Max Kilman
Kilman with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2021
Personal information
Full name Maximilian William Kilman[1]
Date of birth (1997-05-23) 23 May 1997 (age 26)[2]
Place of birth Chelsea, England
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.94 m)[3]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Number 23
Youth career
CM Futsal Academy
Fulham
Gillingham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2015 Welling United 0 (0)
2015–2018 Maidenhead United 34 (1)
2016–2017 → Marlow (loan) 30 (2)
2018– Wolverhampton Wanderers 110 (2)
International career
2015–2018 England (futsal) 25
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:53, 30 December 2023 (UTC)

Maximilian William Kilman (born 23 May 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for and captains Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Early life

Kilman was born in Chelsea, Greater London,[4] to Ukrainian parents.[5][6][7][8] His father was from Odesa,[9] and his mother is from Kyiv. Kilman speaks Russian in addition to English.[10][11]

Club career

Early career

Kilman began his career in the academy at Fulham. As a teenager, he joined futsal club Genesis Futsal Club while continuing to play the 11-a-side game. He later joined the academy at Gillingham before signing for Maidenhead United in 2015, after making a single London Senior Cup appearance for Welling United against Cockfosters in October 2014.[12] Kilman was loaned out to Southern Football League side Marlow for the 2016–17 season.[13][14]

Kilman returned the following season and made his debut for the Magpies on the opening day of the 2017–18 season against Maidstone United, while continuing his futsal career, signing for Helvécia. He went on to make 39 appearances for Maidenhead before signing for Wolverhampton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee on transfer deadline day in August 2018.[15]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Kilman spent the season with the club's under-23 side, helping them to win promotion from the second tier of the Premier League reserve competition.[16] In April 2019, head coach Nuno Espírito Santo stated that "Max is 100 per cent integrated into the (first team) squad... I just see him as a very good football player, a centre-half with quality. He's big, aggressive. He has to improve like all young players, but we're really, really happy with Max."[17] Kilman was first included in a senior matchday squad in December 2018, and was an unused substitute on five occasions before he made his senior debut on 4 May 2019, coming on as a last-minute substitute in a 1–0 win against Fulham in the Premier League.[18] In doing so, he became the first player to go directly from non-League to the Premier League, with no loans in between, since Chris Smalling moved from Maidstone United to Fulham in 2008.[19] Kilman made his full senior debut for Wolves in a 4–0 home win against FC Pyunik of Armenia in the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League Qualifying Third Round, 2nd Leg, on 15 August.[20]

On 21 April 2020, Wolverhampton's Express & Star announced that Kilman's contract with Wolves had been extended until the summer of 2022.[21] On 21 October, Wolves announced that Kilman had extended his contract with the club until the summer of 2025.[22][23]

On 1 November 2021, Kilman scored the opening goal in Wolves's 2–1 win over Everton at Molineux.[24] The goal, a well-taken header, following a corner from the left from Rayan Aït-Nouri, was Kilman's first for Wolves (in his 44th appearance for the club at senior level) and his first in the Premier League. Four days later, Kilman signed a new long-term deal with Wolves until 2026.[25]

Kilman made his 100th competitive appearance for Wolves in their 1–0 home win against Chelsea on 8 April 2023.[26][27]

On 11 August 2023, Wolves announced that Kilman had been appointed club captain (in succession to the recently-departed Rúben Neves)[28] and two days later it was announced that Kilman had signed a new five-year contract with Wolves, running until 2028.[29]

Kilman made his 100th Premier League appearance on 4 November 2023, away to Sheffield United.[30] Wolves lost the match 2–1, conceding a penalty deep into time added on at the end of the second-half.

Kilman scored his second Wolves goal, and first since becoming club captain, in the final game of 2023, a 3–0 win against Everton at Molineux in the Premier League on 30 December.[31] Ironically, his only previous Wolves goal had also come against Everton at Molineux (on 1 November 2021).

International career

Kilman made his debut for the England national futsal team at the age of 18. He went on to accumulate 25 caps for the Three Lions. Kilman's futsal career was put on hiatus when he signed for Wolves in August 2018.[32] He was also eligible to play international football for Russia or Ukraine through his parents.[10][9]

In March 2021, Ukraine coach Andriy Shevchenko announced that he had formally asked FIFA to switch Kilman's national allegiance to Ukraine, but also enquired of them as to whether his appearances for the England futsal team would make him ineligible for Ukraine.[33] On 7 April 2021, FIFA rejected the application, confirming that his appearances for England in competitive futsal matches ties him to playing for England in any form of football.[34]

