I know we've discussed him before, but I couldn't quickly find a stand-alone thread on the guy. Anyway, he's on the roster at SC Znojmo, a newly promoted team in the Czech first division. Nermin CRNKIĆ http://1scznojmo.cz/hrac.asp?id=Nermin-Crnki%E6-540&sezona=2014&kategorie=MUZ This article from the club site seems to indicate that he's on loan from Jablonec. http://1scznojmo.cz/clanek.asp?id=Z-Jablonce-prichazi-na-hostovani-Nermin-Crnki%E6-1947 He's a '92 from Michigan. Some background... http://ussda.demosphere.com/teams/27484436/27485078-27484530/31694391.html http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/n...star-nermin-crnkic-signs-with-team-in-sweden/
"...East Kentwood soccer coach John Conlon ... compares Crnkic ... with University of Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson. “I tell people he’s like Robinson,” Conlon said. “He’s absolutely electric in that he can change a game at any moment. He has qualities you rarely see....” Crnkic had attended a professional tryout in Germany and attracted interest from two Major League Soccer teams before winding up in Sweden, said Conlon. He wouldn’t be surprised if Crnkic is playing in Sweden’s highest division before the season ends next spring. “He’s a special athlete,” Conlon said. “He might be the most exciting player I’ve ever seen....” Crnkic’s 76 assists ranks first on East Kentwood’s all-time list while he scored 32 goals as a senior when he was runner-up ... for the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association’s Mr. Soccer award. Crnkic was a National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American last season and was named to the Michigan coaches association Dream Team. He was a two-time all-stater who led the Falcons to three state titles in four seasons. In travel soccer, Crnkic was a three-time State Cup MVP. Conlon said in soccer testing conducted by Nike, Crnkic, who is 5-foot-10, wound up in the top five percent in the country in categories such as speed in the 40-yard dash and vertical jump. “He’s not your typical American player,” Conlon said. “He breaks the mold.”" http://www.fkjablonec.cz/aktualne/s...vy-rocnik-vcetne-fotografii/?aktualitaId=7853
He was the hero for the Michigan Bucks at the 2012 US Open Cup. Now he's in the Czech Liga. an interview CRNKIC AIMING TO BOOST ZNOJMO
He scored in the Czech Liga on Friday for Znojmo in 3-1 win over Teplice You can watch his goal here at 0:22
Scored today for Znojmo in a 2-1 loss to Slavia Prague He's a regular starter in the Czech Liga with Znojmo
Rather impressive finish- Assist 9/28/13 vs. Mlada Boleslav at the top- http://fotbal.idnes.cz/10-kolo-prvn...-d9s-/fotbal.aspx?c=A130927_151848_fotbal_min So we have pace, touch, and finishing ability. Also an assist 10/26/13 vs. 1.FK Pribram- http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/1-sc-znojmo-1-fk-pribram/index/spielbericht_2336914.html
That was a joke! I don't pretend I know anything about either Czech league or Crnic. And I do know that Czech love Americans, actually.
Nermin Crnkic scored today for Znojmo in a 4-1 win over Liberec His 58th minute goal equalized the game at 1-1 Here's video
It appears Crnkic's loan is over and he's back at defending Czech cup winners FK Baumit Jablonec: http://www.fkjablonec.cz/cz/hrac-detail/?playerId=1207
He started and played 81 minutes in a 2-1 win at Bohemians today. http://us.soccerway.com/matches/201...ns-1905/fk-jablonec-97/1715801/?ICID=PL_MS_05
The Czech league isn't great, but it's not bad, and Jablonec is a legit contender for a European spot having finished in the top 4 of the league 3 times in the last 5 seasons, finishing 11th last year in a bit of an anomaly. Also, the Czech league gained a 2nd UCL spot this season with their jump in coefficient, so this is a league on the rise, even though they've had a poor European campaign this year. Anyway, my point is that if he's performing, it wouldn't be totally out of the question to give him a look. Still early days, but it's something to keep an eye on for sure.
Youth, pace, and finishing ability. Good combination. Pace alone might not even be enough to cause him to stand out among the US player pool lately or going forward (Fabian Johnson, Yedlin, Gatt, & Gyau sprint to mind). I wonder if Bosnia might call him sooner, if pace is in more demand in their pool, while we have all kinds of pace & are more starved for technical ability. I believe he'll be age-eligible for the U23s/Olympics & I'd think that'd be the next step for him if so, either way.
He scored in Jablonec’s 2-0 win over FC Copenhagen in a winter break/preseason tournament on Wednesday. 0:45 mark
Nermin is part of a new feature on Americans in Europe Soccer in Eastern Europe Lures Adventurous Yanks