Mackenzie Arnold Explained

Mackenzie Arnold
Fullname:Mackenzie Elizabeth Arnold
Birth Date:25 February 1994
Birth Place:Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Height:[1]
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Portland Thorns FC
Years1:2011–2012
Clubs1:Perth Glory
Caps1:10
Goals1:0
Years2:2012–2013
Clubs2:Canberra United
Caps2:10
Goals2:0
Years3:2013–2014
Clubs3:Western Sydney Wanderers
Caps3:3
Goals3:0
Years4:2014–2016
Clubs4:Perth Glory
Caps4:22
Goals4:0
Years5:2016–2020
Clubs5:Brisbane Roar
Caps5:48
Goals5:0
Years6:2018
Clubs6:Arna-Bjørnar
Caps6:15
Goals6:0
Years7:2019
Clubs7:Chicago Red Stars
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Years8:2020–2024
Clubs8:West Ham United
Caps8:75
Goals8:0
Clubs9:Portland Thorns FC
Caps9:0
Goals9:0
Years9:2024–
Nationalyears1:2013
Nationalteam1:Australia U-20
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2012–
Nationalteam2:Australia
Nationalcaps2:49
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:11 July 2024
Nationalteam-Update:3 June 2024

Mackenzie Elizabeth Arnold (born 25 February 1994) is an Australian professional soccer player. She plays as a goalkeeper for National Women's Soccer League club Portland Thorns FC, and for the Matildas, Australia's national women's team. She previously played for West Ham United in England's Women's Super League as well as Brisbane Roar, Perth Glory, Western Sydney Wanderers, and Canberra United in Australia's W-League and Arna-Bjørnar in Norway's Toppserien.

Early life

Arnold was born and raised on the Gold Coast.[2] She played junior football for Burleigh Heads as well as Robina City[3] and attended Palm Beach Currumbin State High School in her teenage years.[4]

Club career

Canberra United

In 2012, Arnold joined Canberra United from Perth Glory ahead of the 2012–13 W-League.[5]

Western Sydney Wanderers FC

Arnold joined Western Sydney Wanderers in 2013. However, she was later ruled out for a significant amount of the season after suffering a deep cut to the leg in the carpark following a match in the 2013 AFC U-19 Women's Championship.[6]

Perth Glory FC

Arnold returned to Perth Glory in August 2014.[7]

Arnold was approached to switch codes and play Australian rules football in the newly formed AFL Women's in 2016, but chose to remain in soccer.[8]

Brisbane Roar FC

In October 2016, Brisbane Roar announced that they had signed Arnold.[9]

Arna-Bjørnar

In March 2018, she signed with Arna-Bjørnar in the Toppserien.[10]

Chicago Red Stars

In July 2019, she signed for the Chicago Red Stars, in the NWSL, but made no appearances.

West Ham United

On 9 July 2020, Arnold signed for English club West Ham United of the FA Women's Super League where she has been the teams captain since 2023.[11] [12] On 18 April 2021, Arnold was handed a surprise 20-minute cameo in midfield during an 11–0 win over Chichester & Selsey in the fourth round of the Women's FA Cup.[13]

In May 2024, she was voted Women's Hammer of the Year by West Ham United supporters for the 2023–24 season.[14]

Portland Thorns FC

On 10 July 2024, Portland Thorns FC announced that they had signed Arnold to a contract through the 2026 season with a mutual option for 2027.[15]

International career

Arnold received her first call-up to the Australian national team for a tour of the United States in 2012.[16] She made her debut in November that year, keeping a clean sheet in a win over Chinese Taipei in the 2013 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup preliminary round 2.[17] She soon began to feature regularly in national squads in 2013, with previous incumbent goalkeepers Melissa Barbieri and Lydia Williams unavailable.[18] Following their returns, Arnold was not included in the national setup for some time, before returning for the 2015 Cyprus Cup in March 2015.[19]

Mackenzie was included as one of three goalkeepers in the Matildas squad for the 2015 World Cup in Canada.[20]

Arnold was selected in the Australia squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics as one of two goalkeepers in the squad along with Lydia Williams.[21] She played one match in the tournament, a group stage win over Zimbabwe.[22]

Arnold was named to the Matildas squad for the 2019 World Cup in France.[23]

Arnold was a member of the Matildas Tokyo 2020 Olympics squad. The Matildas qualified for the quarter-finals and beat Great Britain before being eliminated in the semi-final with Sweden. In the playoff for the Bronze medal they were beaten by the USA.[24]

Arnold is a member of the Matildas 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup squad, goalkeeping for all of Australia's Group B matches. She was named player of the match after saving three spot kicks in the quarter-final penalty shoot out to see the Matildas progress to the final four for the first time.[25] [26] This led to many internet memes praising her performance, with some online describing her as the "Brick Wall" and the "Minister for Defence".[27] Other nicknames she has been given include "Macca"[27] and "Kenz".[28]

On 4 June 2024, Arnold was named in the Matildas team that qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, her third Olympic games selection.[29]

Personal life

Arnold has been dating fellow West Ham player Kirsty Smith[30] since 2022. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Arnold discovered she has significant hearing loss and she now wears hearing aids off the pitch. She is also a supporter of the Brisbane Broncos.

