From NCAA Division III and UPSL to Slovakia: How Tomas Menna Signed His First Professional Football Contract Through RicFit

Player name: Tomas Menna

Position: Forward

Nationality: American

Hometown: Coon Rapids, Minnesota

College: Augsburg University

Previous levels: NCAA Division III, UPSL and USL League Two

Previous club: Minneapolis City SC

New club: Undisclosed

Country: Slovakia

League: Undisclosed

Outcome type: Signed professional contract

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Tomas Menna Signs His First Professional Football Contract in Slovakia

A few months before signing in Slovakia, Tomas Menna was still trying to convert a strong American playing background into his first professional contract.

He had competed for four years at Augsburg University.

He had worked his way through Minneapolis City’s UPSL team.

He had earned a place on the club’s USL League Two senior roster.

He had ability, competitive experience and evidence that he could produce.

What he did not have was a direct pathway into the professional game.

He was training with an MLS Next Pro club who didn’t move to sign him.

RicFit assessed Tomas’s position, prepared and positioned his profile for the correct market, and connected him with decision-makers who could provide a legitimate opportunity.

That process has now produced a verified outcome.

Tomas Menna has signed his first professional football contract with a club in Slovakia.

His story demonstrates why many overlooked players remain stuck even when they have talent and a respectable résumé.

Talent may create interest.

Preparation, positioning, trusted relationships and persistence are what convert that interest into a signed agreement.

Who Is Tomas Menna?

Tomas Menna is an American forward from Coon Rapids, Minnesota.

He played high-school soccer at Coon Rapids High School before joining Augsburg University, where he competed across four NCAA Division III seasons.

Tomas developed gradually during his college career.

He appeared in 10 games as a first-year player in 2021. In 2022, he recorded three goals and four assists, and in 2023, he added another goal and assist across 16 appearances.

His strongest college season came during his senior year in 2024.

Tomas played in all 21 Augsburg matches, started 16 times and accumulated 1,202 minutes. He finished second on the team with nine goals and five assists, producing 23 points and three match-winning goals. Those performances earned him All-MIAC honors.

Across his complete Augsburg career, Tomas appeared in 64 games and recorded 14 goals and 10 assists.

This was not an unsuccessful college player hoping that one lucky introduction would rescue his career.

He had built a legitimate record.

But a strong NCAA season does not automatically create a professional contract.

Tomas still needed to cross the gap between being productive at the college and semi-professional levels and becoming valuable to a professional club.

Tomas’s Breakout Senior Season

Tomas’s final college campaign showed that he could influence matches consistently.

He scored nine times during the 2024 season, including two-goal performances against Saint Mary’s University and Carleton College. He also scored in Augsburg’s MIAC playoff semifinal against St. Olaf.

His production placed him among the conference’s stronger attacking players.

Tomas finished tied for eighth among MIAC players in goals, 10th in total points and earned his first selection to the All-MIAC team.

He also received Academic All-District recognition after completing his strongest individual season.

By the end of his college career, Tomas had demonstrated several qualities professional clubs value:

• Consistent availability
• Attacking production
• Experience in competitive matches
• The ability to contribute goals and assists
• Match-winning moments
• Academic and personal discipline
• Development across multiple seasons

But football careers are not awarded according to college statistics alone.

Professional clubs still needed to understand where Tomas fitted, why they should trust him and whether his qualities could translate into their environment.

From Minneapolis City’s UPSL Team to USL League Two

Tomas continued developing outside the college season through Minneapolis City SC.

He spent multiple years playing with Minneapolis City’s second team in the UPSL before earning a place on the club’s senior USL League Two roster in 2025.

This progression matters.

Tomas did not move directly from college football into a professional contract.

He worked through another competitive layer.

He played in the UPSL.

He earned trust inside the club.

He progressed into the USL League Two team.

He then had to prove that he could contribute against a stronger level of opposition.

Minneapolis City’s coaching staff valued Tomas for more than goals.

During the 2025 season, head coach Justin Oliver praised his competitiveness, defensive effort and reliability during important moments, describing Tomas as a player who “wants it so bad” and “a winner.”

