Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 27
Birth Date: Dec 5, 1982
Birth Place: Bela nad Cirochou, Czechoslovakia
Height: 6' 2" (1.89m)
Weight: 192 lbs (87 kg)
Club: Legia Warsaw (POL)
International Caps: 15
Club History
Legia Warszawa (POL): 2005-2010
HFC Humenné (SVK): 2005-2005
MSK Zilina (SVK): 2002-2004
from Wikipedia (full wiki)
Ján Mucha started his career in his local club TJ Slovan Belá nad Cirochou. Then he moved to MŠK Snina, and later to Inter Bratislava. He spent there 2 seasons in A-team, but he didn't play in any match. He moved to MŠK Žilina in summer 2002. He won the Slovak championship there twice. In 2005, he was sent on a half-year loan to 1. HFC Humenné.
He signed for Legia Warszawa in Poland in summer 2005. In the 2005–06 season he was second-choice goalkeeper, behind Lukasz Fabianski. Fabianski moved to Arsenal in 2007, and Mucha became first-choice 'keeper. With Legia he has won the 2007–08 Polish Cup and the Polish Supercup in 2008. In January 2010 Mucha signed a pre-contract deal with English club Everton to join on 1 July the same year.
Mucha made his debut for Slovakia in February 2008, in a friendly match against Hungary.
from ESPN SoccerNet
This highly-proficient first-choice between the Slovak posts is lined up to move to Premier League side Everton next season. Mucha has revealed he turned down 'staggering' offers from two leading Turkish sides in order to fulfil his dream of playing in the English top-flight. "The Premier League has always been my target and I cannot wait to get started," he says.
Arsenal fans will be interested to know that he used to be the understudy of their much-maligned back-up custodian Lukasz Fabianski, at Polish giants Legia. Only when the latter got his move to Arsenal in 2007 did Mucha get his chance for regular first team football.
Mucha has been on Legia's books since 2005 and previously turned out for Inter Bratislava and MSK Zilina. "Knowing I have a chance to move to England is the perfect boost for me going to the World Cup," says the stopper who played in six of his nation's qualifiers.
from FIFA.com
Slovakia’s unquestionable No1, despite the strong competition provided by fellow goalkeepers Dusan Kuciak and Dusan Pernis, Jan Mucha is a key player for Slovakia coach, Vladimir Weiss. And with good reason, for the career of the physically imposing shot-stopper has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years. The entire Slovak nation will look to him to lead by example in South Africa this summer, inspiring his defence as they take on some of the world’s best strike forces at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
That is not to say that Mucha has not experienced adversity in his rise to the top. A native of Bela nad Cirochou, his initial taste of first-team football came at MSK Zilina. With two league titles to his name, acquired in 2003 and 2004, he was tempted by an offer to become the regular keeper at Legia Warsaw in Poland. Unfortunately for Mucha, competition for places in the Polish capital was much tougher than expected, the form of Lukasz Fabianski barring the Slovak from the starting XI. Relegated to appearing in domestic cup competitions, Mucha accepted his role of understudy, hoping that a chance to prove himself would eventually materialise. Following a succession of defeats, that chance was finally offered to him, and he grabbed it with both hands. Despite performing well, he was again dropped in favour of Fabianski towards the end of the season. Fate would then play a hand, however, with the Pole’s departure for Arsenal leaving the way clear for Mucha to make the keeper position his own at Legia.
From that point onwards, Mucha could do no wrong. In 2008, two stunning penalty saves in a shoot-out versus Wisla Krakov won his club the Polish Cup, while in the league his displays got better and better, including 575 minutes without conceding a goal at one point. His fine form was recognised in 2009 with the accolades of Poland’s goalkeeper of the year and best foreign player. This was enough for English Premier League side Everton to come calling, signing him up on a pre-contract basis in January 2010. Mucha will arrive at Goodison Park in June, where competition between the posts will be fierce, but he has been there before.
Slovakia National Team World Cup 2010 Scarf
Slovakia Soccer Team - World Cup South Africa 2010 FIFA Keychain (2"x1")
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