FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (August 26, 2023) – The New England Revolution signed Czech Republic international goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík (pronounced toe-MOSH VATS-sleek) to a Major League Soccer contract through the 2024 season, with a club option for 2025, pending receipt of his P-1 visa.
Vaclík, 34, arrives in MLS with 16 years of professional experience in Europe, most recently in the English Championship with Huddersfield Town. Vaclík made 13 appearances for The Terriers in the Championship during the 2022-23 season. Previously, he featured for Sevilla in Spain’s La Liga, helped Greek side Olympiacos to a domestic league title, and played in 169 overall matches for Swiss powerhouse FC Basel.
“Tomáš Vaclík brings vast experience to our goalkeeping corps and has been tested in several of Europe’s most competitive leagues,” Revolution Technical Director Curt Onalfo said. “His international resume and technical skillset will make Tomáš a valuable addition to our team. We look forward to his arrival and will integrate him into the team quickly as we compete to maintain our strong position in the conference and prepare for the postseason.”
In European competition with FC Basel and Sevilla, Vaclík totaled 38 UEFA Europa League appearances and 24 UEFA Champions League starts, with 25 combined clean sheets. With Sevilla, the goalkeeper recorded 71 La Liga appearances with 24 clean sheets and a 1.13 goals-against average in Spain’s first division. Along with club success, Vaclík has been capped 54 times by the Czech Republic National Team since making his senior debut in 2012. The goalkeeper was the starter for Czechia at the 2020 UEFA European Championships, starting all five matches en route to a quarterfinals appearance.
Vaclík, the 2018 Czech Footballer of the year, has won various domestic and continental trophies in his career – most notably helping Sevilla capture the 2020 UEFA Europa League title. Vaclík earned his first trophy with Sparta Prague, claiming the Czech First League title in 2013-14 before transferring to FC Basel, where he won three Swiss Super League championships. In all four seasons with FC Basel, he was named to the Swiss Super League Team of the Year. Most recently, Vaclík helped Olympiacos claim the 2021-22 Greek Super League crown with 32 league appearances.
On the international stage, Vaclík has earned 54 senior caps for the Czech Republic, with an additional 30 appearances at the youth level. Vaclík was named to the Czech roster for each of the last two UEFA European Championships, serving as the starter for all five games in the 2020 iteration, in which he posted two clean sheets. Vaclík has added 16 caps in UEFA World Cup Qualifying action and 12 appearances in UEFA Nations League play.
The Revolution resume the 2023 MLS regular season tonight, Saturday, August 26 at CF Montreal. Watch the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff for free on Apple TV in English, Spanish or French, or listen locally on 98.5 The Sports Hub (WBZ-FM) and 1260 AM Nossa Radio in Portuguese.
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution signed Czech Republic international goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík to a Major League Soccer contract through the 2024 season, with a club option for 2025, pending receipt of his P-1 visa.
TOMÁŠ VACLÍK AT A GLANCE:
- Czech goalkeeper, the 2018 Czech Footballer of the Year, owns over 550 appearances for club and country across 16-year professional career.
- Capped 54 times by the Czech Republic National Team, including starting all five matches at the 2020 UEFA European Championships.
- Five-time domestic league champion has won first-division titles with Sparta Prague, FC Basel, and Olympiacos.
- Totaled 94 games played for Sevilla, including 71 in the Spanish topflight, and helped win the 2020 UEFA Europa League title.
- Most recently featured for Huddersfield Town of the English Championship, making 13 appearances during the 2022-23 campaign.
#1 TOMÁŠ VACLÍK
Full Name: Tomáš Vaclík
Pronunciation: toe-MOSH VATS-sleek
Position: Goalkeeper
Date of Birth: March 29, 1989 (Ostrava, Czechoslovakia)
Hometown: Ostrava, Czech Republic
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185 lbs.
Nationality: Czech Republic
How Acquired: Signed as a free agent through the 2024 MLS season with a club option for 2025.
