Wolves captain Maximilian Kilman has broadened his horizons off the pitch by successfully graduating from Hertfordshire Business School with a BSc (Hons) Business and Sport Management degree.
The defender, who joined the club from Maidenhead United in August 2018, on Saturday made his 141st appearance for Wolves, having been handed the captain’s armband last summer.
But back in 2016, the now 26-year-old began his studies on a full-time joint honours programme at University of Hertfordshire, while also representing the university futsal team in the BUCS National League, alongside his commitments to Maidenhead.
The Molineux move in August 2018 put those studies momentarily on pause two years in, however with Kilman now an established member of Gary O’Neil’s squad, he transferred his studies to Hertfordshire Business School and an online degree exclusively for sport professionals.
Since then, alongside playing Premier League football for the Old Gold, Kilman has completed his degree in BSc (Hons) Business and Sport Management, helping him develop away from the pitch.
Kilman said: “Before I joined Wolves, I was playing part-time for Maidenhead and going to university, but when I moved here, I couldn’t carry on finishing my degree as I’d changed location. I gave it a few years so I could focus on my football and figure out a time when I could complete the last year.
“Luckily, I’ve been able to complete it online. It’s taken me some time, as football was my priority and I only wanted to do it when I had a bit of time, but I’m glad I’ve managed to complete it and it was all worth it in the end.
“The reason I was doing the degree in the first place was a plan B if football wasn’t to work out. I was playing in non-league, so my career could have gone anywhere at that point. It was always a back-up option, and my parents always pushed me to make sure I went to university, so when I joined Wolves, my mum was on me to finish the degree. It’s something which is important.
“It gives me a better understanding, better knowledge of the sport, and hopefully in the future when I retire, I’ll have further paths to go into. As a footballer, you follow a disciplined regime that is repetitive, so studying has given me a lot of satisfaction. It has enhanced my personal skills and has helped me become more confident when communicating to a wider audience.”
Programme leader Jarrod Lippiatt said: “Max is an excellent example of sports professionals studying on the Hertfordshire Business School: Business and Sport Management online degree. A high-profile sports professional who has valued the flexibility of the degree programme and embraced the opportunity to study alongside their demanding sport career.”
