Atlanta United announced Chris Henderson as Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director on Dec. 16, 2024. Henderson oversees the sporting side of Atlanta United, Atlanta United 2 and the Atlanta United Academy. He reports directly to Atlanta United President and CEO Garth Lagerwey.
Henderson brings more than 17 years of front office experience within MLS and joins after spending the past four seasons with Inter Miami CF. Prior to Miami, Henderson spent 12 seasons as Technical Director for the Seattle Sounders, where he helped build a team that made the playoffs in 12 consecutive seasons after joining MLS in 2009.
The former U.S. National Team midfielder was one of the inaugural front office members with the Seattle Sounders when they joined MLS in 2009 and ultimately earned promotions until becoming Vice President of Soccer & Sporting Director. During his near 13-year tenure in the Pacific Northwest, he helped build teams that won seven major trophies, including two MLS Cups, four U.S. Open Cups and one Supporters’ Shield. The club showed remarkable consistency, qualifying for the playoffs in each of Henderson’s 12 years in Seattle. During a five-year run from 2016-2020, the team made four MLS Cup Final appearances, winning twice in 2016 and 2019. Under Henderson’s watch, 30 players have been selected to MLS All-Star teams, with 24 coming in Seattle and six in his time in Miami. Henderson’s ability to find good players across the multitude of MLS roster rules and regulations has made him one of the top sporting directors in the league.
Most recently, Henderson served as the Chief Soccer Officer & Sporting Director at Inter Miami CF. He joined Miami in January 2021 and under his guidance helped build a team that won the inaugural Leagues Cup title in 2023 and set a new MLS Regular Season points record in 2024 (74) en route to the 2024 Supporters’ Shield trophy. The team ultimately fell in Round One of the 2024 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs to Atlanta United in the best-of-three series.
The Edmonds, Washington native had a prolific playing career prior to becoming a front office executive. The midfielder made 348 total appearances in MLS across five different franchises. He scored 55 goals and added 85 assists combined in MLS regular season and postseason play. Henderson also had stints in Europe with FSV Frankfurt and Stabaek before coming to MLS in 1996 and signing with the Colorado Rapids. Henderson won the 2000 MLS Cup with the Kansas City Wizards. After stints with the Wizards, Miami Fusion, Columbus Crew and a second run with the Rapids, Henderson concluded his playing career with the New York Red Bulls in 2006. He played every match for the Red Bulls in 2006 and retired as the all-time league leader in regular season games played with 317, which has since been eclipsed.
Henderson represented the U.S. Men’s National Team 79 times in his career from 1990-2001. He was one of just three collegiate players chosen to join the U.S. squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup and was also on the 1992 Olympic team in Barcelona. He finished his national team career with three goals and 10 assists, including scoring in the 1993 Copa América and in 1998 World Cup Qualifying.
Henderson attended and played soccer at UCLA from 1989-92. He helped the Bruins to their second NCAA National Championship in 1990 when he earned All-America honors. Henderson was inducted into the UCLA Bruins Hall of Fame in 2016.
