Maxim Mateáš: Student-Athlete Journey

Some students follow one clear path, but others manage to excel in more than one demanding world at the same time. Balancing school, the AP Programme, and a professional football career requires discipline, resilience, and consistency.

On June 12, Maxim Mateáš successfully graduated from EISB, marking an important milestone in his educational journey.

In this blog, Maxim shares his personal story and reflects on what helped him achieve his goals, both in football and in his studies.

Football career highlights

• Developed in the academy of ŠK Slovan Bratislava
• Represented Slovakia at youth international level
• Made his professional debut for Slovan Bratislava
• Played in a UEFA Champions League qualification match in 2024

Below is his personal reflection on his journey:

“I think that I have had many special moments in my life. When I was a child, I had one goal. That goal was to become a football player. In the summer of 2024, I achieved this dream. I played 10 minutes in a UEFA Champions League qualification match. This moment was very special to me because since I was a child, I had been going to the stadium to support my team. Before I played, I was nervous, but when I stepped onto the grass of the stadium, I felt very calm in my mind.

I achieved this goal because I love football. Since I was little, I have enjoyed playing football very much. I trained hard and always gave my best. Discipline was also important. Sometimes training was difficult, but I never gave up. I wanted to improve. My love for football and my hard work helped me achieve this dream.

Our last training camp was not successful. We did not achieve our goal. That was sad for me and my team. However, I learned something important. You can learn from mistakes. Now we know what we need to do better. This experience will help us in the future. Next time, we want to work harder and achieve better results.”

Key values from Maxim’s journey:

• Find something you love and stay committed to it
• Always give your best
• Be disciplined and do your tasks every day, even when it is hard
• Don’t give up when things get difficult
• Learn from mistakes and defeats – they help you improve the most

Maxim’s journey is a strong example of discipline, perseverance, and balance between sport and education. These values were not only important in his football career, but also in his educational journey at EISB.

We are proud of him and very happy that we could be part of his journey. Students like Maxim are a true inspiration to our school community and show what can be achieved with dedication, consistency, and hard work.