THERE aren’t many 17-year-olds who would who would turn down a three-year contract offer from Celtic to go back to school.

Ciaran McKenna isn’t like most 17-year-olds.

5 Ciaran McKenna turned his back on signing for Celtic by moving to America

For nine years in the Hoops youth ranks, the boyhood supporter thought about little else other than landing that first professional deal.

However, when the time came he raised eyebrows by opting instead for a £200,000 scholarship at Duke University in North Carolina.

A year and a half on, the talented midfielder has no regrets about taking the road less travelled.

He explained: “I was 16 and in my fourth year at St Ninian’s – which is Celtic’s version of the SFA’s Performance Schools – when a few of us were offered contracts.

“In fifth year you’d go full-time and only go to school one day a week, with the option of choosing to do one Higher exam.

“At the time I felt like I wanted to put my education first, because one solitary qualification wouldn’t help that much if my football career didn’t go to plan.

“I stayed on and did four in the end, getting straight As thankfully, whilst going in full-time one day a week.

5 Young Ciaran has put his education first but is also chasing his football dream

“I still started most games and played well, so Celtic offered me the same contract at the end of that year.

“But I’d been doing well at school without it affecting my football, so I wanted to see if I could keep that balance going at a higher level, so I thought the best option was a scholarship in America.

“My dream was always to sign for Celtic but I kept an open mind.

“A few schools out in America were interested and offered to fly me out, but as soon as I visited Duke my mind was made up.

“The facilities are incredible and they have quality players from all over the world.

5 Ciaran will study at Duke University in North Carolina

“Probably more importantly, they’re also one of the top five universities in America and on a par with the Ivy League ones. There wasn’t a better place for me to combine my education and football.

“It definitely surprised a lot of people. Most said it would be a good experience but that it wouldn’t help me become a footballer, without them knowing too much about it.

“Celtic, to their credit, were fully supportive even though they wanted to keep me.

“I can’t speak any higher of Chris McCart. He wished me all the best when I left.”

5 Celtic's Head of Youth development Chris McCart outside St Ninians

The 6ft 4in starlet will eventually specialise in political science, and revealed his long-standing interest in a subject that would bore many of his peers to tears.

McKenna said: “It’s an interesting time to be studying politics in America!

“I’ve always been interested in it and I remember on one pre-season with Celtic we staged a debate on the independence referendum in the team hotel.

“We were up in Aberdeen playing in the Denis Law tournament and the referendum was the next month.

“I’d been writing papers on it for school and was very passionate about the subject.

“I’d end up talking about it with anyone and everyone, so one night one of the coaches suggested we have a proper structured debate.

5 Ciaran always wanted to play for his boyhood heroes

“I was the spokesman for the Yes campaign and one of the other boys – I better not say who – argued for No.

“It was hosted by the physio and lasted for about an hour and a half.

“We took a poll at the start of how people would vote, with about four or five of the boys undecided, and I’m glad to say I managed to switch about the same number from their original opinion.

“One of the main things about going down this path was that, at the end of the three and a half years, I hope I’ll have more options than I would have done otherwise – ideally within football, or maybe in the world of work.

“Two of the boys from our team turned professional in the MLS last year. Another didn’t quite make it and now has a top job on Wall Street with Morgan Stanley.”

For now it’s a constant battle to balance the books and his football boots, but it’s one he’s enjoying.

He said: “It’s exceeded all my expectations.

“I was used to getting up at 6am for training and school at St Ninian’s but this is a different level.

“I’m out of my comfort zone and the academic side is challenging but I love it.

“The same applies to the football and I’m lucky that I played as often as I did in my freshman year.

“The workload’s intense but I feel like I’ve come on leaps and bounds as a result, as a player and a person.

“Everything’s geared towards helping you improve.

“For example, the weights room is incredible and about four to five times the size of the Celtic one and I think there is a coach for every two players to hammer home technique.

“We’ll get, on average, 1500-2000 people for our games on a Friday night but it was 5000 for a big one in October, which compares well to some teams in the Scottish Premiership.

“I want to make the most of every minute I’m here and see where it takes me.”

For more information on the kind of scholarship Ciaran embarked on, log on to www.premierscholarshipsusa.co.uk

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