Major League Soccer team Atlanta United fired head coach Gonzalo Pineda after a disappointing start to the season. Atlanta’s search for a new head coach will begin Tuesday with no timetable announced by the club.
Atlanta won just four of its first 16 games of the MLS season with a 3-2 loss to Charlotte FC this past Sunday being Pineda’s final game in charge. “We are grateful to Gonzalo for his commitment and dedication to the club over the last four seasons. He has been an exemplary ambassador for the organization, and we want to thank him for his contributions to the club,” Atlanta CEO and president Garth Lagerway said in the announcement.
Lagerway stated this was done in an effort to move the team in a new direction while fully supporting interim head coach Rob Valentino for the rest of the season. The 2018 MLS Cup champions managed a big 3-1 win over Inter Miami last week, but it was the team’s first win in the regular season since Mar. 31.
Atlanta United Part Ways with Head Coach
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) June 3, 2024
Pineda joined Atlanta United in Aug. 2021 leading the club over four seasons to a 34-34-29 record. Pineda previously played and served as an assistant coach for Seattle Sounders. The club also announced it dismissed assistant coaches Diego de la Torre and Eugenio Villazon. This will be Valentino’s second stint as an interim head coach for Atlanta United previously leading the club to a 4-2-2 record in 2021.
Lagerway will address the media at 3 p.m. ET.
