Weston McKennie’s career has been rapidly and constantly rising since he first moved to Germany as a child. Discovering football, signing for Schalke and representing his country has all followed, but it could have all been so different.

When McKennie was just six years old, his family faced a crossroads. Would they move to the state of Alaska in the far north of the USA or to the southwestern German city of Kaiserslautern. In the end, young Weston’s family opted for the latter, where his father would be stationed with the US military.

Writing in an article for the Players’ Tribune, 20-year-old McKennie explains how his blossoming life and footballing career could have all been so different had his family’s destination had been another.

Weston McKennie has emerged as one of Schalke's most important players after a difficult 2018/19 season. - 2018 DFL

"What do you know about Alaska? I don’t know much about it," said McKennie. "But I almost ended up knowing everything about it. When I was six, my family nearly moved there. That’s crazy for me to think about - like for real, it legit blows my mind. How would I be different if I spent three years in Alaska instead of Germany - where we actually ended up moving.

"So what if I went to Alaska? Maybe this story would have been about Weston the snowboarder. I could see it. Or maybe … I don’t know, I’d be a world-class dogsledder. I really do think about that from time to time. Because life is weird, and sometimes you just have to make the most out of what you have."

McKennie has certainly made the most of what he has had in the first 20 years of his life so far, as he stumbled upon a sport which has enabled him to play in the Bundesliga, as well as for his country on the international stage.

Weston McKennie (r) is one of the brightest talents for the USMNT, alongisde for Borussia Dortmund star Christian Pulisic (l). - imago images / Icon SMI

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His spontaneous decision one day to go to an indoor gymnasium to play football with some local friends saw him sign up for a local youth team, and the rest has been a blur. He has represented the US from U17 to U20 level, before making the first of his now nine appearances for the USMNT back in November 2017 against Portugal, scoring on his debut.

Almost 50 appearances for Schalke in his three years with the club since joining in August 2016 have both propelled him to superstar status in his home country, as well as earn him high regard and respect in Germany among Bundesliga followers.

In a difficult season for Schalke, McKennie was pivotal in steering the Royal Blue ship to safety, playing in as many as six different positions in his 24 league appearances under coaches Domenico Tedesco and Huub Stevens during the 2018/19 campaign.

But when reflecting on where he has come from to reach this point, there is only one thing on McKennie’s mind when discussing Schalke.

Watch: "I'd play in goal if I had to" - McKennie!

"When I got a call from my agent, Cory Gibbs, in 2016 telling me that Schalke was interested in signing me, it felt like it was meant to be. I had started something all those years ago in Germany - and now it was time to go back to where it all began.

"I only knew three clubs in Germany at the time. Schalke, Bayern and one other one [perhaps a certain Borussia Dortmund…]. But when I started doing some reading on Schalke and the city of Gelsenkirchen, I fell in love. The fans were my type of people. Hardworking, passionate and loyal. That meant a lot to me.

"Now I’ve been here for three years, just like when I was a boy. And all those things I read about Schalke are true. They’ve also become a part of my identity. From the supporters, to my teammates and coaches - Schalke is family. And I can’t wait to see what’s next for our family."

Click here to read the full Players' Tribue article!

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