Atlanta United’s first year and a half has been chock-full of memories, and two Five Stripes players have been involved more than anyone else. Saturday marked the 50th appearance for the club for both Julian Gressel and Jeff Larentowicz, the first two players to reach the mark in franchise history. It’s a testament not only to their durability but also their production, with both players becoming indispensable pieces for the red, black and gold in this first era of the club. Here’s how their numbers stack up after their first 50 times in Five Stripes.
The Midfield Rock: Jeff Larentowicz
Jeff Larentowicz has compiled 50 appearances for Atlanta United so far, 34 MLS games in 2017, 15 MLS games in 2018 and one start in last year’s U.S. Open Cup win over the Battery. In that time he’s gone from 22nd in the all-time list for MLS appearances all the way up to 5th with 371.
Atlanta United fans know him as the enforcer in the midfield, the power and discipline that’s so crucial to balancing out the Five Stripes’ flair. So while other players rack up the headline-grabbing stats like goals and dribbles, Larentowicz is doing the hard but necessary work that often goes unnoticed. It’s his ability to read the play and be a step ahead of the opponent to disrupt their attack that stands out, with his 105 tackles and 85 interceptions both the second most for the club. And he’s seemingly always first to those hustle 50/50 balls, with his 226 ball recoveries and 100 clearances each third-highest on the squad.
But what may be his most important role – the main aerial defender. Constantly lined up against the opposing team’s primary set piece threat, Larentowicz is the go-to lockdown defender in those one-on-one aerial duels. His 141 aerial duels is by far the highest on the team –– 34 higher than second-placed Josef Martinez –– and his success rate in the air is a solid 65%, despite being lined up with the best in the league week in and week out.
But we can’t forget the one time he’s put one in the net. Last year’s September win over Montreal all but sealed a playoff qualification spot, and it was Jeff Larentowicz that iced the victory with a crucial set piece goal.
Gressel the Utility Man
Atlanta United’s #24 also joined the 50-appearances club this weekend, with 33 in MLS in 2017, 14 so far this year and an appearance in all three of the club’s U.S. Open Cup matches so far. His versatility has been his strength from the start, playing in central midfield, on the wing, as a marauding fullback up and down the flank, and even once –– in the U.S. Open Cup match against Miami FC –– starting centrally as a striker.
He brings effort and workrate, ranking in the top five in the team in both tackles and recoveries, but don’t overlook his ability to create chances on goal. Only Miguel Almirón has more chances created for the club than Julian Gressel’s 57, and his 14 assists are second best on the team as well. And he’s scored a few of his own, with his six goals ranking fifth highest so far for the club. But none of them were as beautiful as his combination with Yamil Asad against Minnesota United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium last season.
Plenty of players are just behind in appearance totals, with Parkhurst at 49, Leandro González Pirez at 48 and Miguel Almirón at 47. But Julian Gressel and Jeff Larentowicz reaching that number first just shows how critical each have been to the team’s success so far in its history.
