Maximilian Kilman has quickly endeared himself to the West Ham United fans in little over two months at the Club, and if the career paths of his contemporaries are anything to go by, the defender is just approaching his peak – and that is a frightening prospect indeed for Premier League forwards.
Kilman, who joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers in July, has been an important part of the West Ham rearguard and has impressed during the Hammers’ opening four matches this season in all competitions, picking up two clean sheets and produced a stunning passage of play to assist Jarrod Bowen in our win at Crystal Palace on matchday two.
East London feels like home for Kilman, who has settled into life both on and off the pitch back close to his roots. Professionally, he couldn’t have asked for a better situation. Having grown up just ten minutes down the road in West Ham, Kilman has easily adapted to his new surroundings, and it feels as if the stars had aligned for his move to the Irons to happen.
“It feels great [to be back here in London],” said Kilman. “Not many people know this, but I'm actually from West Ham. I grew up in West Ham until I was nine, and then I moved to north-west London. So, being closer to home and closer to friends and family is really good.
“It is [the perfect move]. I went to West Ham Church school, and my dad used to go to West Ham Park, so obviously I'm very local to West Ham and grew up here. It feels like I'm back home.
“It was a huge move, coming to a massive Club like West Ham, but you can see why with the fan base and the type of players, as we’ve got some top-quality players. So, of course, it's a great move. I'm extremely proud that I can play for this Club, and I just want to give my best every time I put on the shirt.”
Being one of those who have grown up inside the confines of the borough of Newham itself, Kilman has been well-versed about the ‘West Ham Way’ of playing and believes Julen Lopetegui is the man to help implement that attractive, attacking brand of football.
He said: “I actually spoke to a supporter when I first signed. He told me about when Ron Greenwood was the manager and played the attractive, attacking football. And, of course, with Lopetegui being the boss now, that's what he's trying to implement. So, hopefully we can be more exciting and play more on the front foot.
“It was a massive honour to come back here and to work under him again, which is obviously brilliant. He's a great manager with his team, and I think coming to a Club that has a lot of ambition to do well and wants to carry on the success they've had in previous years is great.
“I think he's got a will to improve players. He did a great job while he was at Wolves. Now, coming here, he has the same kind of ethos as a manager, and he wants everyone to improve as a player, improve as a team, and he is really passionate about his work. He's great to work under, and we're determined to bring more success to this Club.
“We definitely want to be more on the front foot. We've had a few games to start the season, and maybe some of the fans can see some of that. But of course, there's a lot more to improve on, and I'm sure as time goes by, we will play more on the front foot and more attacking football.
“He’s been really great with me, but I can see how he is with all the other players, and he's very supportive and very encouraging. He always pulls players over for a chat to see how they're doing and what he wants them to improve on. I think he's got that kind of ambition to really push on.”
The defender believes it has been a productive start to the 2024/25 season, which he says comes down to the team's unflinching work ethic and determination to succeed.
Lopetegui has begun his reign as Head Coach with two wins and two defeats in all competitions, while his side also put up a stern challenge against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City last time out.
Kilman admits he’s also grateful for the unwavering support from the West Ham fans and says it has been one of the biggest reasons for his early season success.
“[The season] has gone really well so far,” Kilman confirmed. “My main focus was just to settle in, feel welcomed, and everyone here has made me feel really welcome, and I'm really grateful for that as well. But now I just need to get my head down and keep on improving, as there's still a long way to go. It’s only been a few games, so I just want to carry that on and keep improving as a player.
“It's a massive fan base, so to get their support and to get their backing is really nice. But I just need to do my best to repay them and all the players, staff, and everyone at the Club.
“The squad is very talented with so many strong players, and we're very competitive with lots of players in each position. We've got a lot of ambition to do well.
“I definitely still think there’s more to come [from me]. I think it's because I came into the game a little bit later than most other players, and I feel like I'm still improving as a player. I think I've got more to progress and I’ve not yet reached my peak.
“The Premier League is such a competitive league, and there are so many high-quality teams. But as a Club, we need to back ourselves. We've got the players and all the right foundations to do really well. We will definitely push for a European spot. I think with the players we have here, it’s definitely something we can achieve.”
