We asked and you have spoken.
Atlanta United’s 2024 was a year full of ups and downs, highs and lows, good times and bad times. HOWEVER… now that the season has come to a close, it’s time to give some love to the players that did their best for the badge. We enlisted your help to decide who should win a variety of awards this season and y’all did not disappoint. First of all, a huge thank you to the 59 of you who voted for this year’s Atlanta United Awards.
Without further ado, let’s get to the winners!
Most Valuable Player
Vote Breakdown:
- Brad Guzan: 49.2%
- Saba Lobjanidze: 44.1%
- Pedro Amador: 6.8%
Around this time last year, a lot of the dialogue surrounding Brad Guzan demanded his retirement on the back of a less-than-glamorous 2023 campaign. After all, a 39-year-old coming off a season-ending-injury probably isn’t long for MLS, right? Then Josh Cohen signed and many assumed that he would take the starting spot from Guzan.
But the big, bald wall wasn’t ready to go quietly into the night. In 2024, Guzan posted a 73.4 save percentage and kept five clean sheets in 32 games played. With a huge bounce back from the previous season including clutch saves such as these…
… which not only kept Atlanta in the playoff race, but also helped the team make it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals after a historic upset against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, Brad Guzan is your deserved 2024 Atlanta United MVP!
Most Improved Player
Vote Breakdown:
- Jay Fortune: 64.4%
- Brad Guzan: 30.5%
- Noah Cobb: 5.1%
He may have started the year as a depth piece, but Jay Fortune stepped up massively in 2024 and showed he has what it takes to be in the conversation for a starting role. The 21-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international became a mainstay in the Five Stripes’ midfield about halfway through the season when he wrestled the starting center midfielder spot from Tristan Muyumba.
In 27 games, Fortune contributed 74 progressive passes, 11 key passes and 63 passes into the penalty area. He has raised the bar in Atlanta United’s midfield and he hasn’t even reached his prime yet. Whatever role he plays in 2025, we can expect him to bring competition, passion and talent to the Five Stripes’ midfield.
Young Player of the Year
Vote Breakdown:
- Jay Fortune: 76.3%
- Caleb Wiley: 13.6%
- Noah Cobb: 6.8%
- Efrain Morales: 3.4%
The fact that this guy has won two of our awards by a landslide should tell you just how much of an impact he has made this season. Nothing much else left to say about him except that he’s a stud and you should keep an eye on him next season.
Newcomer of the Year
Vote Breakdown:
- Pedro Amador: 86.4%
- Stian Gregersen: 8.5%
- Alexey Miranchuk: 3.4%
- Bartosz Slisz: 1.7%
Garth Lagerwey had two Designated Player slots and like $50 million in outbound transfer money to cook with in the summer window, but, ironically, the best thing he served up was a free agent signing. Pedro Amador came into the team in August and quickly became a fan favorite for his fierce defending and key attacking contributions. One of his attributes that quickly stood out was his outstanding crossing ability, which helped him record 8 assists in 16 appearances.
With Amador, Atlanta United has a very solid starting left back that could become an MLS Best XI player if he continues at this rate in 2025.
Defender of the Year
Vote Breakdown:
- Derrick Williams: 49.2%
- Stian Gregersen: 28.8%
- Pedro Amador: 16.9%
- Brooks Lennon: 5.1%
Whoever said the Re-Entry Draft isn’t a useful roster building mechanism?
The Five Stripes acquired veteran center back Derrick Williams in Stage 2 of the 2024 MLS Re-Entry Draft and he immediately became a starter alongisde offseason signing Stian Gregersen. With his intelligent defending and absolute commitment, Williams proved to be a key presence in Atlanta United’s backline.
Midfielder of the Year
Vote Breakdown:
- Thiago Almada: 40.7%
- Bartosz Slisz: 39%
- Dax McCarty: 15.3%
- Alexey Miranchuk: 3.4%
- Jay Fortune (Write-in): 1.7%
Even though he left in the middle of the season, Thiago Almada’s importance can’t be overstated. The 23-year-old Argentinian recorded six goals and an assist in 17 appearances for the Five Stripes this season before heading off to Brazil’s Botafogo and winning the Copa Libertadores.
He is undoubtedly talented and brought Five Stripe fans joy with his incredible skill and thrilling golazos. Perhaps if he had joined at a better time we would have seen him find more success with the club. Best of luck, Guayo!
Forward of the Year
Vote Breakdown:
- Saba Lobjanidze: 72.9%
- Jamal Thiare: 22%
- Giorgos Giakoumakis: 3.4%
- Xande Silva: 1.7%
You already know what it is… it’s SABA TIME!!!
Georgia’s Georgian winger gets the award for Atlanta United’s 2024 Forward of the Year for a couple of reasons. First, he had 11 goals and 5 assists in 38 appearances across all competitions and was overall the team’s most threatening player in the final third.
Second, he’s an absolute character. He bleeds Atlanta United and his passion for the badge shows with how hard he fights in every single game. Just see what it meant for him that Atlanta United made the MLS Cup Playoffs despite the odds being stacked against it.
Goal of the Year
One word that summarizes this season for Atlanta United: unpredictable. There came a point where many of us thought this season would just be pure misery with no light at the end of the tunnel, but then things changed. We learned that you couldn’t ever count Atlanta United out. We learned that miracles are possible. We learned to never EVER take our eyes off of Jamal Thiare.
Toronto learned that last one the hard way.
Vote Breakdown:
- Jamal Thiare vs Toronto FC (90+7′) – Jun. 29: 50.8%
- Alexey Miranchuk vs Inter Miami CF (83′) – Sept. 18: 27.1%
- Saba Lobjanidze @ Inter Miami CF (44′) – May 29: 15.3%
- Edwin Mosquera @ New York Red Bulls (90+2′) – Sept. 21: 3.4%
- Xande Silva vs Houston Dynamo (80′) – Jun. 15: 1.7%
- Xande Silva vs Inter Miami (90+4′) – Nov. 2 (Write-in): 1.7%
Much like Atlanta United surprised its fans at the end of the regular season and in the playoffs, Thiare gave us a huge surprise with this memorable game-winning goal.
With that, we wrap up our 2024 Atlanta United Awards. Which of these was the most surprising to you? Who do you think got snubbed? Which award categories would you like to see next year? Let us know in the comments below!
Is it bad that I am glad Giakomakis is nearly shut out from this? The way he left just hasn’t sat well with me.
Wait, the Silva goal vs Miami had to be a write in?! RIGGED!!!
Thiare’s was insane too tho