The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Italian job was dream that became Mike’s nightmare
Profile: Mike Mckenzie The Mckenzie files: Dave Edwards on the life and times of one of the Highland League’s greatest attacking talents
Mike Mckenzie has spent 11 highly successful years with Deveronvale – but the 32-year-old will forever wonder what might have been.
At the age of 20, Mckenzie, one of the most naturally gifted players seen in the Highland League, went on trial to
“Michael Stephen put us ahead with a terrific free kick, Italy equalised shortly after”
Italian club Varese, based near Milan. They were in Serie C – the third tier of the Italian professional game.
The Italians were impressed and were poised to offer the Aberdonian a contract until they discovered his club Lossiemouth wanted a transfer fee of around £100,000.
Mckenzie was spotted while playing for a Highland League club under-21 select in a challenge match at Borough Briggs in Elgin against a side featuring some of Italy’s most promising young players, managed by former Italy and Inter Milan attacker Roberto Boninsegna, who played in two World Cup tournaments and scored against Brazil in the 1970 final.
The select game was the brainchild of Italian Gianni Macchieraldo, a former amateur player with Torino who owned the Stotfield Hotel at Lossiemouth.
Mckenzie said: “The Italians beat us 2-1 in front of 1,000 people at Borough Briggs. Michael Stephen put us ahead with a terrific free kick. Italy equalised shortly after and went on to win the game with a late penalty.
“I really enjoyed the experience and played until the last five minutes when I was replaced by Rothes forward Duncan Goodall.
“Gianni Macchieraldo set the whole thing up two months later.
“My contract with Lossiemouth was about to expire on May 15 and Peterhead and Montrose were both keen to sign me.
“I didn't hear any more about it until one day I received British Airways tickets through the post. I flew out to Italy on Friday, May 9 and spent three days there with them.
“Before I flew home their coach told me they were 99% sure I would be offered a deal”
“Perhaps I should have told Lossie I was going to travel to Italy for the trial, but I didn't think it was a big deal as my contract was up in less than a week.”
“I was picked up at the airport and taken to be shown Varese’s training ground for a double session.
“The following day we had a friendly match and I was on the bench until late on when I got my chance. I came on and did fairly well, setting up a late goal.
“Before I flew home their coach told me they were 99% sure I would be offered a deal, but when I came home John Sheran, at that time Kevin Drinkell’s assistant at Links Park, came to my house wanting me to sign for Montrose.
“Peterhead manager Ian Wilson was also chasing me, but I told them both I wouldn’t be signing for anyone until Varese had been back in touch.
“I was really excited when the phone call came from Italy. But when they told me the deal was off and I should sign for Peterhead I was devastated.
“Varese had been reported to Uefa for taking a player on trial who was still contracted to another club.
“It spooked them and my dream move to Italy turned into a bit of a nightmare. I was obviously bitterly disappointed as I believe now that Lossiemouth only received something like £5,000 from Montrose for my signature.
“At the time the whole thing didn't seem such a big deal, but looking back on it all now it was massive and I still can’t understand why I couldn’t have signed for Varese – that really irritates me.
Mckenzie, the UK sales manager for an Aberdeen cable and electrical distribution company who lives in the Granite City with his wife, Ashley, and 18month-old son Kole, added: “It was Kevin Drinkell who took me to Links Park in Montrose but it was his successor, his assistant when I signed, John Sheran, who released me a season later.
“That really surprised me as I won four of the club’s player-of-the-year awards at the end of that season. He brought in the likes of Steve Kerrigan from East Fife and other players on £300 a week.