Players

The Club announced the signing of Michal Mravec – a 27-year-old Slovakian midfielder with UEFA Europa League experience – on March 26,2015.

​The University of Alabama-Birmingham alumnus spent the last four seasons patrolling the pitch in Europe. After being drafted by Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City, he combined for 32 appearances with a trifecta of first-division European clubs: FC Emmen (Holland, 2011-12), MŠK Žilina (Slovakia, 2013) and Podbeskidzie (Poland, 2014).

Mravec made his Europa League debut in the 2013-14 campaign as MŠK Žilina challenged NK Olimpija Ljubljana.

“Michal's the type of midfield player for our group that will give everyone a real lift,” Smith said. “He's a good physical specimen but – for a guy that’s 6-foot-3 – he has exceptionally good footwork and vision.

“He's capable of picking a pass and he’s very efficient technically, while having that nice quality of competitiveness.”

​Mravec shares a connection with Atlanta, having played for the Redwings Soccer Club’s U-16, U-17 and U-18 teams as a youth.

​As a 13-year-old, he was honored as the best ball juggler and most technical player at that age level.

“At 27, he's still got a tremendous future in front of him,” Smith said. “That's a real good addition to the group at this point in preseason. I think it will give everyone a real lift.”

With the Blazers, who Atlanta defeated 2-1 in a friendly on March 20, Mravec earned two All-Conference USA honors while starting 55 of his 71 total appearances. He scored five goals and delivered eight assists in his four-year career.