WHEN NERMIN CRNKIC first arrived in the United States, he was seven years old and didn’t speak a word of English. A soccer-obsessed kid, all he wanted to do was find a youth club and play all the time.

Fifteen years later, Crnkic is a professional soccer player in the Czech Republic and on August 6 he helped lead FK Jablonec to an upset win over FC Copenhagen in the Europa League.

Crnkic, 22, starts on the left wing for Jablonec, which earned a spot in the Europa League qualifying rounds by finishing third in the Czech Liga. Few expected the club to compete with Copenhagen, and after losing the first leg at home, 1-0, the odds of advancing were slim.

Jablonec, however, took the game to Copenhagen in the return leg in Denmark. Crnkic was part of the build-up in the opening goal that set the tone in a 3-2 upset win that sent Jablonec into the playoff rounds.

“I knew it was going to be a tough match against Copenhagen at their place but going into games like this you have to think positive,” Crnkic told American Soccer Now. “I believe that's what got us the win—not just me but the whole team believed. I think we defended well as a team everyone worked hard and we took our chances.”

Crnkic played well throughout the contest. On the offensive half of the field he used his speed to create opportunities and open up holes in Copenhagen’s defense. Defensively, he shut down Danish international William Kvist—a true threat who was unable to get involved for the hosts.

Next up Jablonec will face Eredivisie runner-up Ajax on August 20.

“Ajax is a great team,” Crnkic said. “They play every year in either the Champions League or Europa league so I think it will be a big test for us to see if we can compete in the big stages of the Europa League. We will have to play even better than we did against Copenhagen.”

Crnkic, who is not widely known among American soccer fans, considers the away win against Copenhagen the best moment of his career.

Born in Bosnia during the Yugoslavian civil war, Crnkic and his family fled to Germany for a few years before arriving in Michigan in 2000. He first played with the youth club AC Storm and then moved over to the Michigan Wolves, an elite team that has produced professional talent such as Josh Gatt and Sony Saad.

Wolves coach Gary Parsons knew right away that Crnkic had professional talent—and a professional mindset. In addition to his role with Wolves, Parsons also coached the Michigan Bucks of the PDL and at Oakland University.

“He was very, very good when I had him at the Wolves academy,” Parsons recalled. “He was on the team the year behind Soony Saad and Josh Gatt. I thought he had their kind of abilities. He's fast but he also thinks fast. Tactically he's also smart.

“Some fast players make runs that are easy for defenders to defend. Nermin makes runs that are very difficult to defend. The other thing about him is his attitude. He just has a fear-nobody attitude. He's got a whole bunch of qualities to be a top-level professional and there was never a doubt in my mind he was going to be a very good professional.”

Crnkic became a U.S. citizen when he was 15 and after graduating high school Parsons asked him to play for the Bucks. Crnkic signed on and ended up scoring a game-winning, extra-time goal against the Chicago Fire in the 2012 U.S. Open Cup.

“Normally when you get a young college player who is really good, they're just OK with the Bucks,” Parsons said. “Nermin became one of our top attacking players right out of the gate. That's when I knew he was going to be good. He just adjusted to the higher level so quickly. It was not a big transition for him.”

Following his time at the Bucks, Crnkic tried to latch on with MLS but was unable to secure a deal with the Columbus Crew—a club decision that Parsons called “short sighted.”

Crnkic’s contract with Jablonec is set to expire in December, and while the club has offered him a new deal, Crnkic is keeping his options open. He has received some interest back in the United States as well as in Europe but he is trying not to think about his next step.

Instead, his focus is squarely on Ajax and booking a spot in the Europa League group stages. If he can help his club achieve that goal, it could raise his profile considerably.

Jablonec will be the underdog but Crnkic and his teammates are quietly confident.

“I think people are seeing it more and more,” Crnkic said. “I believe we can shock some people.”

Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.