MLS: Top 5 central midfielders in the league right now
By Matt Coles
3. Mark-Anthony Kaye
The first of two LAFC midfielders to make our top five is Mark-Anthony Kaye, who joined the reigning Supporters’ Shield holders ahead of their first season in the league in 2018.
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Kaye had already been a professional footballer for four years before making the move to the Black and Gold, including spells with Toronto FC’s 2nd and 3rd teams. He then spent two seasons with Louisville City in the USL Championship, during which he also made his international debut for Canada, prior to making the jump to MLS.
MLS Career & Honours:
- Los Angeles FC (2018-)
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- Supporters’ Shield – 2019
The midfielder signed for LAFC just a month before the start of the 2018 season, and instantly became a key part of their midfield, alongside another soon-to-be-revealed member of our top five. He made his debut for the club in their first-ever MLS match against 2016 MLS Cup champions Seattle Sounders.
Kaye, who had already been to the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup with Canada, also went to the 2019 version of the international tournament, meaning last season was split into two on a domestic level for the midfielder. However, his great form continued, as he scored four times and recorded eight assists in 31 regular-season matches, 27 of those being starts, as LAFC broke the record for the most points tallied in a single-season, en route to the Supporters’ Shield title.
Kaye has helped keep the Black and Gold’s midfield together over the last few seasons, and he started both matches at the beginning of the 2020 term, before the league’s suspension. When play restarts again next month, the Canadian will continue to be a key part of their side as they aim for a first MLS Cup triumph.