Career statistics

Club

[31]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Perth Glory2011–12W-League100100
Canberra United2012–13W-League100100
Western Sydney Wanderers2013–14W-League3030
Perth Glory2014–15W-League140140
2015–16W-League8080
Total220220
Brisbane Roar2016–17W-League110110
2017–18W-League130130
2018–19W-League120120
2019–20W-League120120
Total480480
Arna-Bjørnar2018Toppserien15000150
Chicago Red Stars2019NWSL0000
West Ham United2020–21Women's Super League1602030210
2021–22Women's Super League1803000210
2022–23Women's Super League2002050270
2023–24Women's Super League70000070
Total6107080760
Career total169070801840

International

[32]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Australia201220
201300
201400
201540
201640
201740
201870
201920
202010
202130
202220
2023150
Total440

Honours

Australia

Perth Glory
Brisbane Roar

Individual

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mackenzie Arnold | Matildas. 31 July 2017. www.matildas.com.au.
  2. News: Roar goalie happy to be 'home' . 16 November 2020 . Sunshine Coast Daily . 4 November 2016.
  3. News: Matildas origins: The local clubs, upbringings of our Australian Women's World Cup players . Code Sports . 20 July 2023 . 20 July 2023.
  4. News: Gold Coast quartet have helped the Matildas reach the World Cup quarter-finals in Canada . . 23 June 2015 . 28 September 2016.
  5. News: Big gloves to fill . The Women's Game . 15 August 2012 . 28 September 2016.
  6. News: Mackenzie Arnold to miss first half of W-League . The Women's Game . 24 October 2013 . 28 September 2016.
  7. Web site: Perth Glory announce signing of six Matildas. The Women's Game. 6 August 2014.
  8. News: Matildas stars approached by AFL to switch codes to join inaugural women's league . . 1 September 2016 . 28 September 2016 . Davutovic, David.
  9. Web site: Brisbane Roar release squad members for Season 9. The Women's Game. 21 October 2016.
  10. Web site: MACKENZIE ARNOLD HEADED TO NORWAY. The Women's Game. 10 March 2018.
  11. Web site: Mackenzie Arnold appointed West Ham United women's team captain | West Ham United F.C.. www.whufc.com.
  12. News: West Ham United catch Australian international goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold . WHUFC.com . 9 July 2020 . 19 April 2021.
  13. News: 'The disrespect'- Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold handed surprise midfield cameo in West Ham rout . Sporting Life . 19 April 2021 . 19 April 2021.
  14. Web site: Arnold: It's an honour to have been voted Women's Hammer of the Year . West Ham United F.C. . 7 May 2024 . 7 May 2024.
  15. Web site: Portland Thorns FC Sign Australian Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold - Portland Thorns . 2024-07-10 . www.thorns.com.
  16. News: Goalkeepers Brianna Davey and Mackenzie Arnold get their chance on Matildas tour of US . . 5 September 2012 . 28 September 2016 .
  17. News: Australia's Matildas down Chinese Taipei 7–0 . . 21 November 2012 . 28 September 2016 .
  18. News: Keeper makes most of Matildas call . . 9 June 2013 . 28 September 2016 . Guthrie, Nick.
  19. News: Stajcic names Matildas squad for 2015 Cyprus Cup . WomenSoccer.com.au . 27 February 2015 . 28 September 2016.
  20. News: Matildas squad for Women's World Cup announced . . 12 May 2015 . 28 September 2016 . Gaskin, Lee.
  21. News: Gold Coast goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold to represent Australian Matildas at Rio Olympic Games . . 5 July 2016 . 28 September 2016 . Boswell, Tom.
  22. News: Australia win 6–1 over Zimbabwe for a quarter-finals spot in Rio . The Women's Game . 10 August 2016 . 28 September 2016 . Wetham, Beck.
  23. News: World Cup Matildas: Goalkeepers . 16 November 2020 . Beyond 90 . 14 May 2019.
  24. Web site: Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021 . 2022-03-02 . The Roar . en-US.
  25. Web site: Who is Mackenzie Arnold? Meet the goalkeeper with nerves of steel who sent the Matildas to the semi-finals. Sydney Morning Herald. Marnie. Vinall. 13 August 2023. 14 August 2023.
  26. Web site: Mackenzie Arnold's confidence and form for the Matildas has risen to new level. Marco. Monteverde. The West Australian. 14 August 2023. 14 August 2023.
  27. Web site: Mackenzie Arnold: Australia's World Cup hero stays grounded amid Matildas hype | Women's World Cup 2023 | The Guardian. amp.theguardian.com.
  28. Web site: Inside Matildas Mackenzie Arnold's sweet family. 18 August 2023. New Idea.
  29. Web site: History making Matildas team selected for Paris Olympics. Football Australia. Matildas. 4 June 2024.
  30. Web site: Mackenzie Arnold and Kirsty Smith's complete relationship timeline. 9 January 2024. celebrity.nine.com.au.
  31. Web site: Australia - M. Arnold - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway . int.soccerway.com.
  32. Web site: Australia - M. Arnold - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway .
  33. Web site: Mackenzie Arnold . Soccerway . 16 November 2020.
  34. News: Chicago Acquires Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold . 16 November 2020 . Our Sports Central . 1 August 2019.
  35. Web site: 12 May 2024 . Arnold: It's an honour to have been voted Women's Hammer of the Year . 12 May 2024 . West Ham United F.C. .