Career statistics

As of match played 28 January 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Welling United 2014–15 Conference Premier 0 0 0 0 — 1[a] 0 1 0
Maidenhead United 2015–16 National League South 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0
2016–17 0 0 0 0 — 2[b] 0 2 0
2017–18 National League 33 1 1 0 — 5[c] 0 39 1
2018–19 1 0 0 0 — 0 0 1 0
Total 34 1 1 0 0 0 7 0 42 1
Marlow (loan) 2016–17 Southern League Division One Central 30 2 0 0 — 0 0 30 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2018–19 Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
2019–20 3 0 1 0 2 0 5[d] 0 11 0
2020–21 18 0 2 0 0 0 — 20 0
2021–22 30 1 2 0 2 0 — 34 1
2022–23 37 0 0 0 4 0 — 41 0
2023–24 21 1 3 0 1 0 — 25 1
Total 110 2 8 0 9 0 5 0 132 2
Career total 174 5 9 0 9 0 13 0 205 5
  1. ^ Appearance in London Senior Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup
  3. ^ Four appearances in FA Trophy, one appearance in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

References

  1. ^ "UEFA Europa League 2019/2020: Booking List before Round of 16, 1st leg" (PDF). UEFA. p. 2. Retrieved 12 July 2020.[dead link]
  2. ^ "Max Kilman: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Max Kilman". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Max Kilman". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  5. ^ Roddy, Tom (21 May 2021). "Max Kilman: My late father gave me belief, now I am getting calls from Andriy Shevchenko". The Times. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  6. ^ "Выбираю между Россией и Украиной". championat.com. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Кто такой Макс Килман, и нужен ли он сборной Украины". sport.ua. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  8. ^ Spiers, Tim (5 December 2019). "From futsal to non-league to the Premier League, 6ft 4in Max Kilman has 'got the ability to go to the very top'". The Athletic. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  9. ^ a b Vegas, Paul (11 November 2020). "Wolves defender Max Kilman open to playing for Russia or Ukraine". tribalfootball. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  10. ^ a b Stone, Simon (7 November 2020). "Max Kilman: England futsal team ending has devastated former team-mates". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  11. ^ Hamilton, Tom (14 February 2020). "From futsal to the Premier League, Max Kilman is just getting started at Wolves". ESPN. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Max Kilman". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  13. ^ Meet the Premier League new boy who represents England… at futsal
  14. ^ Wolves defender Max Kilman explains how Futsal aided his pathway into the pro game
  15. ^ Under-23s Make Triple Signing
  16. ^ "Wolves win Division 2 despite Saints victory". Premier League. 30 April 2019.
  17. ^ Max Kilman '100 per cent integrated' into Wolves squad
  18. ^ "Wolves 1-0 Fulham". BBC Sport. 4 May 2019.
  19. ^ Spiers, Tim (5 December 2019). "From futsal to non-league to the Premier League, 6ft 4in Max Kilman has 'got the ability to go to the very top'". The Athletic. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  20. ^ Rose, Gary (15 August 2019). "Europa League: Wolves beat Pyunik 4–0 for an 8–0 aggregate win". BBC Sport.
  21. ^ Edwards, Joe (21 April 2020). "Max Kilman's Wolves contract quietly extended until 2022". Express & Star. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  22. ^ "Kilman commits future to Wolves". Wolves. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  23. ^ "Max Kilman signs new Wolves contract to 2025". BBC Sport. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  24. ^ Stone, Simon (1 November 2021). "Wolves 2–1 Everton: Raul Jimenez scores as hosts add to Toffees' troubles". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  25. ^ "Kilman commits long-term future to Wolves". Wolves. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  26. ^ Johnston, Neil (8 April 2023). "Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Chelsea: Frank Lampard's first game as interim boss ends in defeat". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  27. ^ Summerscales, Robert (8 April 2023). "Matheus Nunes Scores First Goal For Wolves With Spectacular Thunderbolt Against Chelsea". FanNation. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  28. ^ "Your Wolves captain: Maximilian Kilman". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Max Kilman: Wolves captain signs new five-year contract until 2028". BBC Sport. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  30. ^ Thomas, Marissa (4 November 2023). "Sheffield United 2–1 Wolves: Oliver Norwood's penalty earns Premier League win at last". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  31. ^ Hafez, Shamoon (30 December 2023). "Wolves 3–0 Everton: Max Kilman, Matheus Cunha & Craig Dawson score". BBC Sport.
  32. ^ "Meet the new Premier League player with 25 England caps ... At futsal". TheGuardian.com. 23 August 2018.
  33. ^ "Ukraine coach Shevchenko confirms FIFA application for Wolves defender Kilman".
  34. ^ "Heartbreaker: Wolves defender Kilman blocked playing for Ukraine due to futsal".

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Max Kilman.
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. – current squad
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