Football Season Guide

It was a tremendous 2018 for Atlanta following their first ever MLS cup triumph in just their second MLS season, finishing runners up to the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference. They excelled in the play-offs seeing off both New York clubs and beating Portland Timbers in the final. Atlanta’s vibrant attacking style has won plaudits across the whole United States and they were the highest scorers in the MLS in 2018 notching an impressive 70 goals with striker Josef Martinez scoring 31 of those, and unsurprisingly was the MLS top scorer. Atlanta will start 2019 without head coach Gerardo Martino who has departed for the Mexican national team and has been replaced by Dutchman Frank De Boer who is tasked with continuing the successes of the previous seasons. De Boer has been hit with a hammer blow in the off-season with talismanic midfielder Miguel Almiron departing the club to join English side Newcastle United in club record deal for both clubs. Almiron was a key player throughout his two seasons scoring 22 goals and assisting 30 goals. De Boer has replaced him with midfielder Gonzalo Martinez. Known as ‘Pity’ in his native Argentina, Martinez arrives with plenty of pedigree having made 96 appearances for River Plate averaging a goal every 4 games having scored 24 goals in his time at River Plate. He arrives with a $15 million price tag equalling the record paid for Ezequiel Barco in 2018. The loss of Almiron will be difficult but Martinez is more than capable of filling his boots. De Boer has strengthened in other areas including adding the experienced Brek Shea and Florentin Pogba.