Decatur's Alec Kann won't change his approach to trying to win Atlanta United's starting goalkeeping job during the ongoing training camp. And he said he won't change his approach when Brad Guzan , the presumed starter because of his pedigree as a U.S. men's national team goalkeeper and Premier League vet, arrives this summer.
“I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing for the last six years,” said Kann, who played at Lakeside High School. “I’ve never met Brad, but I’m sure he’s an awesome guy, and I’m looking forward to working with him when he gets here. For now, the jobs up for grabs and everyone is hungry to take it by the reins.”
Kann is competing against three other players in camp: Alex Tambakis, the team’s first signing who played for the USL affiliate in Charleston last year, and trialists Kyle Reynish and Matias Reynares, formerly of Fort Lauderdale. Guzan is expected to arrive after Middlesbrough’s season in the Premier League ends in May. He can’t play for Atlanta United until the MLS secondary transfer window opens in July.
Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino said that after the first two days of practices at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where the team is holding preseason camp, Kann has given a very good impression.
Kann, 26 years old, said he never thought when growing up in Decatur that he would one day have the opportunity to play for an MLS team in the city.
He said the soccer culture then was focused mostly on the vibrant youth scene. He said the diversity of the leagues helped him grow as a player and person.
“I wouldn’t have changed that for the world,” he said. “I know that the city will embrace the team in that way.”
After four years at Furman, where the team was 37-16-10, he signed with Charleston in 2012. His big break came in 2013 when he got an opportunity to work out for the Chicago Fire, whose goalkeeper coach was Aron Hyde. The team signed him and loaned him to Charlotte in 2014 and St. Louis in 2015, but still made one appearance for Chicago. His contract option was declined in 2015 and he was picked up by Sporting KC in the re-entry draft.
He made seven appearances with two shutouts last season for Sporting. He said he kept an eye on what Atlanta United was doing while remaining focused on his job in Kansas City. Though he played well, he was left on the team’s list of unprotected players in the expansion draft held in December. Atlanta United, whose goalkeeper coach is Hyde, selected him with its fifth and final pick in the draft.
Now, if Kann makes the team, he may get an opportunity to eat at his favorite restaurant, no. 246 in Decatur, and take more walks along the Atlanta BeltLine, which he said is among his favorite things to do.
“It was a bit of a surprise,” he said. “My family and friends were super excited. I’m over the moon. I never thought it would be possible to have an MLS team in Atlanta and second of all me being on it.”
After he was picked up by Atlanta United in December, club technical director Carlos Bocanegra said they liked Kann’s ability to distribute the ball with his feet, which is something Kann noted Thursday was a strength. At 6-foot-4, he also has the long reach to fill the goal.
“Tata (Martino) wants us to play out of the back,” Kann said. “We are going to have a really distinct style of play. I think I will fit in well with that style.”
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