Atlanta United has reportedly begun their search for a head coach and reports are linking the MLS expansion team with two high-profile candidates.
ESPN is reporting that the 2017 expansion side are in talks with former Argentina and Barcelona manager Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino as well as former Seattle Sounders coach Sigi Schmid to take over as head coach for their inaugural season.
ESPN’s report confirmed a report from last week by Telemundo that first linked Martino to Atlanta United.
Martino has most recently coached the Argentina National Team, but resigned after failing to win the 2016 Copa America Centenario despite entering the tournament as heavy favorites. His last club management role was with Barcelona during the 2012-2013 season. He began his tenure with a Barcelona-record 21-match unbeaten streak to open his term, but ultimately failed to win major silverware and resigned after a single season.
Schmid has been available since his release from the Seattle Sounders on July 26th, after struggling greatly over the first half of the season. The long-time MLS coach has spent parts of six seasons with the LA Galaxy, three with the Columbus Crew, and the last seven with the Sounders, winning five U.S. Open Cups, three Supporters’ Shields, and two MLS Cups in his time as a manager.
Schmid interviewed with the club last week and has ties to Atlanta United FC, having coached technical director and former U.S. Men’s National team captain Carlos Bocanegra at UCLA.
Schmid also reportedly interviewed with Minnesota United, the other team set to join Atlanta United as 2017 MLS expansion teams.
While reports claim no deal is done, Martino and Schmid are the first candidates to be seriously linked to the role.
Now, if they can only play football on real grass at their home games…not asking for much here. The artificial turf trend in MLS is vomit – inducing!
I’m sure Martino would be as suprised as I’m to see his name in this “list”
Haha.
Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino (former Argentina and Barcelona manager) OR Sigi Schmid (United States U20, Columbus Crew, seattle sounders)…
Decisions…Decisions lol
Bigger names than Martino (Carlos Alberto Parreira for one) have tried their hand at MLS and failed. It takes someone willing to work withing the league’s crazy rules. For that reason, I’d go with Schmidt.
you sound like an idiot my friend fat Sigi is done and needs a long break from soccer.AUFC takes Martino now!
So ATL has to choose between an international coach who couldnt win the Copa in back to back tournaments with the most stacked team on the planet OR one of the sucussessful manahers in MLS history in Schmid whose last jobs was running the mosr successful expansion franchise in MLS history. No brainer right?
I wonder what Martino’s going to think once he realizes he has to figure out the MLS calculus of rentry drafts, allocation money, designated players, discovery rights, a salary cap, and then how LA Galaxy never seems to have to follow any of these roster rules.
I’d hire Schmid before Minnesota does.
Any time you consider a foreign manager for a position within MLS the convoluted (aka ridiculous) rules has to be considered – no matter the resume of the manager.
It’s a completely different set-up than anything in the world and a huge reason I think we don’t see more prestigious managers giving any kind of consideration towards the league. Frankly, I wouldn’t either.