COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 6, 2022) – The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC announced today that Malik Johnson and Macauley ‘Macca’ King would both be returning for the 2023 season.
Johnson, 24, enters his second season with the Switchbacks. Johnson had a strong start to the season, earning his first goal with the black and blue in an early April match. Johnson suffered with various injuries, including one to his shoulder that ended his season earlier than expected, but despite that was still able to make a sizable impact with the team. Overall he made 18 appearances with 17 starts, earned ten key passes, and had a passing accuracy rate of 76.1%.
Johnson made his professional debut in the USL Championship in 2015 for Toronto FC II, having come through the club’s academy system. After four seasons with the Young Reds, Johnson was signed by the Tampa Bay Rowdies where he helped the team claim the Championship’s 2020 Eastern Conference title. In 2021, Johnson played for Real Monarchs SLC, where he was named the club’s MVP after recording 31 appearances, a single-season high. The 24-year-old recorded 157 appearances in the Championship’s regular season over his career and has notched 14 goals and 16 assists.
“Malik has the ability and understanding to take over as one of our primary wingers, his technical ability and pace make him a threat from multiple positions and we can’t wait to see how he accepts this responsibility for the team this year.” said Brendan Burke on the signing.
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“I’m looking forward to building on last season and hopefully that means winning it all we have set the foundation as a group and we want to push on,” said King on coming back for 2023. “The standards have been set and we want more and we are coming for more.”
The 27 year-old defender returns to the black and blue for year two after joining the team at the start of the 2022 season. King had an uneven season with the Switchbacks, dealing with multiple injuries that kept him from the field, resulting in 12 games played at 579 minutes. While on the field King made six clearances and six interceptions, and three key passes, holding a passing accuracy of just over 74%.
King’s USL career began in 2019 with Indy Eleven. The following year he was acquired via transfer by Locomotive FC from Indy midway through the 2020 season, where his performance helped them reach the Western Conference Final of the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs. In 2021, King’s six goals, three assists, forty seven clearances and 83.3% passing accuracy rate, established him as an incredibly consistent performer, and earned him five USL Championship Team of the Week selections.
“Macca had a rough year due to various injuries last year but he fought through all of them and showed why we went out and got him,” said Burke. “His versatility, technical ability, and situational understanding are excellent and we hope to watch him hit his next level over 34 games this year.”
Name: Malik Johnson
Position: Forward
Height: 5′ 9″
Date of Birth: April 13th, 1998
Age: 24
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario, Canda
Name: Macauley King
Position: Defender
Height: 5′ 11″
Date of Birth: October 4, 1995
Age: 26
Hometown: Leicester, England
