ATLANTA — Atlanta United named its next manager Thursday, and it’s a familiar face.
Gerardo “Tata” Martino is returning to the Five Stripes, the organization announced.
Atlanta United FC owner Arthur Blank said in a statement that Martino “set the standard for excellence within our club and helped establish our identity in Major League Soccer.”
“This moment is not about revisiting the past but about looking ahead and building a new foundation while embracing the continuing evolution of what it takes to contend in MLS on a regular basis,” Blank said. “Tata is a steward of our club’s values with a proven leadership record, and he carries a championship mindset to everything he does. We are excited for the future of Atlanta United with Tata back at the helm.”
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Martino was United’s first manager when the MLS club started in 2017. Atlanta won the 2018 MLS Cup in its second season under Martino, who was named coach of the year.
“I want to thank Arthur and Chris for the opportunity to return to the club and a city where we hold wonderful memories and maintain great relationships,” he said. “This is a different project than my first stint with the club, however with great ownership and the collaboration of the players, coaching staff and everyone at the club, our objective will always be to form a winning team that makes our fans feel proud and well-represented every time that they go to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.”
He resigned from Atlanta United to take over as manager for the Mexican national team from 2019-2022. Martino returned to MLS in 2023 and managed Inter Miami for two seasons.
Martino replaces Ronny Deila, who Atlanta fired after just one season, following a 6-18-13 record across all competitions in 2025.
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