When folks hear the identify Montel McKenzie, the very first thing that involves their thoughts is Love Island. However inside mere minutes of being inside his presence, it is clear to see he’s a lot extra than simply one other actuality TV star.
The 28-year-old is now a staple of the Baller League, a six-a-side match as soon as dubbed ‘the way forward for soccer’ fronted by influencers, celebrities, and former soccer stars, which returns on Monday night time reside on Sky Sports activities for its third season within the UK.
‘After happening the present, you get branded as a TV star and whatnot, but when you understand me, you understand that I am very centered on soccer,’ McKenzie tells Each day Mail Sport. ‘It is simply one thing that I’ve all the time tried to excel at.
‘So being given this chance to be on Sky Sports activities, and be in entrance of all these celebrities and influencers, it is helped me to place my mark down that I’m a footballer.
‘You do not see me play at Folkestone, so Baller League and Sky Sports activities on a Monday night time has given me the platform to point out that I do each, and each to a reasonably excessive normal.’
McKenzie shot to fame in 2023 when he appeared on Love Island, a well-liked courting present hosted by Maya Jama, which sees a cohort of singletons thrown right into a villa in quest of love.
He has since amassed 165,000 followers on Instagram, and, as his company, Outreach Expertise Group, says on its web site, he has a ‘ardour for style and life-style’.
Nevertheless, that’s only a small spec of who McKenzie really is. Earlier than the present, he was a semi-professional footballer enjoying right-back for Nationwide League South aspect Hemel Hempstead.
As of late, when not in entrance of the flashing lights and cameras within the Baller League, the defender’s primary focus lies with seventh-tier aspect Folkestone Invicta.
However initially discovering a membership after life on Love Island, a present he additionally appeared on in 2025 by the All-Stars installment, proved extra arduous for McKenzie than he was anticipating.
Montel McKenzie made a reputation for himself on the UK model of courting present Love Island
He has now discovered love with Alisha Lehmann, who performs professionally for Leicester Metropolis
‘It is one thing that I discovered tough,’ McKenzie provides. ‘Initially, I believed it might assist me as a result of I believed there can be extra eyes on me, or folks would simply be watching out for me extra.
‘However it really did not assist me. A variety of managers did not signal me as a result of they thought, “Oh, he may not be critical about soccer”, so it type of offers you a foul identify in that house.
‘You recognize, soccer, they do not actually just like the showbusiness of it, they need to maintain it very soccer.
‘It is the identical with individuals who have personalities; they do not need folks to point out the opposite aspect of them. Which is why I feel Baller League is so good as a result of you may categorical your character, do your celebrations, and discuss a little bit of smack.
‘It simply makes it much more enjoyable for the gamers, and extra pleasurable for the viewers as effectively.’
McKenzie has performed in each seasons of the Baller League to this point, beginning with YouTuber TBJZL’s group, VZN FC, earlier than transferring to MVPs United – a group now not a part of the league – within the second season.
At MVPs he was coached by Jama, who he knew effectively from Love Island, and Leicester Metropolis footballer Alisha Lehmann, any person who has gone on to develop into crucial in his life.
Whereas the match has uncommon guidelines – together with long-range strikes counting as two objectives – a lot of its attract comes from the personnel concerned, equivalent to Jama and Lehmann, and, in fact, McKenzie himself.
However all shouldn’t be what it appears in the case of the coaches. The Baller League operation is extra substantial and complex than it seems in the case of teaching the celebrities concerned, and the dedication to success within the competitors.
McKenzie (pictured on proper) finds time to play within the Baller League in addition to in non-league
McKenzie was managed by Maya Jama and Lehmann within the Baller League final season
He continues: ‘All of the managers, they really have a head coach [alongside them] as effectively, that is any person from a soccer background. Each group is totally different, however they take the coaching classes and are extra concerned with selecting the gamers.
‘However the managers, clearly in case you have an ex-pro they are going to add. Clearly, we had Alisha, she is aware of about soccer so she was giving her piece on how we have been enjoying. Then in case you have Maya, she’s extra inspirational, give us a bit group discuss earlier than the sport and boosts our confidence.
‘It was sick. I knew Maya already from the present, however once they provide the power on the sideline simply supplying you with that push. Simply seeing them there makes you play higher.
‘Tactically perhaps not a lot as they don’t seem to be so concerned. However their spirit on the sidelines was good for us boys.
‘All of the managers, they do not need to really feel just like the character they’re identified for. They need to be a bit extra critical. On the finish of the day the gamers are taking it critical, so when your supervisor is messing round it would not set the proper tone.
‘After season one, I stated I could not play for a supervisor pulling stunts. I am genuinely there to win.’
By enjoying for MVPs, McKenzie went on to strike what they name in Love Island a ‘robust connection’ with Lehmann.
The pair went public with their romance in January, and have since shared a number of movies coaching collectively, with Lehmann – a Swiss worldwide – now again in England with Leicester Metropolis, after stints with Juventus and FC Como in Italy.
When Each day Mail Sport requested McKenzie whether or not it felt unusual to be coached by his girlfriend final season, he made it clear that it solely made him higher out on the pitch.
‘All through many of the season, we weren’t talking,’ McKenzie says. ‘It wasn’t like the entire season she was my girlfriend. It was extra like midway by towards the top.
‘However undoubtedly as soon as we did begin talking, it made me play lots higher. Understanding that she was on the aspect, if I made a foul move, I wanted to get again and wanted to go rating.
‘Naturally, it offers you that push like having a member of the family or good friend watching.’
Whereas the strain of getting Lehmann, who is among the most recognisable faces in ladies’s soccer, on the sidelines as coach could have diminished for McKenzie; the determine changing her could be much more imposing.
For the third season, McKenzie will captain newcomers Prime FC, coached by none apart from the league’s president and one in all Britain’s largest web stars, KSI.
McKenzie’s first two seasons within the competitors have not been what he calls ‘tremendous profitable’ however he is hoping that enjoying for the ‘finest group’ implies that it is third time fortunate.