That season, Tomas contributed to a Minneapolis City side that won the 2025 USL League Two Heartland Division and advanced into the national playoffs. He also earned a decisive late penalty in a victory over Rochester FC during the title campaign.

His journey through Minneapolis City strengthened his profile.

But it still did not automatically provide the final professional step.

Why Good Players Still Remain Overlooked

Tomas had a stronger résumé than many unsigned players.

He had:

• Four years of NCAA experience
• An All-MIAC senior season
• Nine goals and five assists in his final college campaign
• UPSL experience
• A place on a division-winning USL League Two team
• Strong references regarding his attitude and competitiveness

Yet he still lacked a direct route into professional football.

This is where many players misunderstand the market.

They believe that performing well should automatically cause clubs or agents to discover them.

Professional recruitment rarely works that cleanly.

A sporting director considering an unknown overseas player must understand:

• What position the player can fill
• What level suits him
• Whether his footage translates into the target league
• Whether he is physically and tactically ready
• Whether he can move immediately
• Whether he will adapt to another country
• Whether the person recommending him can be trusted
• Whether signing him is worth the risk

The player sees his goals, matches and potential.

The club sees a decision involving money, registration, housing, roster space and professional reputation.

That is why talent without positioning can remain invisible.

Tomas Did Not Lack Ability

The bottleneck was not a complete lack of football evidence.

Tomas had already proved that he could perform in several American environments.

The bottleneck was converting that evidence into a profile a professional club could understand and trust.

He needed:

• A realistic assessment of his current market value
• The correct geographic market
• Professional presentation
• Direct access to decision-makers
• A clear explanation of how his qualities fitted the club
• Someone willing to place their reputation behind the recommendation
• Support through the trial, negotiation and signing process

Randomly sending the same highlight video to hundreds of clubs would not solve those problems.

More exposure is not always the answer.

Better positioning is.

Why Tomas Worked With RicFit

Tomas was no longer at the stage where another generic training program, combine or international academy would solve his entire career problem.

He had completed a strong senior college season.

He had played UPSL and USL League Two.

He had produced enough evidence to justify a serious professional evaluation.

What he needed was a structured plan for turning that background into an actual market opportunity.

According to RicFit’s internal account, the work centered on four areas:

1. Assessing Tomas’s current level and professional fit
2. Preparing his profile for decision-makers
3. Identifying a realistic overseas market
4. Connecting him directly with the people capable of offering a contract

The objective was not to place Tomas anywhere simply to generate an announcement.

The objective was to identify a credible first professional step that could move his career forward.

Preparing Tomas Professionally

Professional preparation is not limited to fitness.

A player can be physically prepared and still fail to convince a club.

The complete preparation process includes:

• Positioning the player at a realistic level
• Organizing footage around the qualities clubs need to see
• Presenting the player’s experience clearly
• Preparing the player for communication with clubs
• Setting expectations around the country, division and contract
• Confirming availability and willingness to move
• Explaining trial and signing standards
• Ensuring the player understands his responsibilities
• Matching the profile with the needs of the club

Tomas already had useful evidence.

RicFit’s responsibility was to turn that evidence into a professional case.

His nine-goal senior season mattered.

His All-MIAC recognition mattered.

His experience with Minneapolis City mattered.

His coachability and competitiveness mattered.

But those facts had to be presented to a club in a way that answered the club’s central question:

Why should we take a chance on this player?

Positioning Tomas for the Right Market

Not every successful American college player should target the same country or division.

The correct market depends on:

• Age
• Position
• Passport status
• Playing history
• Physical profile
• Current footage
• Financial expectations
• Club demand
• Registration rules
• Timing within the transfer window

The best opportunity is not always the most recognizable league.

It is the environment where the player has the strongest realistic chance of signing, playing and creating further value.

Slovakia provided Tomas with a pathway into European football.

The country gave him an opportunity to move from American college and semi-professional football into a professional club environment.

The first contract does not need to represent the final destination.

It needs to give the player a platform from which to build.

