Get To Know Mark-Anthony Kaye

Mark-Anthony Kaye arrives at LAFC having lifted the USL Cup with Louisville City last season and getting a taste of international soccer during a successful spell with Canada at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The versatile midfielder is anxious to start his LAFC career, and he took a moment to tell us more about himself after training. 

Get to know, Mark-Anthony Kaye:

Tell us about the opportunity to come to LAFC…

It’s definitely great. Leading up to it, everything I heard about the Club was top notch. They’re going in the right direction when it comes to the front office staff and all the personnel they’re trying to get on the field. It looks like they are doing it right. To have the opportunity to come be a part of it for the inaugural season is just amazing.

On conversations with Bob Bradley before signing…

To be honest, there wasn’t too much. But I just knew that he enjoyed the way I played and my intensity. He said that he had watched me at the Gold Cup. I had done well in that tournament, so just coming in knowing that I had the backing and confidence of the coaches just gives me an extra boost. We’ll get to know each other more over the preseason.

Stepping up a level…

Yeah, I think I am ready for it. My career was a little up and down. I was at Toronto FC for a bit and then got released. I went to Louisville, which ended up being a really great opportunity for me. They changed everything around and gave me the opportunity to play well and be in a good environment. And the [Canadian] national team helped me get exposure, and now I’m here. So I think everything is moving in the right direction, at the right time, and in the right place.

Growing up I realized I was just comfortable on the ball, so I was able to play different positions. Sometimes if it’s left back, or left wing, or center mid. I learned it doesn’t really matter where you play, just that where you are on the field you are doing well. I’m just going to take everything with a grain of salt here and wherever they want to put me, I’ll perform.

Player you fashion your game after…

I’m a Manchester United fan, so I like Paul Pogba a lot. A couple of people have been saying they see me like Atiba Hutchinson, the way he plays in the midfield. It’s hard for me to zone in on one player because I play so many positions. But I think it would be Paul Pogba for me.

Been to LA before…

I was in LA maybe in 2014. Played against LA Galaxy II. But other than that, never really experienced this weather. It’s beautiful here. It’s definitely a big change from Louisville and Toronto at this time of the year where it’s freezing cold. So I’m really excited to be out here, and I think everyone who is here is really fortunate.

Any bucket list things you want to do in LA…

I haven’t really thought of anything yet, but I’m sure a list will be created soon enough.

Food, man…  There’s a lot of different types of food out here. Where we are staying now there are good Mexican places and Vietnamese places. I’m really big on eating out. It’s not always ideal for an athlete to eat out a lot. But just because there are so many options, I’ll be finding myself eating out a decent amount of times.

Favorite music…

Being from Toronto, Drake is the man. Growing up, he really took over the music industry there. It’s good hip-hop. Drake would be the man.

Favorite athlete outside of soccer…

I’d say LeBron James. Just his tenacity and being able to be a leader on every team that he is on. All the accomplishments he’s been able to achieve in his career, I think that’s something to look up to. And I think he’s a great guy.