ATLANTA — On Monday, Atlanta United announced the appointment of Chris Henderson as its chief soccer officer and sporting director, marking a reunion with team president Garth Lagerwey.
Henderson arrives in Atlanta after a successful four-season tenure with Inter Miami, where he was part of a team that clinched the 2024 Supporters’ Shield for achieving the best regular-season record in Major League Soccer, with the renowned Lionel Messi leading the roster.
His new challenge will be to revitalize Atlanta United, a club that captured the MLS Cup in its second season but has struggled to secure any trophies since 2019. Notably, this past season, Atlanta managed to eliminate Miami from the playoffs in a surprising upset, despite barely scraping into the postseason.
“I’ve been following this club for quite some time, and there’s a clear ambition here—to compete for trophies every year, both on and off the pitch,” Henderson expressed in a statement. “I am eager to collaborate with Garth and contribute to Atlanta United’s ongoing success.”
Prior to his time with Inter Miami, Henderson dedicated 12 years to the Seattle Sounders, where he played a significant role in constructing a competitive team that reached the playoffs annually and won two MLS Cup titles.
Lagerwey joined the Sounders as general manager in 2015, forming an effective partnership with Henderson that led to four MLS Cup finals appearances within five years.
As part of the agreement for Henderson’s signing, Atlanta United will send Miami a second-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft.
“His distinguished career and extensive experience were highly valued during our hiring process, and he immediately emerged as the leading candidate,” Lagerwey remarked. “He possesses a deep understanding of the complexities of building an MLS roster, and I am enthusiastic about his integral role in establishing consistent winning success in Atlanta.”
In the wake of Henderson’s hiring, Atlanta United is reorganizing its leadership structure following the dismissal of coach Gonzalo Pineda and technical director Carlos Bocanegra, who had been part of the club since its inception.
The next phase involves appointing a new head coach, with Rob Valentino currently serving as the interim manager after Pineda’s departure in June.