Maxime Chanot has revealed it was a special feeling that convinced him to join New York City Football Club.
The 32-year-old defender joined NYCFC in 2016 from Belgian side K.V. Kortrijk amid interest from a number of European clubs. Speaking this week after signing a new multiple-year contract extension, Chanot confirmed it was a feeling inside that convinced him to join the Boys in Blue.
“When I signed here for New York back in 2016, I obviously didn't even imagine I will stay this long in New York,” he said. “My contract back in the day was like two and a half years. I was thinking ‘okay, let's do it and see what's going to happen’ otherwise we'll go back to Europe. After almost seven years I didn't even imagine that [I’d be here that long]. If you’d told me that when I signed back in 2016 I’d be so glad and so happy.
“People asked me since I signed here, why did you choose to sign for NYCFC? Because I was pretty young, I was like 26 years old, I’d done like five or six very good seasons in Belgium. I had plenty of clubs want me every season. I don't really know, sometimes in life you just have a feeling. I think I felt like this club really wanted me and as a player that’s very important. So we took the decision to come here and I can say that it’s the best decision in my life.”
Chanot enjoyed arguably his finest season with the team in 2021, playing every minute during the Club’s memorably playoff run that culminated with NYCFC’s first-ever MLS Cup success in December. Casting his eye forward the defender also confirmed he still has many more things he wishes to achieve with the team.
“We decided, obviously the club and myself, to resign this contract because I want to achieve many more things with this club,” he said. “I'm still young. I'm only 32, I've got so much experience. I know what I can bring to this football club and to these young lads. There are so many young kids and I believe they need an older player to help them achieve their full potential.
“Obviously there is a coach, there is Ronny Deila, but I also want to share my experience with the kids, especially the defenders because I know what I'm talking about. If you want me to tell you I want to retire at this club I don’t even think about that yet. I’m 32, I signed a multiple-year extension because I feel like I can play until I’m 40.”
He went on to add: “I want to play as many games as I can, to win as many games as we can. When I stayed on the field for the first interview I said ‘I won’t quit until I bring a Championship to this club’. I’m telling you again, I won’t stop playing football until I get another trophy for this club.”
Maxime was speaking to Ian Joy as part of a larger discussion entitled Rendezvous à Le Baratin. You can watch the full piece below.