Why Direct Relationships Matter

Clubs receive player profiles constantly.

Most are ignored.

The difference is often not the quality of the video.

It is the trust attached to the introduction.

A club is more likely to evaluate a player when the recommendation comes from someone who:

• Understands the league
• Knows the club’s needs
• Has sent appropriate players before
• Communicates honestly about the player
• Does not exaggerate the level
• Remains accountable after the introduction

Every recommendation places the agent’s or scout’s reputation at risk.

If the player is unprepared, unreliable or far below the promised standard, the club remembers who sent him.

That can damage opportunities for future players.

RicFit therefore does not treat its network as a list of contacts available to every applicant.

Players must demonstrate that they are ready to represent themselves and the organization professionally.

How the Opportunity Happened

Tomas’s progression followed a clear sequence.

First, his complete playing background was assessed.

RicFit considered his four-year college career, senior-season production, UPSL experience, USL League Two progression and the qualities visible in his match footage.

Second, his professional profile was prepared and positioned for the correct level.

The goal was to show clubs more than isolated highlights.

His profile needed to demonstrate progression, production, competitiveness and readiness for a first professional opportunity.

Third, RicFit identified Slovakia as a realistic market.

Rather than waiting indefinitely for an American opportunity or pursuing clubs that did not match his current profile, the process focused on a market where a suitable club could evaluate his value.

Fourth, Tomas was connected with the relevant decision-makers.

The introduction was direct and based on fit rather than mass outreach.

Finally, the club evaluated the player and the parties completed the agreement.

According to RicFit’s internal documentation, Tomas officially signed his first professional contract in Slovakia.

The pathway was not:

Post footage → wait to be discovered → receive contract

It was:

Assess → prepare → position → connect → evaluate → negotiate → sign

The Outcome: Tomas Menna Signs in Slovakia

Tomas has now moved from American college and semi-professional football into the professional game.

The milestone is significant because it changes his future profile.

Before Slovakia, Tomas was an All-MIAC NCAA Division III forward with UPSL and USL League Two experience.

After signing, he becomes a player with:

• A professional contract
• A European club history
• Access to competitive football in Slovakia
• New professional references
• The opportunity to create current European footage
• A platform for future movement
• Greater credibility with other overseas clubs

The contract does not complete his career.

It creates the next stage.

Tomas must now earn minutes, adapt to the environment, build trust inside the club and convert the opportunity into measurable professional proof.

Why the First Professional Contract Matters

The first contract is often the hardest one to secure.

Before a player signs, every club must project whether he can handle professional football.

After the player signs and performs, future clubs can evaluate evidence.

They can review:

• Professional appearances
• Match minutes
• Current footage
• Statistics
• References
• Adaptation to an overseas environment
• Behavior inside a professional club

That changes the player from a possibility into a more measurable asset.

The first contract may not provide the player’s ideal salary, country or lifestyle.

Its primary purpose is to establish him as a professional footballer.

Tomas can upgrade the career later.

First, he must build it.

The RicFit Lesson

Most overlooked players do not fail because they have no ability.

They fail because they never build a reliable mechanism for turning ability into professional value.

They train.

They play.

They create footage.

They send messages.

But they lack:

• A realistic market strategy
• Professional positioning
• Trusted representation
• Direct access to clubs
• A clear sequence for moving from one level to the next

Tomas had already done meaningful work before RicFit became involved.

He developed through college.

He produced during his senior year.

He worked through the UPSL.

He earned a USL League Two place.

RicFit did not manufacture a player who had no evidence.

RicFit helped organize that evidence, position it correctly and connect it with a market capable of producing an outcome.

Tomas brought the ability and persistence.

RicFit built the pathway.

The result was a signed professional contract.

Why RicFit Does Not Guarantee Immediate Trials

RicFit’s club network is only valuable while clubs trust the players being recommended.

That trust must be protected.

RicFit does not guarantee an immediate trial to every player who applies or joins.

