MAX KILMAN: THE UKRAINIAN FROM CHELSEA

 Football is far from the relevant in Eastern Europe at the moment. At the time of writing it’s estimated that 2,000 civilians have already lost their lives as a result of the Russian Army’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. As we watch these horrific events unfold throughout the former Soviet state of Ukraine it puts things into perspective. A show of solidarity in the form of a standing ovation greeted Ukrainian footballers Oleksandr Zinchenko and Vitaliy Mykolenko as they embraced ahead of their Premier League clash last weekend. Opponents on the field, but drawn together off it by the shared heartache of an attempted occupation on their homeland. As tears streamed down Zinchenko’s cheeks moments before kick off, one had to ponder how the former Shakhtar Donetsk youth could enter the field of battle at Goodison Park when a full scale war develops back home. 

            As the ugliness of war reveals itself we turn to the beautiful game for a brief escape from reality. This weekend Premier League crowds rose to applaud the bravery of the Ukrainian people before kick off, whilst the standard Premier League captains bands were switched for blue and yellow to symbolise the nation’s flag. Ukrainian internationalists across the world are witnessing touching scenes of unity from crowds as their homeland is shelled under Putin’s orders. Yet one rising Premier League star praying for his family’s safety in Ukraine may come as a surprise to some. An ever-present in the Wolverhampton Wanderers team this season Max Kilman is having a breakout year under Bruno Lage, so much so that the 24-year-old has been tipped for an England call up as well as a move to boyhood club Chelsea. Kilman has slotted into the Wolves back five as one of three central defenders in the system. A former Futsal star, Kilman has exerted his fancy footwork on occasion, and alongside England international Connor Coady his defensive abilities have improved swiftly. But whilst Max’s career has accelerated in England over the last seven months, the lives of his family back home have collapsed under the instructions of a dictator. 

Born to a Ukrainian mother and a Russian father Max knows, perhaps better than most footballers, the tensions between the once unified Soviet nations. As a child Max travelled to his late father’s home city of Moscow and even learned to speak the native tongue of his Muscovite dad. So far the young defender’s social media platforms have remained relatively silent as Russian armed forces advance on his mother’s birthplace Kyiv. The family anxiously await updates from Max’s grandfather and uncle who live in Ukraine. His relatives were in the country when Russia launched the ‘special military operation’ on February 24^th, however there has been no update on their wellbeing since. Later that evening Kilman continued his run in the Wolves starting lineup making it 25 starts in a row. Alexander Lacazette’s stoppage time winner under the Emirates floodlights condemned Wolves to their second defeat to the Gooners in a fortnight. After Saturdays sluggish defeat at home to Crystal Palace Lage’s Wolverhampton side have suffered three consecutive defeats for the first time since the opening three matches of the 2021/22 campaign. Gareth Southgate was present at Molineux yesterday reportedly scouting Kilman. It turned out to be a poor choice of fixtures for the England gaffer to attend as Kilman was replaced by Chiquinho with a little over ten minutes remaining. These were the first minutes Kilman had missed for Wolves in the Premiership this season, but Southgate will no doubt be aware of the ongoing stress in the defender’s personal life. Despite Kilman’s impeccable maturity and professionalism, and Lage insisting he’s noticed no change in the defenders attitude this week, his mind must surely drift elsewhere given the circumstances. 

 In 2020 Kilman declared he was open to representing the birth nation of either of his parents, and in March last year Ukraine made contact. Three months before Euro 2020 was due to kick off a star-struck Max Kilman received a call from former Chelsea striker and Ukraine manager (at the time) Andriy Shevchenko to inform him that an application had been lodged requesting his access to play for Ukraine. However, to Shevchenko’s frustration, Fifa rejected the request stating that Kilman’s 25 appearances for the Three Lions in Futsal ruled him ineligible to switch national allegiance. At the beginning of 2021 Fifa altered the criteria for switching national sides, insisting that any individual who features in no more than three competitive international matches may transfer. Futsal, alongside football and beach soccer all fall under the Fifa and UEFA governing bodies, therefore Kilman’s quarter century outings for the England Futsal side slammed the door shut for any potential Ukrainian cap. 

Ukraine were due to face Scotland in a World Cup play-off semi-final later this month, but given the tragic circumstances it appears UEFA president Alexander Ceferin will postpone the tie until June. Ceferin is also said to be considering a special transfer window for players within Ukrainian football. This would allow transfers from clubs in the war torn nation out-with the current winter and summer windows. With their country currently in the midst of a horrific invasion, and a UN estimated 1.3 million Ukrainians reportedly fleeing the country already, football is the least of the people’s concerns. Yet despite its irrelevance at times like these the footballing world has once again joined together to offer support amidst a crisis.

Football is a privilege and in the grand scheme of things it’s just a game. But it’s also a platform, perhaps the largest platform across the globe, and football’s message of support is being heard worldwide. Football stands with Ukraine.