In the first of our two-part series introducing the new expansion teams for 2016, we profile Atlanta United and their preparations for their debut 2017 season.
Genesis
Atlanta United were revealed as an expansion team by MLS on April 16, 2014, becoming the second franchise in the southeast announced inside five months, following Orlando City SC.
Previously, Atlanta was the largest metropolitan area without an MLS team but owner Arthur Blank, who also owns NFL franchise Atlanta Falcons, brought this new team to life after years of negotiations.
Coach: Gerardo Martino
Former Argentina and FC Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino will be Atlanta United’s first Head Coach, as announced in September.
Martino had been out of work since the 2016 Copa America Centenario in the U.S which saw the Albiceleste lose in the final to Chile on penalties.
Martino has an impressive resume, winning the Paraguayan title three times with Libertad and once with Cerro Porteno, before moving on to Newell’s Old Boys where he reached the Argentine Primera Division final in 2013.
He spent a year in charge of FC Barcelona following a successful spell as Paraguayan national team boss and he won the Supercopa de Espana, finishing as runners-up in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
Roster
As you would expect from a brand new team, Atlanta have been busy assembling their first-ever squad.
Miguel Almiron, the 22-year old Paraguayan playmaker who had been linked with a move to Arsenal, is a player generating a lot of excitement from those who saw him play for Lanus.
He’ll be charged with loading the bullets for Kenwyne Jones, the Trinidadian striker who has Premier League experience with Sunderland and Stoke.
From the look of their current roster, it appears that they have perhaps eight starters assembled so far, including former Galaxy man Jeff Larentowicz and four-time MLS All-Star Michael Parkhurst, while Brad Guzan is being heavily rumored to be on his way from Middlesbrough.
The MLS SuperDraft in LA in January will be crucial in putting the finishing touches on Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra’s vision for 2017.
Uniform
Atlanta revealed their first kit on November 15, with a press release on atlutd.com reading: “The design of the kit focuses on a traditional, iconic soccer look and celebrates the brand identity established in the club’s logo.
“The kit features Atlanta United’s core colors: black (a symbol of strength and power), victory red (a reflection of pride and passion) and gold (representing excellence).”
Stadium
Atlanta will initially play out of the Georgia Tech Bobby Dodd Stadium until construction on the Mercedes Benz Stadium, which they will share with Atlanta Falcons, is completed.
It’s thought that completion on the 71,000 capacity facility (which can be reduced to 29,322 for MLS) will be in June 2017.
Key Quotes
Head Coach, Gerardo Martino: “They shared with me their ideas, objectives, and stadium plans, and I understood that this was a unique proposal that I couldn’t pass up.”
Technical Director, Carlos Bocanegra: “I’ve always wanted to stay involved with soccer at the top level, and to have that opportunity with MLS Atlanta is a great way to start this next chapter. I’m a competitor, and I look forward to bringing that drive and passion into everything I do here in Atlanta.”
