Kenney Walker Explained

Kenney Walker
Fullname:Kenneth Walker
Birth Date:23 December 1988
Birth Place:Wickliffe, Ohio, United States
Position:Midfielder
Collegeyears1:2007–2011
College1:Louisville Cardinals
Collegecaps1:84
Collegegoals1:9
Years1:2010–2011
Clubs1:Chicago Fire Premier
Caps1:15
Goals1:1
Years2:2012–2015
Clubs2:LA Galaxy
Caps2:17
Goals2:0
Years3:2013
Clubs3:→ Fort Lauderdale Strikers (loan)
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:2013
Clubs4:→ Carolina RailHawks (loan)
Caps4:11
Goals4:0
Years5:2014
Clubs5:→ LA Galaxy II (loan)
Caps5:7
Goals5:1
Years6:2015
Clubs6:→ LA Galaxy II (loan)
Caps6:5
Goals6:0
Years7:2016–2018
Clubs7:FC Cincinnati
Caps7:80
Goals7:6
Years8:2019–2020
Clubs8:Indy Eleven
Caps8:31
Goals8:1
Years9:2020
Clubs9:→ Louisville City (loan)
Caps9:1
Goals9:0
Years10:2021
Clubs10:Kings Hammer
Caps10:5
Goals10:0
Years11:2022
Clubs11:Metro Louisville FC
Club-Update:February 13, 2002

Kenneth "Kenney" Walker (born December 23, 1988) is an American professional soccer player.

Early life

Kenney Walker was born on December 23, 1988, in Wickliffe, Ohio to Mark Walker and Dawn Hoban. He attended Wickliffe High School, where he played soccer for his senior year. That season, he scored seven goals and helped Wickliffe HS to an 18–4–1 record, finishing as the 2006 OHSAA D3 State Runner-Up to Champion Worthington Christian HS. He was recognized locally as the boys soccer player of the year by both The News-Herald and The Cleveland Plain Dealer.[1] [2]

Walker matriculated to the University of Louisville in 2007. He played four seasons with the Cardinals men's soccer team from 2007 through 2011 (he redshirted the 2008 season due to an injury). In 2011, Walker was named to the All-Big East Conference Second Team.[3] He graduated in 2011 with a degree in exercise science.[1]

Walker also played for USL Premier Development League team Chicago Fire Premier between 2010 and 2011.[4] [5]

Career

LA Galaxy and loans

LA Galaxy selected Walker in the second round (No. 38 overall) of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft.[6] Galaxy coach Bruce Arena spoke positively of Walker, telling reporters, "He is a defensive midfielder, a holding midfielder, an aggressive type of player and a good passer of the ball."[7]

Walker made his debut for Galaxy on May 26, 2012, against Houston Dynamo.[8] He only played one half, however, and did not have another appearance for the rest of the season. In 2013, Walker logged no minutes with the Galaxy, and spent the latter half of the season on loan in the North American Soccer League (the second-division U.S. league at the time). On July 26, Walker was loaned to Florida-based Fort Lauderdale Strikers.[9] He only had one appearance for them though, as he was loaned to Carolina RailHawks just a month later on August 22. He spent the remainder of the season in North Carolina, where he made 11 appearances.[10]

Walker began to see more action with Galaxy in 2014 and 2015, earning 7 starts and 16 appearances across the two years. He also spent significant time playing for LA Galaxy II, Galaxy's newly-formed reserve team in the United Soccer League. Walker debuted in Galaxy II's inaugural match against PDL side Fresno Fuego on February 13, 2014.[11] Walker would go on to start in 14 of 16 appearances for Galaxy II over the following two years.[12]

FC Cincinnati

On December 7, 2015, Walker was announced as one of the first eleven signings for United Soccer League side FC Cincinnati, who played their first season in 2016.[13] Walker quickly became one of the team's primary midfielders, starting in 27 of his 28 appearances during the club's inaugural season. He remained a key player in 2017 under the new leadership of head coach Alan Koch, starting in 26 of 27 appearances and leading the team with seven assists.[14] On September 17, 2017, Walker was named USL Player of the Week after he notched two assists and his first goal of the season in a 4–2 win against New York Red Bulls II.[15] [16] Following the end of the season, FC Cincinnati announced Walker as their Most Valuable Player of 2017.[14]

