'Tata' Martino returns as head coach of Atlanta United

Gerardo "Tata" Martino has signed on for a second stint as head coach of Atlanta United.

The club announced Thursday that he signed a two-year contract. He replaces Ronny Deila, who was dismissed after one season and a 14th-place finish in the MLS Eastern Conference.

He was the first coach of the expansion club when Atlanta joined MLS in 2017. The next season, the team won the MLS Cup title, and Martino departed to coach Mexico's national team.

Martino, 62, later coached Inter Miami in the 2023 and '24 seasons. He left the club after the second season to return to his native Argentina due to a personal matter.

"We are thrilled to welcome Tata back to Atlanta United," owner and chairman Arthur M. Blank said. "Tata is an exceptional manager who set the standard for excellence within our club and helped establish our identity in Major League Soccer. Since then, he has continued to achieve success on the global stage.

"There is a lot of work to do for us to get back to championship form. This moment is not about revisiting the past but about looking ahead and building a new foundation while embracing the continuing evolution of what it takes to contend in MLS on a regular basis.

"Tata is a steward of our club's values with a proven leadership record, and he carries a championship mindset to everything he does. We are excited for the future of Atlanta United with Tata back at the helm."

--Field Level Media