Atlanta United’s attacking midfielder Thiago Almada has attracted the interest of a number of big European clubs, and it seems like it’s only a matter of time before he heads overseas. However, the MLS side isn’t losing hopes that they will keep him at least for one more season. 

Speaking with reporters over the weekend, Atlanta United’s technical director, Carlos Bocanegra, acknowledged interest in Almada but said that the club is planning for him to return for the 2024 campaign.

“We’re planning on him coming back,” said Bocanegra. “Things can change. I don’t want to say 100% he’s back because that’s how it works in the global football world. But great kid and at the moment we’re counting on him being part of our group next year.”

Despite wanting to keep Almada, Bocanegra said that the club would take the player’s wishes into consideration.

“If top clubs and Champions League clubs are coming in for Thiago, it’s more of a discussion with the player, and we want to work together,” Bocanegra added.

Thiago Almada joined Atlanta United ahead of the 2022 MLS season in a $16 million transfer from Argentine side Velez Sarsfield. It was the record inbound transfer in the history of the league.

Almada immediately showed flashes of great talent in his first season in MLS, scoring seven goals and winning the MLS Newcomer of the Year award. The 22-year-old player played even better in 2023, providing 11 goals and 19 assists en route to the MLS All-Star nod and MLS Young Player of the Year award.

The post Atlanta United Hopes Thiago Almada Stays With the Club in 2024 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

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.

The post Atlanta United Hires Gabriel Heinze as Their New Head Coach appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Atlanta United and manager Frank De Boer are finally going their separate ways. The club confirmed the news on Friday, saying that the decision was mutual.

“After discussing it with Frank, the decision was reached mutually to part ways,” said Atlanta’s president Darren Eales. “In winning two trophies in his first season in charge, he will always be a part of the club’s history, and with great appreciation and respect, we wish him all the best in the future.”

Atlanta will announce their interim manager in the near future while embarking on a search for a permanent solution at the position. 

De Boer leaves the club after a horrific campaign in the MLS is Back tournament, where Atlanta lost all of their three matches while failing to score a single goal. The club reportedly couldn’t overlook the deficiencies in the team’s game and decided that squad needs a new leading voice in the locker room.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had with Atlanta United,” said De Boer. “Coaching in Major League Soccer and living in Atlanta has been a wonderful experience and a welcome new challenge.”

Frank De Boer took over Atlanta United ahead of the 2019 MLS season, replacing Gerardo Tata Martino at the helm. He had a shaky start of the season, and was on the verge of being sacked, before turning things over. Atlanta ended up winning U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup last year while making it to Eastern Conference Finals.

Before coming to MLS, De Boer coached Ajax, Inter Milan, and Crystal Palace. He won four Eredivisie titles with Ajax but only lasted 14 games with Inter and five games with Palace before being sacked. 

The post Frank De Boer Out as Atlanta United Manger appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Atlanta United’s young star Ezequiel Barco might be making a move to Europe sooner than expected. According to influential Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, Seria A giants Roma and Inter are interested in Barco’s services and are expected to make a move soon.

Calcio Mercato also adds that both teams would prefer to bring Barco in the summer, rather than in the January transfer window. This would work out for Atlanta, as the team would have one of their best players for the Concacaf Champions League.

Roma and Inter are not the only European clubs in pursuit of Barco, as he also sparked interest from Portugal. Sporting Club Lisbon is reportedly keen on Argentinian winger and might bring him in if they sell their star midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

Ezequiel Barco joined Atlanta United in early 2018 in a $15 million transfer from Independiente. Barco played 49 games in MLS since then, scoring eight goals and providing five assists. He also earned All-Star appearances in the past two seasons.

The post Atlanta United’s Ezequiel Barco Reportedly Draws Interest From Roma and Inter appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Atlanta United’s attacking midfielder Thiago Almada has attracted the interest of a number of big European clubs, and it seems like it’s only a matter of time before he heads overseas. However, the MLS side isn’t losing hopes that they will keep him at least for one more season. 

Speaking with reporters over the weekend, Atlanta United’s technical director, Carlos Bocanegra, acknowledged interest in Almada but said that the club is planning for him to return for the 2024 campaign.

“We’re planning on him coming back,” said Bocanegra. “Things can change. I don’t want to say 100% he’s back because that’s how it works in the global football world. But great kid and at the moment we’re counting on him being part of our group next year.”

Despite wanting to keep Almada, Bocanegra said that the club would take the player’s wishes into consideration.

“If top clubs and Champions League clubs are coming in for Thiago, it’s more of a discussion with the player, and we want to work together,” Bocanegra added.

Thiago Almada joined Atlanta United ahead of the 2022 MLS season in a $16 million transfer from Argentine side Velez Sarsfield. It was the record inbound transfer in the history of the league.

Almada immediately showed flashes of great talent in his first season in MLS, scoring seven goals and winning the MLS Newcomer of the Year award. The 22-year-old player played even better in 2023, providing 11 goals and 19 assists en route to the MLS All-Star nod and MLS Young Player of the Year award.

The post Atlanta United Hopes Thiago Almada Stays With the Club in 2024 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

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.

The post Atlanta United Hires Gabriel Heinze as Their New Head Coach appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Atlanta United and manager Frank De Boer are finally going their separate ways. The club confirmed the news on Friday, saying that the decision was mutual.

“After discussing it with Frank, the decision was reached mutually to part ways,” said Atlanta’s president Darren Eales. “In winning two trophies in his first season in charge, he will always be a part of the club’s history, and with great appreciation and respect, we wish him all the best in the future.”

Atlanta will announce their interim manager in the near future while embarking on a search for a permanent solution at the position. 

De Boer leaves the club after a horrific campaign in the MLS is Back tournament, where Atlanta lost all of their three matches while failing to score a single goal. The club reportedly couldn’t overlook the deficiencies in the team’s game and decided that squad needs a new leading voice in the locker room.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had with Atlanta United,” said De Boer. “Coaching in Major League Soccer and living in Atlanta has been a wonderful experience and a welcome new challenge.”

Frank De Boer took over Atlanta United ahead of the 2019 MLS season, replacing Gerardo Tata Martino at the helm. He had a shaky start of the season, and was on the verge of being sacked, before turning things over. Atlanta ended up winning U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup last year while making it to Eastern Conference Finals.

Before coming to MLS, De Boer coached Ajax, Inter Milan, and Crystal Palace. He won four Eredivisie titles with Ajax but only lasted 14 games with Inter and five games with Palace before being sacked. 

The post Frank De Boer Out as Atlanta United Manger appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Atlanta United’s young star Ezequiel Barco might be making a move to Europe sooner than expected. According to influential Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, Seria A giants Roma and Inter are interested in Barco’s services and are expected to make a move soon.

Calcio Mercato also adds that both teams would prefer to bring Barco in the summer, rather than in the January transfer window. This would work out for Atlanta, as the team would have one of their best players for the Concacaf Champions League.

Roma and Inter are not the only European clubs in pursuit of Barco, as he also sparked interest from Portugal. Sporting Club Lisbon is reportedly keen on Argentinian winger and might bring him in if they sell their star midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

Ezequiel Barco joined Atlanta United in early 2018 in a $15 million transfer from Independiente. Barco played 49 games in MLS since then, scoring eight goals and providing five assists. He also earned All-Star appearances in the past two seasons.

The post Atlanta United’s Ezequiel Barco Reportedly Draws Interest From Roma and Inter appeared first on SportzBonanza.