Walker was one of just nine players who remained with FC Cincinnati into the 2018 season, as Koch spent the offseason significantly reworking the team roster.[17] Walker started 2018 with a concussion injury, taking two weeks off after a heavy hit on March 31 from Indy Eleven's Jack McInerney (who was suspended for one game after a post-match review).[18] [19] On April 21, Walker made his return in a match against Pittsburgh Riverhounds as a 70th-minute substitute. He scored nine minutes after coming onto the pitch, earning a 2–2 draw for the club and a place on USL's Team of the Week for himself.[20] The following week, Walker broke a 0–0 tie against Ottawa Fury with a goal shot from 50 yards out in the 68th minute (Cincinnati went on to win 0–3).[21] The goal was featured as the #1 play in the SportsCenter Top 10 that night, and was later picked as the USL Fans' Choice Goal of the Month for April.[22]

Indy Eleven

In late November 2018, ahead of FC Cincinnati's move up to Major League Soccer, Walker announced that he would be leaving the club to play for USL Championship side Indy Eleven. According to Walker, FC Cincinnati had told him and other players that they may have the chance to be signed to the MLS side, but only if the club did not get better players for the same positions in the December expansion draft. Walker declined to wait in favor of a guaranteed signing with Indy Eleven, explaining, "I think for me it came down to deciding if I wanted to play or be a guy (in Cincinnati) that's mentally supporting the team and helping out at training, doing all that stuff and not being a contributing piece on weekends."[23] On December 5, 2018, Indy Eleven officially announced their acquisition of Walker, along with his FC Cincinnati teammates Paddy Barrett and Tyler Gibson.[24]

On September 21, 2020, Walker was loaned to USL Championship side Louisville City for the remainder of the season.[25]

Kings Hammer FC

On April 12, 2021, Walker joined USL League Two side Kings Hammer FC ahead of the 2021 season.[26]

