Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan succinctly summed up what the players will want from the manager who will replace Gerardo Martino and lead them into the 2019 MLS season.
"We want to win," Guzan said. "You want someone that will help us do that. Luckily I don't have to make that decision."
Atlanta United President Darren Eales, Vice President Carlos Bocanegra and likely a search firm are looking for the next manager after it was announced on Tuesday that Martino has declined to exercise the option on his contract. He will leave at the end of the club's season. Atlanta United will play at Toronto in the regular season's last game. A win, and the club will clinch the Supporters' Shield. The playoffs will start next week. Atlanta United has a bye in the first round.
Eales said that the search for the next manager will be global. They would prefer someone that can continue to teach and play the high-pressure, free-flowing style of soccer Martino started. After finishing second to Toronto in goals scored last season, Atlanta United leads the league this season with 69 from 33 games. It also leads the league in goal difference (plus-29).
“I just hope the next coach has a similar style and ideas so we can continue playing the same way and Atlanta United can be known for its brand of football,” centerback Leandro Gonzalez Pirez said.
Guzan said something similar: “Someone that you are able to talk to. Good organization, good ideas, I think we’ve developed a style in terms of trying to play football and pass the ball, and have exciting players and exciting soccer.”
Martino has been good for Atlanta United, as well as most other clubs and national teams he’s managed, because he’s not just solid tactically.
Gonzalez Pirez said Martino was an excellent communicator as well as listener, who was always honest with the players.
He was able to take a collection of players, most of whom had never played together before and without a consistent language to ease the process, and get them to not only trust him, but to trust each other.
Captain Michael Parkhurst said that trust in the manager isn’t something that every team has.
Though Martino’s pressing system can be difficult to learn, he kept things relatively simple when it came to formations -- either a 4-2-3-1 or 5-3-2 -- rarely re-arranged the lineup when a player wasn’t available because of injury, suspension or form. That consistency made things easier.
“We are lucky to have had him,” Gonzalez Pirez said. “We will see what destiny holds if I ever get the chance to play for him again.”
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