Atlanta United: Learning from Crystal Palace with Frank de Boer

Frank de Boer is Atlanta United’s next head coach, replacing Tata Martino. Now that the Five Stripes have hired the Dutchman, they must learn from his debacle at Crystal Palace.

Atlanta United wanted a statement manager when they first entered the world of Major League Soccer. Their plan was clear: exploit the young talent of South America, build a fast-paced team full of hungry players, and pair them with a manager who is an icon of the region.

Tata Martino was that man. And plenty of Atlanta’s stars admitted that they signed for Atlanta almost exclusively because they wanted to work with Martino. He was a manager who they believed could develop their games and prepare them for a move to Europe. Josef Martinez and Miguel Almiron are now the chief benefactors of that.

So when Martino announced that he would be leaving at the end of his second season, it was a major blow to the organisation that was built on what the Argentinian brought to the team as head coach. Replacing him, therefore, is no easy task.

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But Atlanta have made their decision. Announced on Friday, Martino’s successor will be Dutch manager Frank de Boer, another who is renowned for his attacking football and development of young players, although he lacks the same god-like status in South America.

At first glance, he seems like a sensible hiring. He is a big European name and will have plenty of excellent links to the cornerstone of world football, especially in his native Netherlands, he plays a brand of football that is very similar to that of Atlanta’s, especially in their first season, and he would look to coach up the plentiful talent that is already at the club.

But there is a warning that should be heeded. His time at Crystal Palace was an utter shambles. He lasted just 77 days and four league games, losing all four with an aggregate score of 7-0. And this short-term shocker came immediately after he spent just 85 days as Inter Milan manager.

At Palace, in particular, de Boer, while struggling greatly, was treated horrifically. He had a very specific style of play that was completely different to what Palace had previously employed. He wanted them to play out from the back, to press high up the pitch and to dominate games through extended periods of possession.

It was completely new to the team that frequently battled against relegation. When Roy Hodgson replaced de Boer, there was an immediate focus on the defensive side of the game, ensuring that the team was solidly built, difficult to beat, and successful in their fight against relegation. Hodgson would succeed but he reverted back to type.

What really killed de Boer was the lack of patience that Palace showed him. Whether his plan would have worked or not, no one will ever know. He was trying to revolutionise the team and that is always a risky avenue to explore. But the fact that he was never even given the chance to try is exceptionally poor club management by Palace. Atlanta cannot make the same mistake.

De Boer will have a very clear style that he will unwaveringly employ. It may not click immediately. There may be some bumps in the road. But Atlanta, now that they have hired de Boer, must be patient, resilient and committed to the plan. They must learn from Palace’s mistakes. If they don’t, this will be a horrific hiring.