Atlanta United Reappoints Gerardo “Tata” Martino
Atlanta United is reportedly on the verge of reappointing Gerardo “Tata” Martino as their head coach, a move confirmed by multiple sources to ESPN. He will take over from Ronny Deila, who faced termination after a lackluster season in which the team garnered only 28 points across 34 matches, narrowly avoiding last place in the Eastern Conference, just ahead of D.C. United.
Despite boasting the league’s third-largest salary budget, amounting to $27.6 million, the team failed to perform, which has raised concerns about their management strategies. The first to break this story was the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Tata Martino’s Coaching History
Tata Martino, now 62, outshone five other candidates for the position, including former Portland Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese. Martino has a notable history with Atlanta United, having served as their inaugural manager from 2016-2018 and leading the club to its first MLS Cup win in 2018. After that successful stint, he took over the Mexico men’s national team.
His most recent coaching position was with Inter Miami, which he exited unexpectedly last November following a surprising playoff defeat to Atlanta United. Over his extensive career, Martino has also managed prominent teams such as Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, FC Barcelona, and the Argentina men’s national team.
Looking Ahead
With Martino’s return, there is a sense of optimism that his leadership could restore stability to Atlanta United, a team which has cycled through four coaches since his last term ended. The Five Stripes have struggled significantly, only making the playoffs three times in the last six years.
