Atlanta’s MLS team has hired former U.S. men’s national team captain Carlos Bocanegra as its technical director.
Bocanegra retired last season after 15 years as professional split between MLS and clubs in Europe. He was capped 110 times for the U.S. men’s national team, and was also its captain. Atlanta, owned by Arthur Blank, will begin play in MLS in 2017 in the new stadium downtown.
Bocanegra will start in April and will help MLS Atlanta President Darren Eales with the non-coaching sports side of the organization, starting with deciding on the training ground, moving to setting up the youth academy, helping to hire the team’s coach and continuing with scouting players both domestically and internationally.
“Carlos has been a leader wherever he’s been,” Eales said.
Bocanegra said he never thought about taking any time off after spending his final two years playing with Chivas USA. That year wrapped up a career that saw him start with Chicago, move to Fulham in England where he made 116 appearances with eight goals, before moving to clubs in France and then Rangers in Scotland before coming home again to MLS.
During that time, Bocanegra was part of two U.S. World Cup teams in 2006 and 2010, which he captained. He was also a two-time MLS defender of the year.
“I love the game too much (to leave),” he said. “I didn’t want to stay away. I’ve never had those feelings to wanting to travel for a year.”
He and Eales began discussing possible roles during the MLS Cup in Los Angeles. The more they talked about youth development and other things, the more they found in common. Eales said one of their conversations became so engrossing he almost missed his flight.
“The huge thing is being able to be a part of a franchise starting from scratch,” Bocanegra said. “The ownership group, Mr. Blank has a great reputation. And after speaking with Darren, the conversations we had, we were on the same page.”
Though Bocanegra doesn’t have any experience working in a front-office and said his only experience in Atlanta is coming through the airport, Eales is confident that in the next two years Bocanegra will develop the necessary acumen to succeed.
“He’s highly intelligent, speaks three different languages,” Eales said. “It’s two years before we start playing. Carlos can be a sponge, learn about Atlanta, learn the offices of MLS. That’s why together it will be a great partnership. Each day he will be learning more and more.”
Bocanegra said it was too early in the process to discuss how the youth academy would be set up. He did offer that he has been impressed with how youth soccer has been built in the metro Atlanta and the state and he hopes to form an inclusive partnership. Eales said with Bocanegra’s experience domestically and internationally, he can imagine the players in the youth academy hanging on Bocanegra’s every word.
“Something every one will be proud of in Atlanta and Georgia,” Bocanegra said.
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