Atlanta United 2023

Atlanta United History: 2023-2024

January 5 - Defender Alan Franco is transferred to Brazil’s São Paulo for US$2.3 million.

January 10 - Midfielder Marcelino Moreno leaves the club on loan to Brazilian side Coritiba.

January 18 – Forward Josef Martínez, the top scorer in club history, departs the club after six seasons to join Inter Miami. He leaves the club having won one MLS Cup and one U.S. Open Cup, as well as several individual awards.

February 3 - English coach Steve Cooke becomes ATL UTD 2 head coach, after spending three years with the Seattle Sounders as Academy Director. Jack Collison leaves to coach fellow MLS Next Pro team Huntsville City FC, affiliate of Nashville SC.

February 8 - Greek forward Giorgos Giakoumakis joins the club as a Designated Player from Scottish club Celtic.

February 15 - The club introduces a new primary kit, The 17s' Kit, inspired by the Atlanta United supporters.

March 26 - Atlanta United 2 play their first match in the new League, MLS Next Pro, the second-tier league for MLS affiliates.

May 18 - The club announces that Luiz Araújo will depart the club midseason after being transferred to Brazilian powerhouse Flamengo for a reported US$10 million.

June 7 - Brad Guzan becomes the first player in club history to reach 150 appearances in MLS Regular Season play in the away match at LAFC. He's only the 15th goalkeeper in League history to reach that mark.

June 21 - Tyler Wolff scores the 350th regular season goal in club history vs New York City FC.

June 24 - The Atlanta United Academy U-16 Team wins the MLS NEXT Cup title after beating California-based Strikers FC 3-1 in the final.

June 27 - Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis were named to the 2023 MLS All-Star Game to be played by the MLS All-Star Team vs Premier League's Arsenal.

July 2 - Brooks Lennon becomes the fifth player in club history to play 100 Regular Season matches.

July 14 - The club launch a fully-dedicated Spanish website, es.atlutd.com, catering to the Latin American audience. The website becomes the second digital platform to offer exclusive Spanish content, after the Twitter account, @VamosATLUTD.

July 25 - Atlanta United play their first-ever match in Leagues Cup vs Inter Miami CF.

August 2 - Atlanta United sign winger Saba Lobjanidze as a Designated Player from Turkish Süper Lig

August 3 - Marcelino Moreno is permanently transferred to Brazilian side Coritiba. 

August 17 - Thiago Almada changes his kit number mid-season to number 10.

August 22 - The club introduce its second third kit in history, The 404 Kit, inspired by the cultural and global impact of Atlanta from the 90s to now. The kit was designed in collaboration with Atlanta Influences Everything.

August 24 - Atlanta United in collaboration with Atlanta Influences Everything release the documentary Inside the 404, looking back to the 90s and how Atlanta influenced hip-hop, sports, culture and activism.

September 15 - The U.S. Soccer Federation announces it will move its headquarters and build a new National Training Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Initial funding of $50 million is provided by Atlanta United owner Arthur M. Blank.

September 16 - Thiago Almada breaks the club record for most assists in a single season, with 15. The previous record of 14 was held by Miguel Almirón and Julian Gressel.

September 16 - Tyler Wolff becomes the first homegrown in club history to score five goals in a single season.

September 23 - Caleb Wiley breaks the record for most matches played by a homegrown player, with 53. Previous record was held by George Bello with 52.

September 23 - Atlanta United secures a berth in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs after a 4-1 win vs CF Montréal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

September 28 - ATL UTD 2's Nick Firmino is named to the MLS NEXT Pro Best XI. He would sign a first team contract effective January 1, 2024 later in October.

October 7 - MLS announces that Atlanta United becomes the fastest team to reach 5 million spectators at home for regular season matches.

October 23 - Atlanta United names Sarah Kate "Skate" Noftsinger as the club's Vice President & Chief Business Officer, starting November 6.

October 25 - Atlanta United Digital launches "The History of Atlanta Soccer" podcast, presented by Piedmont, an audio series that examines what brought Atlanta, of all places, to the top of American soccer.

October 25 - Atlanta United Digital debuts the third episode of the long-form documentary series Rooted in the Stripes, presented by AT&T.

October 26 - Thiago Almada, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Miles Robinson are named finalists for 2023 MLS year-end awards.

November 2 - Giorgos Giakoumakis is named the 2023 MLS Newcomer of the Year, winning the award over Inter Miami's Lionel Messi.

November 3 - Thiago Almada is named the 2023 MLS Young Player of the Year.

February 17 - The club introduces the Resurgens Kit, the club’s latest community kit, is inspired by Atlanta, a city that time and time again shows its resiliency and strength. The Phoenix, a mythical bird that rises from the ashes and is depicted on the Atlanta city seal, is featured on the back neck of the kit.

