With all the changes to Atlanta United’s roster over the years, one constant has remained from (almost) the beginning: Brad Guzan.
It goes without saying that the past two seasons leading into 2024 were immensely frustrating for the 40-year-old goalkeeper. In 2022, he suffered a ruptured Achilles just seven matches in and was lost for the season. In 2023, he tore his MCL and returned well ahead of schedule, but was a step off his game the rest of the year.
So, heading into 2024, it was fair for Atlanta fans to wonder what they’d get from Guzan. What they got was someone that resembled Guzan in his prime, especially during what turned out to be an improbable playoff run.
Stats
Minutes: 3300 (37 matches played, 37 starts)
Clean sheets: 6
Goals allowed: 52
Saves: 139
What went right?
Guzan’s heroics during the MLS Cup Playoffs stand out the most from the 2024 campaign, but that shouldn’t erase what was a terrific bounceback season from him. His shot-stopping ability significantly improved from the previous year as he found himself fully recovered from the injury issues that hindered him in 2023. Let’s be clear: he wasn’t turning in top 5 performances night in and night out and was prone to a howler or two (see Game 1 vs. Miami). But when Atlanta needed him, he delivered more often than not.
What to improve on?
If there’s one thing that sticks out for Guzan, it’s his distribution, and while it didn’t land Atlanta in major hot water in 2024, it’s simply something that comes with the territory when discussing him and is hardly a glaring weakness. Then again, he’s 40 and has maxed out his development as a player, so saying “Brad Guzan needs to improve on X” is tough.
What role will he play in 2025?
Guzan’s late-season form reenergized him. When 2023 came to a close, he was noncommittal about his future but ultimately opted to return for at least one more season. He was much more adamant about wanting to continue playing after the loss to Orlando and ultimately saw his option picked up for 2025. It’s almost a certainty that next season will be his farewell tour, so hopefully Atlanta’s captain can go out with at least one more piece of silverware.
[…] Atlanta United 2024 player review: Brad Guzan […]
As much as I like Guzan. We need to start looking for his Heir. Father time stops for no one not even the Wall the Man the Guzan.
There was some discourse on this on the page around the rumor we had spoken to him during the year. 2022 was his only real good season, but that was probably more a factor of it being the Onion peak. Blake played the whole season, it was Aaronson’s last in Philadelphia, and career years by Gazdag, Uhre, Carrara, Bedoya, and to some extent Martinez. Bedoya had more goals that year than 2021, 2023, and 2024 combined.
I would have leaned B or B+.
Curtin to me is a moderate step forward from Pineda. We need a massive step forward.
If they want to put Curtin at the wheel they would do just as good if not better to put me in charge and I’d be a little cheaper too.
I don’t want to support a bush league team like the Philly Bimbos had.
Agreed. What would Curtin bring to the table that would help put us back where we belong in MLS? Nothing that I’m aware of.
The only thing I’d push back on when it comes to this article’s critique of Guzan’s distribution is how good he was on several counterattacks, even earning himself an assist this season. https://www.atlutd.com/news/brad-guzan-tallies-first-career-mls-assist-since-aston-villa-jamal-thiare-goal
Same. I don’t remember which match Cohen started at MBS, but he looked really shaky—his distribution was even worse than Guz. Hopefully that was just a bad game for him. I also remember Guz getting in Rios’s face after a game that we either tied or lost in the dying minutes. I’m thinking Rios didn’t step up to mark someone. We need that kind of veteran leadership.
Cohen needs more reps, but is a decent goalie and I feel we will be alright with him in between the sticks when that time comes. One thing I will say though is he needs to be used more regularly other than just for the most part other than just in US Open Cup = matches that don’t count towards the regular season. Also, he did have some bright moments for us at times also. To answer your question though about the match he started it was when we played Charlotte FC @ the Benz because Guz was suspended for a red card.
I thought there was a regular season game when Guz was available but Pineda picked Cohen (and Guz was reportedly POed). Cohen promptly played himself out of the starting lineup.
I don’t know if Cohen will get a chance to be a regular starter for us. With Guzan returning for a final season and Jayden Hibbert on the rise, Cohen’s contract option for the 2026 season looks far from certain. Unless the club wants to bring Cohen back in 2026 to be a 1-year bridge to Hibbert in 2027, I don’t see a future for him here as a starter.