Adam Jahn has followed a legend before.
Jahn now has the job of taking over as Atlanta United’s striker after Josef Martinez sustained a torn ACL in Saturday’s win at Nashville. No biggie. Just try to follow a guy who averages almost a goal a game in MLS, has a mural painted of him in the city, is a league MVP and Golden Boot winner.
In 2019, Jahn took over as the lead striker in Phoenix following Didier Drogba’s retirement. Drogba helped Chelsea win the Premier League four times, the FA Cup four times, the League Cup three times, the Community Shield twice and the Champions League once. And that was just in England. Jahn did well. He scored 17 goals, fifth-most in USL, and helped Phoenix reach the conference semifinals.
“There’s no replacing Drogba, and there’s no replacing Josef,” Jahn said.
From Jahn to manager Frank de Boer to the teammates who spoke during media sessions this week stressed that they don’t expect Jahn to replace Martinez.
They want Jahn to be Jahn because they think that, combined with their help, it’s going to be good enough.
“We have to do it a different way, and that’s a challenge for the team and us as a staff,” de Boer said. “We are going to try really hard with the players that we have to fill that gap and hopefully have good results.”
Jahn and Martinez play much differently.
Martinez is fast, quick and direct. He is as capable of beating a defender one-on-one as he is using teammates with combination passing.
Jahn is taller, more physical and said his first goal is to get his teammates involved. He noted Pity Martinez and Ezequiel Barco, who likely will play off him, and wingers and fullbacks who will make passes to him.
“It’s been really fun playing with them because, man, can they pick out a pass,” Jahn said of Barco and Pity Martinez. “They are active and their movement is amazing. It makes my job easier because they create so much and draw so much attention. Whenever I get the ball, find one of them, lay it off to one of them because they will make things happen.”
De Boer likes that Jahn keeps things simple. There are no tricks. There’s not much flash. De Boer also likes that Jahn works hard.
“He tries to create spaces for other players,” he said. “Maybe other players can have more space because he makes unselfish runs for other players.”
Jahn’s teammates said they don’t expect that they will have to change much tactically. Eric Remedi said maybe the team won’t play as many balls into space behind defenses, like they would do for Martinez. Jake Mulraney said he likely won’t alter his crosses. Jahn is tall enough to get the high ones, and he likely can reach those that are whipped across the front of the goal.
Jahn was drafted by San Jose in 2013, starting 11 games and scoring four goals. That would be his career high for starts in a season. This unexpected opportunity with Atlanta United could be Jahn’s first chance at an extended run of starts with an MLS team. While Atlanta United is searching for another striker, it will likely take time and the team is scheduled to play five games in the next 15 days. If he were to start each, it would match his career-long streak in MLS, set in 2015 with San Jose.
At 29, Jahn realizes this might be his last best chance.
“When you are younger you have a lot of hype and potential behind you,” he said. “As an older player, maybe the opportunities won’t come as often. I plan on making the most of my opportunity and make the coaches make some hard decisions going forward.”
At the same time, he knows that Atlanta United is searching for a striker. He said that it’s out of his control, but if he were to start thinking about that it would be like having a nightmare.
“So I have to go back to what I can control and that’s my effort,” he said. “Playing with confidence. Doing whatever I can do to get a win.”
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