History stood in goal. With his start Saturday in Atlanta United's home opener win over CF Montréal, Brad Guzan made his 200th MLS regular season appearance for the club. It's a milestone for any player, but for Guzan, who spent nearly a decade of his career playing overseas at various clubs in England, it represents a legacy of longevity and quality few have achieved. He is Atlanta United's most capped player in club history and is one of just five to have played in at least 100 regular season games.
The start was his 279th appearance, dating back to his first MLS stint with Chivas USA. That was over a decade ago. He was the first to admit just how different MLS is from when he started out.
"It's exciting to see where the league's come from, it's exciting to see where we are, and I think most importantly it's exciting to see where the league can go," Guzan said Thursday. "For me, that's the most important part because I've been very fortunate to be a part of this league and see the growth firsthand. As a fan of the game, I'm excited to see the sport grow in this country, and I think the potential is through the roof."
We thought we'd take a tour throughout Guzan's time with the club, highlighting his stats and some of the best moments over the years:
Year | Games Started | Clean Sheets | Saves | Save % |
2017 | 14 | 8 | 38 | 79.2 |
2018 | 33 | 8 | 83 | 66.9 |
2019 | 34 | 14 | 91 | 67.9 |
2020 | 23 | 6 | 59 | 66.3 |
2021 | 29 | 10 | 98 | 77.2 |
2022 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 60.9 |
2023 | 27 | 7 | 68 | 61 |
2024 | 32 | 6 | 114 | 72 |
His first cap
Guzan's first appearance and start for Atlanta United came against Orlando City July 21, 2017. He kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 Atlanta United win, registering five saves on five shots on target. Little did 17s know that the result would be just the beginning of his success with the club. 199 games later, he's still stopping shots and commanding the ship in defense.
Leading the 2018 MLS Cup side
Just two years into his tenure, his Atlanta United team summited the mountain, winning the 2018 MLS Cup with a 2-0 victory over Portland Timbers Dec. 8, 2018. Over the course of that playoff campaign, Atlanta United gave up just two goals. His three saves in the championship game led to a clean sheet and, more importantly, silverware for the 5-Stripes and Atlanta. The title ended a 23-year city championship drought.
Playoff heroics in 2024
With a dive to his left, a strong hand, and a punch of the goalpost afterward, Guzan asserted himself in one of the biggest games of the 2024 season. His penalty save against CF Montréal in the Wild Card round of the 2024 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs was the decider that began a Cinderella run. Guzan totaled 18 saves over Atlanta United's three-game series upset over Inter Miami, proving he's still got it all these years into his career.
A club legend
Year in year out, Guzan shows his class with the way he carries himself — in training, in the locker room, on the pitch and elsewhere. He has a special place in Atlanta United's history and will look to add to that legacy this season.
"It's an honor to be able to represent this club, represent this city," Guzan said Thursday. "Atlanta is the place my family and I call home. We've settled in. In all the areas about this club, we love it. For me to be able to represent this club, it's a huge honor. That part doesn't change."
