Atlanta United fires Ronny Deila after one disappointing season

Atlanta United coach Ronny Deila was fired Sunday, one day after the end of a 5-13-16 season that was the manager’s first in charge of the team. The club had posted just one win in its past 18 matches and finished with 28 points, good for 14th place in the Eastern Conference.

There were high expectations for the season after the club hired an MLS Cup-winning coach in Deila, paid a reported $22m transfer fee for forward Emmanuel Latte Lath from Championship side Middlesbrough FC and re-signed Miguel Almirón from English Premier League side Newcastle United.

Atlanta United CEO and president Garth Lagerwey said a global search for a replacement would begin immediately.

“It was evident that our standard of play was not met this season, and together with our senior leadership team, we have decided that it was in Atlanta United’s best interest to move the team in a different direction,” Lagerwey said in a statement released by the team. “Ultimately, we owe our fans a much better on-field product and it is our unwavering commitment to provide that to this community as soon as possible.”

Lagerwey said he thanked Deila “for his time and commitment to the organization and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

The season ended with Saturday night’s 1-1 draw with DC United in the final appearance by longtime goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who announced his retirement on Tuesday.

Deila was hired by Atlanta United on 20 December, 2024. The move brought Deila back to Major League Soccer three years after he guided New York City FC to an MLS Cup title in 2021. Deila left NYC FC shortly thereafter for Standard Liége and then Club Brugge, with his tenure at each club lasting less than a year. He came to MLS after a career in European soccer that included two years in charge of Celtic.

Deila was given a three-year deal in Atlanta to replace Rob Valentino, who served as interim coach after Gonzalo Pineda was fired in June 2024.

Atlanta United had immediate success after entering the league in 2017, making the playoffs in its debut season and winning the MLS Cup the following year, while setting numerous league attendance records.

Atlanta hasn’t claimed a trophy since the 2019 season, when it captured both the US Open Cup and Campeones Cup in addition to making a run to the MLS Eastern Conference final.