Before a player is placed in front of a professional club, the team must evaluate:

• Current level
• Physical readiness
• Tactical suitability
• Professional behavior
• Responsiveness
• Footage quality
• Position and market demand
• Willingness to accept realistic opportunities

The objective is not to send the maximum number of players overseas.

It is to send prepared players into opportunities where they have a credible chance of succeeding.

Tomas had already built a meaningful playing record.

The remaining work was to prepare, position and connect him correctly.

RicFit’s Player Pathway

RicFit Academy was created for overlooked players who lack a traditional academy background, professional representation or direct access to clubs.

According to RicFit’s internal tracking, the Academy has sent more than 200 players on trial across more than 20 countries.

RicFit reports a 98% trial-placement success rate among players who enter the required system, follow the process and meet the organization’s readiness standards.

That figure refers to players securing a trial through the RicFit internal network after satisfying the required conditions.

It does not mean 98% of all applicants sign professional contracts.

Trials, contract offers and signed agreements are separate outcomes.

RicFit’s pathway is designed to move players through a documented sequence:

Assess the starting point → develop the player → prepare the profile → identify the market → earn the opportunity → perform → build the career

Tomas’s signing demonstrates the final conversion point.

He did not only receive interest.

He did not only attend a trial.

He completed the process and signed an agreement.

What Comes Next for Tomas Menna

Signing the contract is the beginning of Tomas’s professional career.

His immediate objectives should now be:

• Adapt quickly to Slovak football
• Earn the coaching staff’s trust
• Compete for consistent minutes
• Produce current match footage
• Develop physically and tactically
• Build professional references
• Learn the league and market
• Position himself for the next contract

The next move will depend on what Tomas produces inside the new environment.

A professional contract creates access.

Performance creates leverage.

Tomas now has the opportunity he was missing.

His responsibility is to convert it into a sustainable career.

From RicFit Academy to Merrick Football Group

RicFit Academy and Merrick Football Group support different stages of the same player pathway.

RicFit Academy helps overlooked footballers develop, prepare for professional environments, strengthen their profiles and earn opportunities through RicFit’s international club network.

Merrick Football Group is the FIFA-licensed agency side of the ecosystem. It supports selected players with professional representation, club introductions, contract discussions and long-term career management.

Both organizations were founded by Eric Friedlander, a former professional player and professional club general manager who now operates as a FIFA Licensed Football Agent through Merrick Football Group.

The pathway is simple:

Enter through RicFit Academy → develop and prepare → earn an opportunity → build professional value → become eligible for Merrick Football Group representation

Not every RicFit player automatically becomes represented by Merrick Football Group.

Representation must be earned through the player’s level, professionalism, attitude, performance and long-term potential.

This structure gives overlooked players something most traditional agencies do not provide: a clear route from development into professional representation.

Merrick Football Group manages a player portfolio with approximately $10 million in combined value across Transfermarkt and TransferRoom, according to internal company reporting.

About Eric Friedlander

Eric Friedlander is the founder of RicFit Academy and Merrick Football Group.

After playing overseas for eleven years across five countries and then working as a professional club general manager with FK Metta, Eric became a FIFA Licensed Football Agent and built a connected development, placement and representation pathway for overlooked footballers.

RicFit Academy prepares players and helps them create legitimate opportunities.

Merrick Football Group supports eligible players as they build and manage their professional careers.

Are You Talented but Still Missing a Pathway?

You may already have college experience.

You may be competing in UPSL, USL League Two or another strong semi-professional environment.

You may have footage, statistics and coaches who believe in you.

But ability does not organize your career for you.

You still need:

• An honest assessment
• A clear strategy
• Professional positioning
• The right market
• Access to trusted decision-makers
• Preparation for the opportunity
• Support through the signing process

RicFit works with overlooked players who are prepared to follow a structured process, accept realistic opportunities and prove themselves inside professional environments.

This is not for players waiting for somebody to discover them.

It is for players ready to build the evidence, positioning and relationships required to become professionally valuable.

Tomas did not wait for a contract to appear.

He built the record.

RicFit built the pathway.

The deal was completed.

Apply to RicFit Academy and find out whether you have a realistic pathway into professional football overseas.