Mikey Ambrose had no idea he was going to be selected by Atlanta United when he was selected in the expansion draft.
“It was a bit of surprise, but a very good surprise,” Ambrose, 23, said. “I was excited form the get-go. Everyone here is doing it right. It’s going to be a great experience.”
But Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino had a very good reason why the team wanted the left back.
“He gets forward,” Martino said through a translator. That seems to be a baseline requirement for all of the defenders acquired by the MLS club.
Ambrose, a native of Frisco, Texas, came up through MLS in Dallas’ famed academy, before signing with Maryland, where in three years he made 71 appearances with 15 assists, evidence of his ability to get up the field and get involved in the offense.
He played for the Austin Aztex in the PDL and USL from 2013-15.
Orlando City traded for him in 2016. He made 18 appearances for the B team, paving the way for five appearances last season for the MLS squad. Ambrose didn’t get many opportunities in Orlando because he was competing with Brek Shea, a former regular on the U.S. men’s national team.
Ambrose is one of two natural leftbacks on the roster. The other is Greg Garza, who spent most of January and the first few days of February in camp with the U.S. men’s national team. He has since returned. Should Garza be called up by manager Bruce Arena for World Cup qualifiers in March, Ambrose could be the only natural left back remaining for Atlanta United.
Fullbacks under Martino are expected to play almost as extra midfielders. They can either hug the sidelines to provide an outlet to stretch defenses before receiving the ball and making a cross into the penalty box, or they can cut inside into spaces between midfielders and fullbacks to try to either create numerical advantage and/or that moment of hesitation that could result in a goal.
Ambrose said he’s a hard-worker, which is necessary for the amount of sprinting up and down the field that will be necessary to execute Martino’s strategy. Ambrose thinks his skills are a good fit for Martino’s preferred pressing system. He said he grew up playing “tiki-taka” soccer in Texas.
“I love possession soccer,” he said. “I’m trying to be the best Atlanta United player I can be.”
Notes: Goalkeeper Alex Tambakis didn’t participate in Wednesday’s practice because of the flu but is expected to return on Thursday. He appeared to be the only player withheld for the training, which took place at the team’s head under-construction headquarters in Marietta. Another goalkeeper, Odisnel Cooper, is on trial with the team, along with Kyle Reynish, who joined the team when it was in Bradenton, Fla. Cooper, a native of Cuba, has played for Charleston since 2013.
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