⚽️ Full Circle: Tata Martino Returns to Atlanta United

Atlanta United made it official this morning — Gerardo “Tata” Martino is returning as head coach, signing a contract through the 2027 MLS season.

It’s a reunion years in the making between the club’s original architect and a city that still reveres him.

🔴 A Homecoming Built on History

Martino, 62, first arrived in Atlanta in 2016 to lead a brand-new MLS expansion side. What followed remains one of the most remarkable launches in league history: two seasons, 124 points, 140 goals, a +56 goal differential, and the 2018 MLS Cup. Atlanta became just the second team in MLS history to score 70-plus goals in consecutive seasons, while Martino earned MLS Coach of the Year honors in 2018.

Now, nearly seven years later, Martino returns to a club searching for stability and a spark.

Atlanta United announced that he will report to Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson, who led the coaching search.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tata back to Atlanta United,” said Arthur M. Blank, Owner and Chairman of the Blank Family of Businesses.

“Tata is an exceptional manager who set the standard for excellence within our club and helped establish our identity in Major League Soccer… 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.”

🧠 The Experience Returns

Few coaches in MLS bring Martino’s résumé.

His 25-year managerial career spans club and international success across South America, Europe, and North America, totaling 11 trophies.

At the club level, he has managed in the UEFA Champions League, Copa Libertadores, La Liga, Argentina’s Primera División, Paraguay’s Primera División, and most recently MLS.

His most recent post came with Inter Miami, where he delivered the first two trophies in club history — the 2023 Leagues Cup and 2024 Supporters’ Shield — while guiding the team to a single-season MLS points record (74) and a league-best 79 goals in 2024 before being eliminated from the playoffs by his former club Atlanta United.

Before that, Martino managed FC Barcelona, finishing second in La Liga (2013-14) with 100 goals scored, winning the Spanish Super Cup, and advancing to the Champions League quarterfinals. In his homeland, he led Newell’s Old Boys to domestic and continental success, including a Torneo Final title and a Copa Libertadores semifinal appearance.

🌎 A Global Pedigree

Internationally, Martino’s résumé is equally decorated.

He guided Paraguay to the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals and the 2011 Copa América final.

With Argentina, he reclaimed the No. 1 FIFA ranking and reached back-to-back Copa América finals in 2015 and 2016.

He later led Mexico to the 2019 Gold Cup title, another Gold Cup final in 2021, and qualification for the 2022 World Cup, finishing his tenure with a 42-11-13 record.

As a player, Martino was a legend at Newell’s Old Boys, making a club-record 505 appearances and winning three league titles.

🗣️ The Club Speaks

Chris Henderson, Atlanta’s Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director, called Martino “the best candidate to lead Atlanta United to the standard of excellence our fans deserve.” The duo worked together in Miami for the entirety of Martino's tenure with the Herons.

“Tata’s teams have a clear identity, and his playing style and leadership qualities align with our club values,” Henderson said. “His success, along with his understanding of our league, is well established and we look forward to welcoming him back to Atlanta.”

For his part, Martino emphasized that this chapter is a new challenge.

“This is a different project than my first stint with the club,” he said. “However, with great ownership and the collaboration of the players, coaching staff and everyone at the club, our objective will always be to form a winning team that makes our fans feel proud and well-represented every time that they go to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.”

⏳ What Comes Next

Martino’s first tenure lasted two seasons — and given his career pattern, this may again be a short-term reunion. He’s rarely stayed long at any stop, but the impact is usually instant. His task now: work with Henderson to upgrade the roster, build a game model, and restore championship expectations.

7️⃣ Josef Martínez: One More Chapter?

The other name hovering around the story is Josef Martínez.

The 32-year-old Venezuelan forward has parted ways with the San Jose Earthquakes after a 14-goal season — his best since 2020 — and multiple reports say he’s open to a reunion in Atlanta.

He’ll turn 33 next season, and questions naturally follow: Could he fit into Martino’s plans at this stage? Would he serve as a veteran leader and late-game finisher?

Whatever happens, the symmetry is striking: the coach and striker who helped define Atlanta United’s rise could share the same touchline again.

🌎 Around the World from Today's Morning Espresso

Elsewhere across the game:

• Mauricio Pochettino spoke about translating the “culture of football” to the American player ahead of 2026.

• Cavan Sullivan, 15, scored the winner as the U.S. U-17s opened their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso.

• In Europe, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona fought to a 3-3 draw at Club Brugge; Achraf Hakimi is out six weeks with injury; and in Italy, AC Milan and Inter officially purchased the San Siro to pave the way for a new joint stadium.

• The NWSL wrapped up its 2025 season averaging over 10,600 fans per match, with Portland Thorns FC leading the league.

• Check out today's Morning Espresso podcast, and subscribe to get the newsletter each morning during the week, thanks to our partnership with Oglethorpe University.

🧭 Full Circle — Again

When Atlanta United lifted the 2018 MLS Cup, it wasn’t just a trophy — it was a statement of what soccer could be in this city.

Now, with Tata Martino back through 2027, the next statement begins to be written.

The SDH Network — Where Every Pass, Voice, and Dream Connect.