McKinley Tennyson
Encyclopedia
McKinley Tennyson is an American soccer forward
who played two seasons with the Portland Timbers
and the 2002 playoffs with the Los Angeles Galaxy
. He was the 2002 USL First Division
points leader.
where Tennyson lived until graduating from North Central High School. Tennyson won four consecutive state championships with the North Central soccer team while being selected as a 1995 and 1996 Parade Magazine High School All American. In 1997, he entered UCLA where he would play on the men’s soccer team until 2000. In 1997, Tennyson and his team mates won the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
and in 2000, he was a second team All American. He graduated with a bachelors degree in sociology in 2004.
and six with the U.S. U-20 national team
. He was an integral part of the team as it qualified for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
, but was not selected for the roster at the finals.
selected Tennyson in the 4th round (39th overall) in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft
. Tennyson did not sign with Columbus, but moved to Europe where he trained with teams in Germany, Norway, and Sweden. On September 5, 2001, he signed with GIF Sundsvall
becoming the first African-American from UCLA to play professional soccer in the Swedish Superettan
. On August 17, 2001, the Crew traded the rights to Tennyson to the Los Angeles Galaxy
in exchange for a 2002 conditional draft pick. In 2002, Tennyson signed with the Portland Timbers
of the USL First Division
. That season, Tennyson led the Timbers in scoring with 18 goals and 6 assists in 24 games. This was good enough to lead the USL First Division in points and tied him with Fadi Afash
and Eduardo Sebrango
as joint goals leader. Tennyson was named to the USL All-Star First Team and earned other league awards. On August 15, 2002, following his successful rookie season, Tennyson signed as a developmental player with the Los Angeles Galaxy
. On October 2, 2002, he entered his first game with Galaxy and in Major League Soccer, a playoff game against the Kansas City Wizards
. He scored 31 seconds later. Tennyson's fortune continued and the Galaxy went on to win the 2002 MLS Soccer Championship beating the New England Revolution in the final. After unsuccessful negoiations with the Galaxy, Tennyson returned to Portland Timbers for the 2003 USL season. In 2003, his production dropped due to a painful hip injury, which required surgery in the offseason. However, Tennyson still finished with 11 goals and 3 assists in 28 games. In 2004, Tennyson signed a two year contract with the Timbers. Unfortunately, Tennyson could not honor the contract and was forced to retire because of the hip surgery and unsuccessful rehabilitation program. McKinley consulted hip specialist at Santa Monica Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Group and Orthopaedic Medical Group of San Diego to make his final decision.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who played two seasons with the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
and the 2002 playoffs with the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
. He was the 2002 USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
points leader.
Youth
Tennyson grew up the son of an U.S. Army officer, moving every few years. When he was eight, the family settled in Indianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
where Tennyson lived until graduating from North Central High School. Tennyson won four consecutive state championships with the North Central soccer team while being selected as a 1995 and 1996 Parade Magazine High School All American. In 1997, he entered UCLA where he would play on the men’s soccer team until 2000. In 1997, Tennyson and his team mates won the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
and in 2000, he was a second team All American. He graduated with a bachelors degree in sociology in 2004.
National team
Tennyson earned two caps with the United States U-17 men's national soccer teamUnited States U-17 men's national soccer team
The United States U-17 men's national soccer team is the national under-17 association football team of the United States and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation...
and six with the U.S. U-20 national team
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
. He was an integral part of the team as it qualified for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Nigeria between April 3 and April 24, 1999. The 1999 championship was the 12th contested.- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.-Squads:...
, but was not selected for the roster at the finals.
Professional
In February 2001, the Columbus CrewColumbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
selected Tennyson in the 4th round (39th overall) in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft
2001 MLS SuperDraft
-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:-External links:*...
. Tennyson did not sign with Columbus, but moved to Europe where he trained with teams in Germany, Norway, and Sweden. On September 5, 2001, he signed with GIF Sundsvall
GIF Sundsvall
GIF Sundsvall is a Swedish football club located in the city of Sundsvall. The club, formed on 25 August 1903, is currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan. The club is affiliated to Medelpads Fotbollförbund.- History :...
becoming the first African-American from UCLA to play professional soccer in the Swedish Superettan
Superettan
Superettan is the second highest league in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 16 Swedish football teams. It was created in 2000. Before that, the second level league in Sweden had been Division 1....
. On August 17, 2001, the Crew traded the rights to Tennyson to the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
in exchange for a 2002 conditional draft pick. In 2002, Tennyson signed with the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. That season, Tennyson led the Timbers in scoring with 18 goals and 6 assists in 24 games. This was good enough to lead the USL First Division in points and tied him with Fadi Afash
Fadi Afash
Fadi Afash is a former football player with the Portland Timbers of the USL First Division.On January 22, 2010 he was ranked 15th in the USL Second Division Top 15 of the Decade, which announced a list of the best and most influential players of the previous decade.-Playing career:Afash is...
and Eduardo Sebrango
Eduardo Sebrango
Eduardo Sebrango is a Cuban-Canadian footballer who currently plays for Montreal Impact in the North American Soccer League.-Club:...
as joint goals leader. Tennyson was named to the USL All-Star First Team and earned other league awards. On August 15, 2002, following his successful rookie season, Tennyson signed as a developmental player with the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
. On October 2, 2002, he entered his first game with Galaxy and in Major League Soccer, a playoff game against the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
. He scored 31 seconds later. Tennyson's fortune continued and the Galaxy went on to win the 2002 MLS Soccer Championship beating the New England Revolution in the final. After unsuccessful negoiations with the Galaxy, Tennyson returned to Portland Timbers for the 2003 USL season. In 2003, his production dropped due to a painful hip injury, which required surgery in the offseason. However, Tennyson still finished with 11 goals and 3 assists in 28 games. In 2004, Tennyson signed a two year contract with the Timbers. Unfortunately, Tennyson could not honor the contract and was forced to retire because of the hip surgery and unsuccessful rehabilitation program. McKinley consulted hip specialist at Santa Monica Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Group and Orthopaedic Medical Group of San Diego to make his final decision.