On Sunday, Atlanta United made the decision to fire head coach Ronny Deila, just a day following the conclusion of a season that ended with a 5-13-16 record. This was the manager’s first season in charge of the team. The club had posted just one win in its past 18 matches and finished with 28 points, good for 14th place in the Eastern Conference.
High Hopes Dashed for the Season
There were high expectations for the season after the club hired an MLS Cup-winning coach in Deila. A reported $22 million was spent to acquire forward Emmanuel Latte Lath from Championship side Middlesbrough FC and re-signed Miguel Almirón from English Premier League side Newcastle United.
Club Leadership Explains Move
Atlanta United CEO and president Garth Lagerwey said, the hunt for a new coach will start right away and will be worldwide.
“It was evident that our standard of play was not met this season, and together with our senior leadership team, we have decided that a new direction is best for Atlanta United,” Lagerwey said in a statement released by the team. “In the end, our supporters deserve a significantly improved team on the field and we are fully dedicated to delivering that to our community without delay.”
Lagerwey said he thanked Deila “for his time and commitment to the organization and wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Campaign Conclusion Marks Goalkeeper’s Exit
The season ended with Saturday night’s 1-1 draw with DC United in the final appearance by longtime goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who had revealed his retirement plans earlier in the week.
Deila’s Background and Brief Tenure
Atlanta United brought Deila on board on December 20, 2024. The move brought Deila back to Major League Soccer three years after he guided New York City FC to an MLS Cup title in 2021. Deila left NYC FC shortly thereafter for Standard Liége and then Club Brugge, staying at each club for under a year. He came to MLS after a career in European soccer that included two years in charge of Celtic.
Deila was given a three-year deal in Atlanta to replace Rob Valentino, who served as interim coach after Gonzalo Pineda was fired in June 2024.
Past Successes and Trophy Dry Spell
Atlanta United had immediate success after entering the league in 2017, reaching the playoffs in their first year and securing the MLS Cup the next. The club also set numerous league attendance records.
Atlanta hasn’t claimed a trophy since the 2019 season, when it captured both the US Open Cup and Campeones Cup and also advanced to the MLS Eastern Conference final.
