Tata Martino could be nearing a return to Atlanta United.
According to a report by The Athletic’s Tom Bogert, Felipe Cardenas, and Paul Tenorio, the 62-year-old is the “clear frontrunner” to become Atlanta’s next head coach. The news comes just under a year after he departed Inter Miami after two seasons due to personal reasons.
Martino, of course, has a previous working relationship with Chris Henderson, with the two of them getting on well during their respective tenures in South Florida. With Atlanta heading into a pivotal 10th season in 2026 — and with the World Cup around the corner — the club at least appears to be at least interested in welcoming him back.
The only other club that Martino has been tied to is LAFC, with Steve Cherundolo set to step down at the end of the season. But any links between Martino and the West Coast outfit seem to have died down as of late.
If Martino returns to Atlanta, it’s a move that will automatically rejuvenate the fan base that endured the worst season in club history in 2025. From a personnel standpoint, he’ll need to work closely with Henderson to help reconstruct a roster that will potentially see a massive number of departures in the offseason. There’s also the task of getting the best out of Atlanta’s DP trio of Alexey Miranchuk, Emmanuel Latte Lath, and Miguel Almiron. Martino and Almiron’s current relationship will certainly be of benefit, and, if anything, it may have a trickle-down effect on the play of Miranchuk and Latte Lath.
One other thing: Chris Henderson is leading the search, as previously reported by the AJC’s Doug Roberson. So the club is looking to move fast versus hiring a search firm, an approach Arthur Blank typically prefers.
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It had previously sounded like lafc was close to a done deal for him.
I think tata would be a good hire. All nostalgia aside there can’t be many other available coaches that would be better?
There’s no sentimentality here – just the only man that once made the club great. It’d be absurd not to hire him again… given the opportunity.
I just wonder, what’s the plan if/when he leaves again in 2 years? That seems to be the m.o. right? And maybe this time even without a cup since we’d be digging out of a hole not starting with a freshly hand-picked roster? Maybe that’s fine and we’re prepared to kick that can for wins now, or maybe people foresee something different?
This is very theoretical, but I think you could argue that assuming Tata comes and at least makes the team successful if not winning, the long-term coach afterward would have an easier time building something lasting off of that instead of the team now. Assuming they don’t get someone opposite like De Boer or abusive like Heinze again.
Exactly, in 2 or 3 years Tata could build AtlUtd into a consistent winner, and as long as the FO doesn’t then tear the team down (as they started in 2019) or go with a Manager who is the polar opposite of Tata, we could have a very long term, winning team.
Fwiw, I’m totally on board with these ideas. Rebuild identity first, then learn from past mistakes and let that identity drive whatever may be needed in 2-3 years.
There’s a part of me that thinks this is a good move as he’s had some good success where he’s been, but at the same time i’m a bit skeptical. One thing we’ve not had since starting in this league is consistency and who says this will happen now?
We did move on from South Americans and shifted over to French/Eastern European players, so does this match his system?
I just want something consistent and strong. Need to get this part right, or nothing else really matters.
That is my main issue. Atlanta is currently built mostly around European players and Tata historically prefer South American players, so we would have to do a full revamp, which I don’t think is possible in a single calendar year (2 transfer windows).
we still have a LOT of roster building to do in the next two windows. with tata here, he would clearly drive a lot of that talent acquisition.
If this is true (and I hope that it is), then please let Tata have major input (and the final say) regarding personnel. If they do that, then we will be much better next year and may have a shot at MLS Cup.
I am for this. If I were to look at this impartially and decouple his past with us, this would be considered a great move. If Tata calls, you certainly listen. Honestly, I have more confidence in Henderson making this decision versus Lagerway.
really wish this isn’t true…I feel like at this point Atlanta United is the ex that just won’t move on from its past relationship. Considering our current roster build, we would have to revamp the whole roster again considering Tata usually focuses more on players from South America who are more or less complete players that are focused on jumping to Europe.
we need at least one striker, two wingers, two fullbacks and two to three center backs. that’s a lot of talent tata can have input/direction on to fit what he wants to do…which is play exciting, attacking football.
I can only imagine that this is the FOs (well, Henderson’s specifically) official target, since we’ve heard nothing about our off-season cuts yet. There’s no reason we wouldn’t have already known what we were going to do with several of the expiring contracts by now, even before Deila’s sacking… but we know Tata has a high level of expectation for inclusion in roster decisions, so we may be trying to entice him by letting him come here and be part of those discussions first. Just a theory.
Tata would certainly be everybody’s sentimental favorite although I am not sure even he can breathe life into this lackluster club. As far as Latte Lathe I say cut him loose. We have so much young talent waiting in the wings and maybe if Tata does take on the task that is the direction he should be putting his efforts into. I want the team to do good but I just don’t think you can wave a wand and magically have it happen. Honestly having a .500 season next year should be reasonable expectation.
Yes, but I’m also not sure anyone else has a better chance of it, short of someone ridiculous like Klopp or Conte. At least with Tata you know he can build an offense.
Yeah, I get the “oh no, living in the past” aspect. However, even omitting Tata’s previous time in Atlanta, he’s won trophies at a lot of places and brings an immediate credibility and tactical identity we’ve been lacking for years. Hell, he’s even coached in two stints at Libertad (Paraguay), winning the league in both stops there. He’s the most successful and accomplished coach AUFC has been linked with let alone hired. With him, there isn’t going to be any question about what we are trying to do from a tactical perspective. Deila was touted as a pressing guy that is aggressive. I still couldn’t really tell you what we were trying to do most matches under him.
To that end, I think the roster is mostly set up well for Tata to step in. I think the roster was mostly built with pressing in mind, since that was reportedly what Deila is/was known for doing. No, there’s not a lot of South Americans, but we have guys in the attack that will run and put in the work required in the press. The weak link is Miranchuk. I think he’s the easiest DP to move out, financially, and that also gives Tata an opportunity to influence a key roster slot. He can elect to move Miggy centrally and get a wing or get a better fit at CAM and leave Miggy out wide. We also need at least one starting FB, maybe two. Plus, there may be other roster attrition to backfill this winter.
TL/DR – I think Tata would be able to start out strong here and build something great over 2 seasons, maybe 3.
Not to mention, we know players want to play for him. So it should be pretty easy to attract some good talent to replace some of the really not good ones we got ourselves stuck with after him.