The voice could be heard throughout the main field at Atlanta United’s training ground.
“Tackle.” “Good.” “Here.”
Those simple phrases, and many more, were being machine-gunned out by the unofficial newest member of Atlanta United’s goalkeeping group: Brad Guzan.
Monday was his first training session with the MLS expansion team. The day’s session ended with short-sided drills featuring some of Atlanta United’s lesser-used players against one of its Academy teams. Guzan was in goal for the academy team.
“Brad is obviously really well known in the States and in England,” Atlanta United fullback Tyrone Mears said on Monday. “He’s very, very experienced. He’s a big signing for the club. It’ll lift everybody to know he’s coming in.”
His training debut comes two days after Alec Kann had arguably his best game for the team in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Columbus. If not for two smart plays in the first half, Atlanta United could have found itself out of the match before it really got started. Two of his teammates praised him after Saturday’s performance.
“… Alec was big the way he’s been all year, made the saves that kept us in the game and got us going,” Jeff Larentowicz said Saturday night.
Kann, a native of Decatur, was acquired by Atlanta United in the expansion draft after several years in MLS, but less than 10 appearances with stints at Chicago and Sporting KC. He won the starting job with Atlanta United and has made the 11 for each of the team’s 15 regular season games, in which it has a 6-6-3 record, as well as its 3-2 win over Charleston in its opening game of the U.S. Open Cup.
Guzan's signing was announced in January during the team's first training camp before it had played its first preseason game.
His resume includes:
- MLS Goalkeeper of the year in 2007;
- Fifty-four appearances for the U.S. men's national team;
- More than 150 appearances in England's top two divisions, including recently at Middlesbrough;
The two look different: Kann has jet black hair, is tall (6-foot-4) and thin. When he spreads his arms and legs, he can take up a lot of the goal. He can sometimes look awkward with the ball at his feet, but his distribution has been consistently solid this season. He has also made several spectacular saves for Atlanta United this season.
Guzan is SPF100 bald, is also listed at 6-foot-4, but is stockier, has a reputation as a good shot-stopper and also being good with his feet. They are both left-footed.
Neither goalkeeper were made available for interviews on Monday.
Even when that transfer window opens and he is eligible to be selected by Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino, Guzan will likely be with the U.S. men’s national team participating in the Gold Cup. The tournament championship is July 26.
Though he has previously been interviewed about his move from Middlesbrough in England's Premier League to Atlanta United by Fox Sports Southeast and ESPN , Guzan won't be made available for interviews with Atlanta-based media until he can play for the team when the transfer window opens on July 10.
Kann has in the past said that when Guzan arrives he was going to keep doing what he has always done, which is work hard and give his best.
Guzan told ESPN that Atlanta United was “an exciting team to be joining.”
