Maxi Kant has the soccer world at his feet – and fortunately for him, access to more passports than Jason Bourne!
Born in the United States to a German father (Markus) and French-Canadian mom (Catherine Durand-Brault) it is fair to say, Maxi has more options than most.
Maximilian, or Maxi to his friends, already holds three passports – US, German and Canadian – and next year will move with his family to England to study at the prestigious Millfield School, one of the UK’s premier boarding schools.
His sister Laetitia Kant is an an American born in Britain with passports for both countries AND Germany and Canada.
By the time he finishes his studies he too will have the option to apply for a UK passport to complete his collection and then his only barrier to professional soccer will be himself – and judging on the family approach that seems unlikely.
For proud father Markus Kant it will be a return to England, where he formally had residency to continue his banking career, but for Maxi it will be first steps in the pathway to follow his grandfather Franz Kant and into the world of professional soccer.
Just like Maxi, Franz was an attacking midfielder. His professional career was cruelly cut short by injury, hence the decision to split their focus on pursuing academic studies and soccer.
Maxi, said: “I am hoping I will become a professional footballer, but in case not I will have gained a great education at Millfield.
“I understand the importance of my education during my football journey, especially given what happened to my grandfather.
“He was on the verge of making it to the 1st team at 1. FC Nuernberg in the Bundesliga as a 17-year-old, when in 1966 he suffered a bad meniscus tear which basically ended his playing career.
“Back then Nuernberg were actually in the top third of the Bundesliga and they won it in 1968! but my grandfather’s career was over.
“That’s why I’ve working hard to ensure I have a back up plan which would enable me to work in and around the game but I am focused on turning professional, though I know the journey will be long and I will have to work hard.”
Soccer, or Fußball as it is called in Germany, is part of Maxi’s DNA.
Whilst his grandfather Franz had a taste of pro-soccer before his career was cut short by injury, his great grandfather Kurt Kant too had hopes of cutting his teeth in pro soccer before the Great War intervened and he was forced to enlist.
The soccer bond has remained and every year Maxi returns to Germany to train with his grandfather’s youth club Sportfreunde Laubendorf using the same turf where his grandfather and great grandfather before him played and trained.
Back home, Maxi is a keen and valued member of the NCE Soccer family. He started his club soccer with the PSG Academy New York at the age of five, before moving to Metoval Academy in Queens, New York and then Manhattan Soccer Club.
He followed two friends to NCE Soccer and was selected via tryouts to join the Centre of Excellence Program and, it was this move, he believes provided him with the spring board to go forward.
“I started playing football as soon as I could walk. I always had a ball on my feet whenever I could,” he added.
“I had the opportunity with NCE to experience Academy level football in England over the last few years as I attended the NCE Academy Tour to Oakham where I played against top academy teams from all across the UK. In the US it was hard to combine playing at the highest level with my very demanding school schedule.
“I was invited this past summer to the Oakham 2009 tour and played a year up and being coached by John Curtis was definitely an absolute highlight.
“The competition was tough but I learned a lot. The other tours in Oakham with my year group were also great and I enjoy all the winter and summer showcase tournaments immensely too.
“But really I’m looking forward to NCE every week – so much so that this year I’m doing it twice weekly to be really be challenged and improve at the highest level.
“NCE has helped me to learn new defending and attacking moves. All the coaches I had (John, Nick, Josh, Lewis, Dan, etc) taught me very valuable lessons. Also the international travel we did really showed me what the opportunities are in football if you really work hard and apply yourself.
“It’s also great to continue the family tradition and I love having the opportunity to return to Germany in the summer and play on the same field that my grandfather and great grandfather before did. It’s pretty special place for us as a family, it provides us with a connection to our family and I love my time there training.”
Max will continue as part of the NCE Soccer family for now but he is delighted to have been accepted to Millfield School for next year where he will join students in Year Nine. He is already dreaming of FA Cup glory in England.
Millfield is a top school with a serious track record of producing leading players, including Aston Villa and England’s Tyrone Mings. Mings was at Milfield between 2009-2011 and joined Villa on loan from Bournemouth in a £26.5million deal.
He added: “I wanted to take my football to the next level while staying focused on a great education.
“My current school schedule at Lycée Français de New York did not align with MLS Next training schedule of my then club.
“Millfield offers excellent football training across a holistic development programme six days of the week with access to gym, physio and performance analysis to aid development alongside an age appropriate technical/tactical programme and participation in regional and national competitions including the FA Youth Cup and in addition Millfield also offers excellent academics.
“They have a fantastic history of producing players and hopefully I can benefit and follow in their footsteps. I am determined to make it as a pro or be involved with the game in some other form.
“There are many other possibilities to stay involved with the game I’m hopeful I’ll find something else football related that I can do. I will give it my all and I’m fortunate in terms of the passports providing me with options but I know I have to work harder than ever to have a chance of making my dreams come true.”
* Follow in Maxi’s footsteps and fast track your soccer journey by joining NCE Soccer via our Winter tryouts in December. NCE Soccer will host tryouts in New York, New England, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Southern California in December via this link.
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