Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s hiring feels like a movie moment for Atlanta United fans: the architect of the club’s early identity, the coach who led Atlanta United to the MLS Cup in 2018, is back in charge with a two-year deal through 2027. It’s a bold, symbolic move from ownership and the front office — and an opportunity to reset, rebuild and reimpose a clear footballing identity on a franchise that’s drifted since those heady early days.
Why this hire matters (beyond nostalgia)
Martino isn’t just a popular figure in Atlanta — he’s one of the few coaches in MLS history who combined immediate success with a recognizable footballing philosophy. In 2018, his team finished with a then-club record points haul and lifted the MLS Cup; Martino won MLS Coach of the Year that season.
Across various continents at the club level, Tata Martino has managed top players in top competitions, including the UEFA Champions League, Copa Libertadores, La Liga of Spain, Argentina, Paraguay, and MLS. His notable club tenures include Newell’s Old Boys (2011–13), FC Barcelona (2013–14), Atlanta United (2017–18), and Inter Miami CF (2023–24). Though he is hailed as the “one-season wonder”, having “Tata” at the helm is guaranteed success.
Most recently, the well-travelled gaffer brought smiles on the Inter Miami fans' faces as he helped them lift their first two trophies—the 2023 Leagues Cup and 2024 Supporters’ Shield—while setting MLS records for points (74) and goals (79). Martino transformed Miami from 27th place in 2023 to a Supporters’ Shield-winning side in 2024.
At Barcelona, he guided the team to second in La Liga with 100 goals and a +67 differential, winning the Spanish Super Cup and reaching the Champions League quarterfinals. With Newell’s Old Boys, he turned a relegation-threatened squad into 2013 Torneo Final champions and Copa Libertadores semifinalists. Earlier in Paraguay, Martino won four league titles with Libertad and Cerro Porteño between 2002 and 2006.
Not only did Martino “come, saw and conquered” at the club level, but he also waved his magical wand at the international level too. Martino managed Paraguay, Argentina, and Mexico. With Paraguay (2007–11), he led the nation to its best-ever World Cup finish (2010 quarterfinals) and the 2011 Copa América final, earning South American Coach of the Year in 2007. As Argentina’s coach (2014–16), he led the team to consecutive Copa América finals and restored them to the No. 1 spot in FIFA’s world rankings. With Mexico (2019–22), Martino compiled a 42-11-13 record, winning the 2019 Gold Cup and reaching two more continental finals.
A native of Rosario, Argentina, Martino enjoyed a storied playing career at Newell’s Old Boys, where he remains the club’s all-time appearance leader (505) and won three Primera División titles.
Practically, bringing back a coach who already understands the club’s DNA reduces onboarding friction. He knows the fans, the stadium, the city and — crucially — what it takes to manage big egos and expectations in MLS. That institutional memory is an asset, especially after a turbulent season that saw Ronny Deila dismissed following a poor 2025 campaign.
What Martino needs to fix first (week 1 to month 3)
Un fuerte abrazo from Tata 🫂 pic.twitter.com/Z4fohkHsYU
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) November 6, 2025
The foundational priority is culture. Martino must re-establish professional standards, including training intensity, tactical discipline, defensive compactness, and a clear set of team principles (press triggers, build-up patterns, and set-piece accountability). Culture fixes are low-cost, but high-impact — they set the baseline for everything else.
Tried, tested, and proven players perform when they know their jobs. Martino’s first team needs a lean tactical identity that fits the current squad’s best pieces rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all system. Expect him to identify a core spine (keeper, two central defenders, one defensive midfielder, one playmaker) and give clarity to attacking roles (who presses, who occupies half-spaces, who rotates wide). Early-season results often come down to clarity, not complexity.
A poor season often indicates underlying issues with conditioning or injury management. A quick medical and fitness audit will inform Martino whether the club needs better load management, an enhanced sports science approach, or new partnerships (e.g., rehabilitation or GPS tracking upgrades). Martino should hold one-on-ones. Expect frank conversations with senior pros about buy-in and with younger players about development plans. Those meetings decide who stays, who must prove themselves, and who becomes trade/transfer fodder.
Recruitment: the transfer moves that will actually matter
For a team that finished 28th in the league with five wins, 16 draws and 13 losses, and amasses 31 points, the worst finish in the franchise history is crying out for help. If Atlanta is going to make moves this season, there must be changes.
Therefore, Martino’s success hinges on a few smart roster moves, avoiding blockbuster signings for their own sake, but rather key players who will get the wheels turning in the right direction. If Atlanta doesn’t have a composed allocator who can break lines with safe passes and tackle/screen, they’ll struggle to control games.
It was evident last season when the midfield struggled to create or protect the back four; as a result, they lost the game. A significant percentage of the games lost were due to conceding late goals in the last 10 minutes of the game. Hence, Martino needs one who reads the game and another who’s comfortable carrying the ball.
Consistency here reduces reliance on last-ditch saves. Martino’s systems require a player who can find pockets between lines or finish off moves. MLS’s long season punishes thin squads. Smart depth (functional backups rather than marquee splashes) is more valuable than expensive rotation players. Atlanta must resume producing and trusting homegrown players. Martino’s presence should help sell a pathway from the academy to the first team.
The front office will need to be pragmatic: trade dollars, allocation of money and scouting in Latin America and South America for players who already understand Martino’s style will give the best ROI. Martino’s connections in Argentina, Paraguay and the broader region are an advantage here.
Fans should temper nostalgia with patience — a return to the top is realistic, but not instantaneous. Martino can accelerate the process, but soccer remains a squad game with salary constraints, and rival clubs are also improving.
Martino’s return is emotionally huge for fans who remember the 2018 season. However, the club must manage expectations carefully: fans want trophies, but they also wish to identify with competitive consistency and players they can root for. Martino provides a narrative arc — the return of the architect — and that intangible can buy some goodwill. But goodwill is fragile; it must be matched by visible progress on the pitch.
Bringing Tata Martino back is a statement of intent: Atlanta United want to be a club that plays attractive, organised football and competes for trophies. The hire answers the question of who will lead that charge. The rest is what will happen in the transfer market, the training ground, and on matchdays. For fans, this is the beginning of a new chapter that carries the hope of the old glory days but requires modern discipline to sustain it.