Atlanta United are on the hunt for a brand new head coach and there are many free-agent managers available on the market to take a look at.
It has been a couple of month because the 5 Stripes parted methods with Gonzalo Pineda, who had been accountable for the Jap Convention membership since August 2021 and proven some progress however it was nowhere close to sufficient for Atlanta. Rob Valentino was named interim head coach, and you’ll guess that Atlanta are working behind the scenes on bringing in Pineda’s successor.
First off, we should cease and do not forget that Atlanta remains to be an excellent vacation spot for coaches. Exterior of the league’s roster guidelines, Atlanta has no drawback with paying out large switch charges to amass prime expertise whereas in addition they have three open Designated Participant slots on their roster. The staff actually is not that far off from being nice, both, it is simply lacking just a few difference-makers and somebody that is aware of how one can get everybody pulling in the identical path.
Once you add in the truth that Atlanta play within the attractive Mercedes-Benz Stadium and have an enormous, passionate fanbase, there’s already just a few causes as to why it ought to be a lovely possibility.
With Garth Lagerway on the helm, we are able to count on Atlanta to go after a confirmed coach with a observe report of successful — which is strictly what Pineda was not because the 41-year-old was employed earlier than Lagerway was named the membership’s CEO.
There have been rumors that Lagerway is not all too serious about persevering with the theme of hinging the staff’s success on shopping for proficient gamers from South America and promoting them on for revenue down the street — the signings of Tristan Muyumba, Bartosz Slisz, Stian Gregersen and Saba Lobjanidze all proved that.
That does not imply Atlanta will not each signal a younger participant from that area once more, it is simply that Lagerway is aware of what it takes to construct a successful staff after his success with Seattle Sounders. With this concept in thoughts about gamers, what sort of coaches may Atlanta have a look at as they intention to reestablish themselves as a prime membership in Main League Soccer?
If Lagerway hopes to usher in an skilled head coach from Europe, look no additional than Mark van Brommel.
The previous Netherlands worldwide is coming off a quite profitable stint with Royal Antwerp in Belgium the place he guided the staff to a home double within the 2022/23 season whereas additionally lifting the Belgian Tremendous Cup within the earlier time period.
It is extra probably that van Bommel holds out for an additional gig in Europe, however perhaps he would wish to turn into the second Dutchman after Frank de Boer to steer Atlanta on the touchline.
This one is a bit out of left discipline, however it is sensible when you consider it.
Scott Parker rose by way of the teaching ranks in his native England after his taking part in days within the Premier League, taking the touchline at Fulham and Bournemouth earlier than becoming a member of Membership Brugge in late 2022.
It is secure to say that his spell in Belgium was disappointing as he was in cost for simply 12 matches earlier than getting sacked in March 2023. This might scare Atlanta from significantly contemplating him, however there is a real probability he might revive his teaching profession in MLS with a staff that has three open Designated Participant spots.
Miguel Herrera might show to be an fascinating possibility for the 5 Stripes in the event that they’re trying to rent a coach that is aware of the area.
Whereas Herrera’s current spells in Liga MX have not been all that nice, he nonetheless is aware of an ideal deal in regards to the CONCACAF Champions Cup — and that’s the place a membership like Atlanta ought to be competing in any case.
That is most likely a extra short-term deal that Atlanta could be trying to keep away from, however Herrera remains to be a viable possibility.
If Atlanta is trying to rent somebody like van Bommel however with extra expertise, Niko Kovac might be a smart possibility.
The previous Croatia nationwide staff boss is used to coping with stress as he was accountable for Bayern Munich for simply over a season, so that you’d think about the stress in MLS would not actually get to him.
Kovac additionally has expertise in France with AS Monaco and one other stint within the Bundesliga with VfL Wolfsburg and might be in search of a reset in MLS.
If Lagerway and Co. are in search of somebody with information on MLS, then Bradley Carnell might be an excellent match.
Sure, he was simply fired by St Louis CITY however he form of had his arms tied behind his again. The staff simply introduced in a brand new shiny midfielder that appears sure to be star within the league, however Carnell did not even get the prospect to work with him.
As said beforehand, Carnell would have three open DP slots to work with and will eye a return to the highest of the desk like he did in St Louis’ inaugural 2023 season.
Bruce Enviornment will not be the thrilling possibility available on the market for quite a few causes — most notably the concept he could not wish to stick round for a rebuild and the truth that he resigned because the New England Revolution boss as a result of his “inappropriate and insensitive” remarks that the league was investigating.
Nonetheless, Enviornment does make sense when you consider his time in MLS. He is the winningest coach in league historical past and is aware of all about MLS’ distinctive roster guidelines. If there’s one coach who might stabilize this Atlanta staff in a brief period of time, it is Enviornment.
Just some days in the past Marcelo Gallardo was lastly let go by Saudi Professional League facet Al Ittihad after he reportedly wished to eliminate Karim Benzema.
Gallardo is an fascinating possibility for just a few causes. He might probably get the perfect out of Atlanta’s younger Argentinian midfielders like Franco Ibarra and Santiago Sosa ought to they return from their respective loans — however who’s to say he could not get a tune out of gamers like Xande Silva and Jamal Thiare?
Gallardo can also be thought of one of many biggest coaches in River Plate historical past. He may not be capable to spend as a lot as River is ready to on gamers, however as soon as once more, there are three DP spots open in Atlanta and a staff that is not afraid to pay out hefty switch charges.
There’s additionally the facet that his son, Matias Gallardo, performs for Atlanta United 2, the staff’s MLS Subsequent Professional affiliate. Might we actually see a father-son duo in Atlanta? Gallardo may take a little bit of convincing to affix, however it might be an absolute home-run rent for the 5 Stripes.