season [[2004-05 in English football|2004-05]], beaten by [[Darren Huckerby]] and [[Damien Francis]], ironically the same player who's cheekbone he broke in November 2004. Upon hearing Damien Francis had been having an affair with his Mrs, Leon punched Damien and had to be separated by players.
The [[2005-06 in English football|2005-06]] season for McKenzie was interrupted by injuries and personal difficulties surrounding the break-up of his marriage. At the start of the [[2006-07 in English football]] campaign, he handed in a transfer request to manager [[Nigel Worthington]]. Although Worthington rejected McKenzie's request, he subsequently confirmed that McKenzie would be sold if they received an offer that matched the club's valuation of the player.
McKenzie was signed by [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] on transfer deadline day in [[August 2006]] for an intitial £600,000 that, according to appearances and promotion, could rise to £1m. Ironically, Coventry's first match after signing Mckenzie was against Norwich - however, Mckenzie was unable to play due to a condition of the transfer that prevented him from playing in either of the two fixtures between Coventry and Norwich in the 2006-07 season. He made his debut for Coventry on [[12 September]] [[2006]] as a substitute against [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] at [[Portman Road]].
He started the 2007/2008 season well, scoring against Barnsley on the opening day of the season and Hull, before a knee injury put him out of action for several weeks.
McKenzie's cousin is [[The X Factor (UK series 3)#Ashley McKenzie|Ashley McKenzie]], who took part in the third series of ''[[The X Factor (UK)|The X Factor]]'', broadcasting on [[ITV1]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10269~9257,00.html Leon McKenzie player profile] at ccfc.co.uk
*[http://www.canaries.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10355~9257,00.html Leon McKenzie player profile] at canaries.co.uk
*{{soccerbase|id=5178|mame=Leon McKenzie}}
*[http://www.uptheposh.com/people/14/ Profile] at [http://www.uptheposh.com/ UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database]
*[http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/mckenzie.htm Career information at ex-canaries.co.uk]
{{Coventry City F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mackenzie, Leon}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English footballers]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Crystal Palace F.C. players]]
[[Category:Fulham F.C. players]]
[[Category:Peterborough United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Norwich City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Coventry City F.C. players]]