Mach-E & Me l Episode 6 l Kevin McKenna
I think every time you walk out onto different football pitches in your life, it’s a special feeling. You know, it’s time to zone in. You know, that’s where your job is. Kevin McKenna 4-3 Köln. He reacts to the situation instantly
I first came to Germany when I was 18 years old. It was a big culture shock moving from Canada. It was a big culture shock moving from Canada. You really do get homesick. Training every single day. I think that really helped to adapt and it all really just snowballed from there.
FC to win the Bundesliga Take one. My name is Kevin McKenna. I played for FC Cologne for seven seasons. A lot of people call me Macka That’s my nickname. When I first started playing for Cologne in 2007, we were in the second Division.
A lot of ups and downs in that season and we just got over the finish line, got promoted, and in that time you could really see the magnitude of what this football club is and what it means to the people in the city. I played seven years here and I loved it.
You walk through the tunnel up the steps and you hear the FC song you know, you really get goosebumps. To be able to play a hobby and for that to be your life and your career at least for a certain amount of time, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
The time that I’ve been in Cologne Ford have sponsored the football team, I’ve always driven a Ford, the one that I’m actually driving right now is probably my favourite car. Mach-E in German, Mach-E in English. There’s definitely a lot of perks that come with the electronic car.
I just love how quiet it is. Get it up to a good speed. It doesn’t even feel like you’re driving it. It’s really sporty. It steers fantastically. Good speakers, I like to listen to music. 2014 I had to end my career and went into coaching.
I would have have like to continue to play, but I had Microfracturing in both knees To stop playing football. it was it was emotional. It’s difficult at the beginning, if I’ll be honest. Mostly everybody can do a job until they retire. And in football you basically get told you need to retire.
I think that’s the biggest thing, knowing when to step away from the game. I felt it was the right time and went into coaching here in Cologne. You can never compare coaching with playing. It’s two different things. I think I bring a connection to the players.
I like to be close to the players, so I feel like I’m still a player myself. What I do love is being out on the training pitch helping the players out with their game. As a coach that puts a smile on your face
When you see players improving or you see that they’re listening to you. What I loved about it as a player and a coach, it’s a rollercoaster of emotions. I think having fun at all costs, I think that’s the most important thing.
I think the biggest thing in professional sports is to not lose the fun of things. What’s next? The next thing is, you know, just to keep coaching. I love being here. I love the city. Why would you want to change something that’s good.
In our final episode of this ‘Mach-E & Me’ season, we join former FC Köln footballer Kevin McKenna in Germany as he reflects on his illustrious career, and shares how he embraced a new challenge beyond the pitch as a coach at @fckoeln.
Believing that you should have fun on and off the field – and as a lifelong Ford fan – Kevin loves his Mustang Mach-E with its impressive stereo system and handling.
Discover more about ‘Macka’s’ story on our blog https://ford.to/MachEAndMe and contact @FordNewsEurope via our social channels if you are a Mach-E owner with an interesting story to share.
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