Atlanta United has announced the appointment of Ronny Deila as their new head coach, marking his return to Major League Soccer three years after he led New York City FC to a championship victory. Deila, a 49-year-old Norwegian, has signed a three-year contract to succeed Rob Valentino, who stepped in as interim coach following the dismissal of Gonzalo Pineda in early June.
This move follows a significant restructuring within the club’s leadership. Recently, Chris Henderson joined as the chief soccer officer and sporting director, reinforcing the management team. Both Henderson and Deila will report directly to Garth Lagerwey, the team’s president and CEO. Lagerwey has emphasized the importance of clearly defined responsibilities within the organization, with Henderson focusing on roster construction and Deila overseeing the team’s performance on the pitch.
With over 17 years of head coaching experience across multiple leagues around the globe, Deila boasts an impressive resume that includes six titles — four league championships and two domestic cups. Lagerwey expressed confidence in Deila’s capabilities, stating, “It was critically important to us to find a proven winner. We believe we did that with Ronny.”
Deila’s previous experience in MLS primarily involved his tenure at New York City FC, where he achieved notable success, including clinching the MLS Cup in 2021. Atlanta United, known for its early triumphs in the league, made an impact by reaching the playoffs in its inaugural year and capturing the MLS Cup in its second season, all while setting numerous attendance records. However, the club has struggled to secure a trophy since 2019, when it won both the U.S. Open Cup and the Campeones Cup, alongside a playoff run to the Eastern Conference final.
In the past five seasons, Atlanta United has cycled through five different coaches, with Valentino serving as interim coach on two separate occasions. Despite these challenges, Deila believes that the club has all the ingredients necessary to contend for championships, from high-quality training facilities to a passionate fan base that has consistently filled the 71,000-seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium to capacity each season since joining the league.
Deila expressed enthusiasm about the team’s ambition, saying, “I see the eagerness to win and that’s something I genuinely want to achieve together with everyone here.” This coaching change comes on the heels of a tumultuous season that saw the firing of Pineda and technical director Carlos Bocanegra, a long-standing member of the franchise. Despite finishing the season with the lowest point total of any playoff team, Atlanta United managed to upset the Supporters’ Shield champions, Inter Miami, before being eliminated by Orlando in the conference semifinals.
In a bid to reinforce the team, Henderson made his first impactful move by acquiring midfielder Mateusz Klich from D.C. United in exchange for Atlanta’s first-round draft pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft. Klich, 34, a Polish national, had joined D.C. United at the beginning of the 2023 season and has an impressive record of starting 62 of 63 matches in the last two years, contributing six goals and 22 assists to his team.
Deila’s recruitment aligns with Atlanta’s aspirations to return to the success it experienced during its early years in the league. Following his recent departure from Al Wahda in the United Arab Emirates, where his stint lasted just five months, Deila expressed a commitment to fostering a high-energy, offensive playing style reminiscent of Atlanta United’s early days under coach Gerardo Martino.
“My style is very offensive,” Deila stated. “You can defend only to avoid relegation or to stay afloat, but to win titles, you need to assert yourself in games and especially dominate at home.” The anticipation is high for Deila’s tenure as he aims to restore Atlanta United’s competitive edge and championship ambitions.