'Feel like a real footballer': Rory McKenzie on honour of representing Killie in Europe

The 30-year-old - who has over 400 Kilmarnock appearances to his name - has seen it all when playing for his boyhood club.

Rory McKenzie is synonymous with Kilmarnock FC given he’s essentially a one-club man – aside from a short loan spell at Brechin City during his early playing days.

With over 400 appearances to his name, the 30-year-old has pretty much seen it all at Rugby Park. Promotion, relegation, beating Rangers & Celtic, finishing third, winning a cup and everything else in between.

Until this summer, something that had been missing off that extensive list was European nights (No, Connah’s Quay Nomads doesn’t count). Now, as Thursday night approaches, McKenzie and his Killie teammates are preparing for their third European tie of the season – and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Derek McInnes insists the Europa Conference League play-off against FC Copenhagen is worth around £5m to the Ayrshire side. While that’s not lost on the versatile midfielder, McKenzie admits no matter what happens, the experiences of playing against Cercle Brugge, Tromsø & Copenhagen will always live with him as he modestly reflected on feeling like a ‘real footballer’.

"I texted my wife straight after the Brugge game that I've never been more proud to be a Kilmarnock player,” he said. “It was just an unbelievable night. For us to win in Tromso and set up a game against Copenhagen is just unbelievable for everyone at the club.

"It would show how far the club has come. Last year we were watching Copenhagen beat Man United in the Champions League, so we're not getting ahead of ourselves. Copenhagen is a city I visited last year and absolutely loved. It's a glamour tie and a place really looking forward to going. I went to a Champions League game when they played Celtic and their away fans were unbelievable.

"The number of fans we took over to Tromsø was unbelievable. Copenhagen is expensive but more accessible. If it's anything like Bruges - we went for coffee during the day and took a taxi through the city and we couldn't get over how many fans were there.

"The fans were in a pub opposite the hotel (in Tromsø) it looked like they were having a ball. For us, it feels different training on a Wednesday night and flying on a chartered plane - you feel like a real footballer, like the ones down south. It's been a great experience.

“I think my brothers may have left it a little bit late in the day with booking flights, but we’ll see if they get out there.”