Ronny Deila spent two-and-a-half seasons with New York City FC, a club he led to a first-ever MLS Cup in 2021. Could the Norwegian be tabbed for a move back to the league?
According to longtime NYCFC play-by-play man Glenn Crooks, Garth Lagerwey and Chris Henderson have “strong interest” in hiring the 49-year-old to Atlanta’s vacant head coaching position. Crooks added that an announcement could come “soon” after Deila was sacked by Emirati top-flight club Al Wahda on Wednesday after just 10 matches.
Deila joined NYCFC in 2020, leading it to a fourth-place finish in the East in 2021 before beating Atlanta United at home and topping the New England Revolution, Philadelphia Union, and the Portland Timbers on the road en route to the title. In June 2022, he was named head coach at Standard Liege, followed by stops at Club Brugge and Al Wahda. Prior to his time in the Bronx, he managed Celtic — who he led to back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles — and Vålerenga.
Lagerwey mentioned that his ideal coaching candidate would have a proven track record of success, and Deila certainly fits the bill. Whether or not he’s the ultimate choice, it sounds as if we’ll find out more sooner rather than later.
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AUFC just teased a coach announcement. screenshot of Guzan during the schedule announcement, with a text from new coach saying “Yo, i’m headed that way twin”. Does Deila look like Guzan?
Edit: nvm, they just officially announced Deila right after I made my comment
I thought I saw the name before. Henry Higuita named this guy at the top of the list back in June just a couple days after we fired Pineda. Henry, any insights the rest of us haven’t had yet?
The original article for context:
https://scarvesandspikes.com/2024/06/06/managerial-matchmaker-who-could-be-atlanta-uniteds-next-head-coach/
[…] Ronny Deila in mix for Atlanta United head coaching role, per report […]
Just happy they’re bringing in the coach before signing new players. Deila and Henderson seem like a solid braintrust to handle a big spending MLS team properly. Let’s get him signed.
DPs next!
I dont know much about him outside his NY stint. Does anyone have insight as to why he hasnt been able to hold a job since then?
I was curious, and tried to look into this. I don’t have any particular insights, but I did notice that since NY, both of the European clubs play in the same Belgian league, and he did well at both of them. Not sure why/how he went to two teams in the same league over the course of two years, it’s definitely odd.
I’d assume him going to Al Wahda might’ve been a pure money poach. Also looks like Al Wahda churns through coaches like crazy, Wikipedia lists them as having 30 coach changes over the past 20 years. So it’s not really anything to worry about with Deila leaving them so quickly.
Also to be fair, before this Deila was much more consistent at clubs, having stayed at previous clubs at minimum 2 years, in many cases more than. In contrast, Tata (who I think many would agree would at least be a good choice) hasn’t stayed with any club longer than two years (or international longer than a world cup cycle), with us as the only exception because he got to spend half a year preparing for our opening season. Deila also has a similar-ish win% to Tata – not quite as good, but definitely in the same ballpark and a step above Curtin and Vieira.
Do we believe Deila > Vieira or did our plodding decision making cost us a better candidate? I don’t know a ton about either, curious what people’s opinions are.
I don’t know a ton about either, so my opinion is worth less than 2 cents. But for some reason I’m of the opinion Deila is a better option than Vieira. I think I’m going to claim the reasoning as that Deila seems have more proven success in multiple leagues and I think I read elsewhere has a more attacking/attractive tactical philosophy, whereas Vieira hasn’t really had a lot of success outside of NYCFC, and seems to lean more defensively minded tactically.
I think Delia is a really good hire, and that fans should get used to this kind of experience going forward. A front office more interested in getting it right quietly than getting media coverage for signing famous names that don’t fit the league (both players and managers.)
Titles won from 2020-22 don’t count
Pretty extreme view. 2020 is completely fair to make that claim. 21 and 22 are still very much valid titles.
I could be persuaded about 2022. Not 2021. Certainly not 2020. Covid/bubble titles are crap.
I have the same opinion about the NBA bubble and those games played in echoing empty stadiums with no fans. It just wasn’t sport.
I know a lot of Middle East teams have quick trigger finger to fire head coaches, but was he basically fired because he was talking with Atlanta about our open position? 10 matches is really short especially for losing only twice
I like this coaching option for us. Deila is a great coach who loves to help his players and collaborators at the club grow and improve.
This quote from his time at NYCFC does a great job in showing who he is and what his values are:
Deila likes to play an exciting attacking style of football that demands a high work rate and commitment from the entire team. The players must be smart, highly athletic, and willing to work hard. He trots out different lineups like the classic 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 4-1-4-1, and 5-3-2. All of those could work for our current player pool and we have enough money and high-leverage roster spots open to find the perfect guys to fit the #9, #6, and wing role opposite Saba.
We also have a good group of highly athletic academy players and college-aged prospects who need a coach dedicated to getting the most out of any of them willing to put in the work.
This feels like a really good fit for the overall club build-out Garth and Henderson are undertaking.
Sign me up. Career 49.9 winning pct (315-129-187 per wiki) across 631 games, 8 clubs, and 5 countries, and experience in UCL and Europa. Titles in Norway, Scotland, and MSL. Likes to attack and is flexible in how he deploys his lineup. Seems like about the best option we could get right now. We will definitely need a better wing opposite Saba for Deila’s attack to shine. We already have FBs that like to get forward. Added bonus, Deila and Stian can teach the team Norwegian.
This is certainly a lot better than talking ourselves into Curtin or someone like that (I was almost there on accepting a possible Curtin hire).
curtin would make me throw up
was gonna say some of this but you’re making the case in more detail and more eloquently! i would be optimistic (haven’t used that word with this club in a while) with deila as the hire.
Thanks! There is a lot to like about the wealth of experience and talent Garth is bringing together at this club and so much of that is thanks to Arthur Blank being willing to invest a ton of money in the human infrastructure of this organization.
I had never heard of this guy before the article (not surprising to me at all), but he sounds like the perfect fit. Track record of success and the attacking style we want as fans and hopefully fits the roster.