February 19 - Paulo Neto wins a League-record fourth title to kick off the 2024 eMLS season.

February 21 - Atlanta United releases the second season of the documentary Rooted in the Stripes, with its first episode of 2024: "A New Dawn".

March 11 - More than 67 thousand people attended Atlanta United's 2024 home opener. With 67,727 fans in attendance, the match vs New England Revolution was the third-highest attended soccer match in the world, after FC Bayern and Manchester United's home matches that day.

April 8 - The U.S. Soccer Federation , unveiling the new facility as the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center. The commitment to build a training center was made possible by a $50 million contribution last year from Arthur M. Blank, Atlanta United owner.

April 11 - Atlanta United unveiled plans to expand and transform Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, highlighted by a two-story, 20,000-square foot development that will include numerous additions and improvements for player health and well-being, a state-of-the-art content production studios and dedicated space for its Academy and front office associates.

April 22 - Atlanta United announced it has named Javier Perez as Director of Methodology, a newly created position to replace Academy Director.

May 22 - Arthur M. Blank, Atlanta United owner and chairman, received the Sports Business Journal's Lifetime Achievement Award in New York City.

June 3 - Atlanta United part ways with Head Coach Gonzalo Pineda. Rob Valentino is named interim for the second time.

June 12 - For the first time in League history, players from an MLS club co-design a retail collection together with the ATL UTD Creative team, to honor Juneteenth and Black Excellence.

June 16 - Midfielder Bartosz Slisz became the first-ever Atlanta United player to play in the UEFA European Championship when he subbed in for Poland's 1-1 draw in the 55th minute vs the Netherlands.

June 16 - Atlanta United announced the transfer of forward Giorgos Giakoumakis to Cruz Azul of Liga MX for an undisclosed transfer fee.

June 21 - Atlanta United sign defender Matt Edwards to a homegrown deal.

July 6 - Thiago Almada is transfered to Eagle Football, to play for Botafogo, for a MLS-record transfer fee.

July 8 - Caleb Wiley is called up to the U.S. Men's Olympic Team to compete in Paris 2024.

July 12 - Atlanta United Breaks Ground on Expansion of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground.

July 22 - Atlanta United transfers Homegrown Caleb Wiley to Chelsea FC in one of the best transfers in MLS history.

July 30 - Atlanta United signs midfielder Alexey Miranchuk as a Designated Player.

August 29 - Atlanta United releases the documentary chronicling Alexey Miranchuk's transfer from Atalanta to Atlanta United: From Italy with Love, Delta Travel Stories.

September 4 - Atlanta United part ways with VP, Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra

September 16 - Atlanta United releases a retail collection in collaboration with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).

September 19 - Alexey Miranchuk scores his first goal in MLS with an outstanding left shooted shot from outside the box vs Inter Miami.

September 26 - For the second consecutive season, the Atlanta United Special Olympics Unified Team goes unbeaten after winning all three games in the 2024 season.

October 20 - Atlanta United clinched a berth to the MLS Cup Playoffs after incredible drama that unfolded on Decision Day, where they needed three results to go their way, including a win at Orlando City. It is the sixth out of eights seasons where the 5-Stripes have qualified to the post-season.

November 3 - After beating CF Montréal in the Wild Card of the MLS Cup Playoffs, Atlanta United was paired up with Inter Miami CF in the Round One, Best-of-3 Series. Following a tight match and a loss in Game 1 in Miami, Atlanta secured an amazing victory at home in front of more than 67,000 fans with a last minute golazo by Xande Silva, to force a Game 3 in the series.

November 10 - Atlanta United advanced to the Conference Semifinals after beating and eliminating Inter Miami from the MLS Cup Playoffs. With an incredible performance in Game 3 of the Round One of the Playoffs at Miami's Chase Stadium and a score of 3-2 for Atlanta, the 5-Stripes pulled the biggest upset in MLS history, since the 9th seed beat the 1st seed and Supporters Shield winners, with Lionel Messi and all their stars on the pitch.

November 10 - The match vs Inter Miami recorded the fifth-highest attendance in MLS post-season history.

November 13 - Atlanta United wins a Bronze Clio Award for the Somos Atlanta 2023 Retail Collection in honor of the club's Latin American Heritage and Influence.

November 24 - Atlanta United is eliminated from the MLS Cup Playoffs after falling 1-0 at Orlando City in the Conference Semifinals.

November 26 - Following the team's Playoffs elimination, Atlanta United announced its roster moves for the end of the season, and President & CEO Garth Lagerwey confirmed Rob Valentino would not be considered for the head coach position. Following that, Valentino confirmed he will not stay in the club.