Atlanta United announced on Friday that ex-Argentina international defender Gabriel Heinze will serve as the club’s new head coach. Heinze, who spent the previous three seasons with Velez Sarsfield, signed a deal through 2022 with the MLS team.
Speaking about their decision to hire Heinze, Atlanta’s club president Darren Eales said that they were attracted by the 42-year-old manager’s style of coaching and soccer philosophy.
“This is a milestone moment in Atlanta United history, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Gabriel as our next head coach,” said Eales in a statement. “Gabriel’s playing philosophy and commitment to youth development closely align with our ideas at Atlanta United, and we are happy to welcome him as we move into our club’s next chapter.”
Heinze will be tasked with returning Atlanta to the top of the MLS after a disappointing 2020 season under Frank de Boer and interim head coach Stephen Glass. The club finished at No. 12 in the Eastern conference, collecting just 22 points and winning six games in 23 games.
As a player, Gabriel Heinze made 72 appearances for Argentina’s national team while playing for clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Manchester United. After retiring from professional soccer in 2014, Heinze turned to coaching and served as a manager with Godoy Cruz, Argentinos Junior, and Velez Sarsfield.
His biggest managerial successes were earning promotions with Argentinos and having two consecutive No. 3 finishes with Velez in the Argentine Primera División.
Look for him to try and repeat the same level of success in Atlanta.
