Montel McKenzie: More Than Just a Reality TV Star, He’s a Dedicated Footballer
When the name Montel McKenzie is mentioned, many people immediately associate him with the glitz and glamour of Love Island. However, spending even a few minutes in his company quickly reveals that he’s far more than just another reality television personality. The 28-year-old has carved out a significant presence in the Baller League, a high-octane six-a-side tournament that’s been hailed as the “future of football.” This unique competition, featuring a blend of influencers, celebrities, and former football stars, is set to return for its third season, broadcasting live on Sky Sports in the UK.
McKenzie is candid about how his public perception has been shaped. “After going on the show, you get branded as a TV star and whatnot,” he admits. “But if you know me, you know that I’m very focused on football. It’s just something that I have always tried to excel at.” The opportunity to showcase his footballing prowess on Sky Sports, in front of a diverse audience of celebrities and influencers, has been crucial for him. “Being given this opportunity to be on Sky Sports, and be in front of all these celebrities and influencers, it’s helped me to put my mark down that I am a footballer,” he explains. “You don’t see me play at Folkestone, so Baller League and Sky Sports on a Monday night has given me the platform to show that I do both, and both to a pretty high standard.”
McKenzie first captured the public’s attention in 2023 with his appearance on Love Island, the popular dating show hosted by Maya Jama, where a group of singles embark on a quest for romance in a luxurious villa. Since then, he has built a substantial following, amassing over 165,000 followers on Instagram. His agency, Outreach Talent Group, highlights his “passion for fashion and lifestyle” on their website, but this only scratches the surface of who McKenzie truly is. Prior to his reality TV fame, he was a dedicated semi-professional footballer, plying his trade as a right-back for Hemel Hempstead in the National League South.
These days, when he’s not under the bright lights and cameras of the Baller League, McKenzie’s primary footballing commitment lies with Folkestone Invicta, a seventh-tier club. However, finding a new club after his stint on Love Island, which included a return for the All-Stars installment in 2025, proved more challenging than he had anticipated.
“It’s something that I found difficult,” McKenzie confesses. “Initially, I thought it would help me because I thought there would be more eyes on me, or people would just be watching out for me more. But it actually didn’t help me. A lot of managers didn’t sign me because they thought, ‘Oh, he might not be serious about football’, so it kind of gives you a bad name in that space.” He elaborates on the football world’s traditional reservations: “You know, football, they don’t really like the showbusiness of it; they want to keep it very football. It’s the same with people who have personalities; they don’t want people to show the other side of them.”
This is precisely why McKenzie believes the Baller League is such a successful venture. “Which is why I think Baller League is so good because you can express your personality, do your celebrations, and talk a bit of smack,” he says. “It just makes it a lot more fun for the players, and more enjoyable for the viewers as well.”
McKenzie has been a participant in both previous seasons of the Baller League. He began with YouTuber TBJZL’s team, VZN FC, before moving to MVPs United in the second season, a team that is no longer part of the competition. During his time with MVPs, he was coached by Maya Jama, whom he knew from Love Island, and Leicester City footballer Alisha Lehmann. Lehmann has since become a significant figure in his life.
The Baller League is known for its unconventional rules, such as long-range strikes counting for double points, but a significant part of its appeal lies in its star-studded cast, including Jama, Lehmann, and McKenzie himself. However, the roles of the “managers” in the league are more complex than they might initially appear.
“All the managers, they actually have a head coach [alongside them] as well, that’s somebody from a football background,” McKenzie explains. “Every team is different, but they take the training sessions and are more involved with picking the players. But the managers, obviously if you have an ex-pro they will add. Obviously, we had Alisha, she knows about football so she was giving her piece on how we were playing. Then if you have Maya, she’s more inspirational, give us a little team talk before the game and boosts our confidence.”
He fondly recalls the impact of having such figures involved: “It was sick. I knew Maya already from the show, but when they give you the energy on the sideline just giving you that push. Just seeing them there makes you play better. Tactically maybe not so much as they are not so involved. But their spirit on the sidelines was nice for us boys.” McKenzie is adamant about the seriousness of the competition, stating, “All the managers, they don’t want to feel like the character they are known for. They want to be a bit more serious. At the end of the day, the players are taking it serious, so when your manager is messing around, it doesn’t set the right tone. After season one, I said I couldn’t play for a manager pulling stunts. I’m genuinely there to win.”
Through his involvement with MVPs, McKenzie developed what is often described as a “strong connection” with Alisha Lehmann, a term familiar from his Love Island experience. The couple publicly announced their relationship in January and have since shared numerous videos of themselves training together. Lehmann, a Swiss international, has returned to England to play for Leicester City, following spells with Juventus and FC Como in Italy.
When asked by Daily Mail Sport if it felt unusual to be coached by his girlfriend last season, McKenzie was clear that it ultimately enhanced his performance. “Throughout most of the season, we weren’t speaking,” he reveals. “It wasn’t like the whole season she was my girlfriend. It was more like halfway through toward the end. But definitely once we did start speaking, it made me play a lot better. Knowing that she was on the side, if I made a bad pass, I needed to get back and needed to go score. Naturally, it gives you that push like having a family member or friend watching.”
While the pressure of having Lehmann, a prominent figure in women’s football, on the sidelines might have eased for McKenzie, the individual taking her place as coach for the upcoming third season could be even more imposing. McKenzie will be captaining the newcomers, Prime FC, who will be coached by none other than the league’s president and one of Britain’s most prominent internet personalities, KSI.
McKenzie acknowledges that his first two seasons in the Baller League haven’t been what he would call “super successful,” but he is optimistic that leading the “best team” will bring him luck in his third attempt.
