Silverbacks Add Midfielder Michal Mravec

Despite an unbeaten preseason, the Atlanta Silverbacks and first-year head coach Gary Smith are still fadding promising pieces to the team sheet. The construction of the squad continued on Wednesday when the club announced the signing of Michal Mravec – a 27-year-old Slovakian midfielder with UEFA Europa League experience.

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, but headed to Europ, featuring for 32 times across a trifecta three European first division 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.