Honors

LA Galaxy
FC Cincinnati

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wickliffe grad Kenney Walker is selected by L.A. Galaxy in second round of MLS draft. January 12, 2012. The News-Herald. April 29, 2018. April 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180429094622/http://www.news-herald.com/article/HR/20120112/NEWS/301129919. live.
  2. Web site: Whatever happened to former Wickliffe soccer standout Kenney Walker?. Fortuna. Bob. January 9, 2013. The Plain Dealer. April 28, 2018. April 7, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130407051049/http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/593471328172155914/whatever-happened-to-former-wickliffe-soccer-standout-kenney-walker/. live.
  3. Web site: Player Bio: Kenney Walker – University of Louisville Official Athletic Site . Uoflsports.com . May 26, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120318153739/http://www.uoflsports.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/walker_kenney00.html . March 18, 2012 .
  4. Web site: United Soccer Leagues (USL) . Uslsoccer.com . May 26, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121009152631/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2010/22315.html#STATS . October 9, 2012 .
  5. Web site: United Soccer Leagues (USL) . Uslsoccer.com . May 26, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120109072344/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2011/22315.html#STATS . January 9, 2012 .
  6. Web site: 2012 MLS SuperDraft Tracker . MLSsoccer.com . May 26, 2012 . December 30, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121230142616/http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/2012/roundbyround . dead .
  7. Web site: Wickliffe alum Kenney Walker drafted by Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy. January 13, 2012. The Plain Dealer. April 28, 2018. April 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180429155214/http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2012/01/wickliffe_alum_kenney_walker_d.html. live.
  8. Web site: 2012-05-26-HOU-v-LA . MLSsoccer.com . May 26, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120528230133/http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-05-26-hou-v-la/stats . May 28, 2012 .
  9. Web site: Fort Lauderdale Strikers Receive Bryan Gaul, Kenney Walker On Loan From Galaxy. July 26, 2013. North American Soccer League. April 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20131214040104/http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=5068. December 14, 2013.
  10. Web site: LA Galaxy send Bryan Gaul and Kenney Walker on loan. LA Galaxy Communications. August 22, 2013. LA Galaxy. April 29, 2018. December 12, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131212040355/http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2013/08/la-galaxy-send-bryan-gaul-and-kenney-walker-loan. dead.
  11. Web site: A look at who suited up for LA Galaxy II in their inaugural match. Serrano. Adam. February 17, 2014. LA Galaxy. April 29, 2018. March 20, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180320043947/https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2014/02/17/look-who-suited-la-galaxy-ii-their-inaugural-match. live.
  12. Web site: Kenney Walker: Statistics. United Soccer League. April 29, 2018. April 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180429160005/https://www.uslsoccer.com/kenney-walker. live.
  13. Web site: FC Cincinnati Announces First Eleven Players. Weingartner. Tana. December 7, 2015. WVXU. April 29, 2018. April 4, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190404072545/https://www.wvxu.org/post/fc-cincinnati-announces-first-eleven-players. live.
  14. Web site: 2017 Look Back: Kenney Walker Named Team MVP. Kimura. Fumi. October 30, 2017. FC Cincinnati. April 28, 2018. April 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180429092843/https://www.fccincinnati.com/news_article/show/850265. dead.
  15. Web site: Walker Named USL Player of the Week. September 19, 2017. USLsoccer.com Staff. USLsoccer.com. United Soccer League. April 28, 2018. June 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180624180715/https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/835156. live.
  16. Web site: Kenney Walker named USL Player of the Week. Hatch. Charlie. September 19, 2017. The Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. April 28, 2018. October 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201024233639/https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2017/09/19/kenney-walker-player-of-the-week/682044001/. live.
  17. Web site: Nine Return for 2018. Kimura. Fumi. October 25, 2017. FC Cincinnati. April 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20171026053647/http://www.fccincinnati.com/news_article/show/848516. October 26, 2017. dead.
  18. Web site: FC Cincinnati better late than never in 2–2 draw with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Pfahler. Lauren. April 22, 2018. WCPO. E. W. Scripps Company. April 29, 2018. April 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180429155732/https://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/fc-cincinnati-better-late-than-never-in-2-2-draw-with-pittsburgh-riverhounds-sc. live.
  19. Web site: USL Discipline Report – Week 4. April 4, 2018. United Soccer League. April 29, 2018. April 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180429222129/https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/904350. live.
  20. Web site: Walker Earns USL Team of the Week Nod. Switzer. D.J.. April 24, 2018. FC Cincinnati. April 28, 2018. April 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180429093058/https://www.fccincinnati.com/news_article/show/911144-walker-earns-usl-team-of-the-week-nod. dead.
  21. Web site: FC Cincinnati explodes for three second-half goals to beat Ottawa Fury FC. April 28, 2018. WCPO Staff. WCPO. E. W. Scripps Company. April 28, 2018. April 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180429093001/https://www.wcpo.com/sports/fc-cincinnati/fc-cincinnati-explodes-for-three-second-half-goals-to-beat-ottawa-fury-fc. live.
  22. Web site: FC Cincinnati mid Kenney Walker scored the USL goal of the month. Hatch. Charlie. May 7, 2018. Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. May 8, 2018. May 8, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180508121635/https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2018/05/07/fc-cincinnati-mid-kenney-walker-scored-usl-goal-month/587545002/. live.
  23. News: Brennan . Patrick . Former FC Cincinnati midfielder Kenney Walker set to continue USL career at Indy Eleven . December 11, 2018 . Cincinnati Enquirer . Gannett Company . November 26, 2018 . en . April 1, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190401203327/https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2018/11/26/former-fc-cincinnati-midfielder-kenney-walker-set-continue-usl-career-indy-eleven/2116563002/ . live .
  24. Web site: Paddy Barrett, Kenney Walker, and Tyler Gibson Sign with Indy Eleven . IndyEleven.com . Indy Eleven . December 10, 2018 . December 5, 2018 .
  25. Web site: LouCity acquires former Cardinals standout Walker on loan. September 21, 2020. September 21, 2020. November 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201104075207/https://www.loucity.com/news_article/show/1123652. live.
  26. 1381646310869245955. kingshammerfc. The first-ever @uslleaguetwo signing for Kings Hammer FC is Kenney Walker, pending League and Federation approval.… . April 12, 2021.

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