Club president & CEO Garth Lagerwey noted the media’s professionalism at Friday’s press conference. Local reporters stifled applause and any emotional affection for the moment, until Lagerwey urged the question to the group:
“Anyone want to do it?”
Then, the applause erupted, led by Lagerwey along with chief soccer officer & sporting director Chris Henderson. Both were grinning ear-to-ear, happy about the man on stage in between them: Miguel Almirón, the legend who returned to Atlanta United this week on a designated player deal.
Friday’s press conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was all about Almirón. Most of the questions from media were directed toward him, but with one of two designated player openings now filled, and with a player who has a great affection for the city and the club, there was a clear sense of joy and accomplishment shared between the two executives.
“All the things we look for in a designated player, that’s what Miguel will bring,” Henderson said.
Though Henderson is new to Atlanta (the club announced his hiring in December), Henderson has had his eye on Almirón for nearly a decade. According to Lagerwey, when the two executives previously worked together at Seattle Sounders, Henderson scouted Almirón and wanted the Western Conference club to sign him. It didn’t work out, and the discovery rights of the player were ultimately traded to another MLS club: Atlanta United.
So when Henderson came to Atlanta, one of the first things he told Lagerwey was, “we have to go sign Miguel.”
Lagerwey’s first moment experiencing Miggy came in 2023. He attended the Premier League friendly between Newcastle United and Chelsea at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the summer. Seeing the fans in the stands react to Almirón made Lagerwey take a mental note that would eventually come to fruition on January 30, 2025.
“We all remember when Miggy came in and scored the goal, then spontaneously, the whole stadium stood up and started applauding like crazy,” Lagerwey said. “I was sitting next to [previous Atlanta United president] Darren Eales at the time, and he was like, ‘Oh yeah, this is what it's always like.’”
The reception this week following the club’s announcement is reminiscent of that summer friendly. Atlanta United supporters have been elated to welcome back Almirón, proven Thursday night with the welcome at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.
Along with bringing back a fan favorite, the signing also brings an experienced player and MLS Cup champion with lots of qualities that will make the team stronger as they look to improve from last year's 9th-place finish in the Eastern Conference regular season table.
“When we assessed the team and what we needed, Miguel checked every box," Henderson said.
Those qualities for Henderson align with the style new head coach Ronny Deila wants his team to play: Fast, aggressive and pressing. Almirón is known as a fast player who works hard and adds energy to the group. He possesses a passionate love for the game and is a humble leader, summed up best by a phrase Almirón likes to say in Spanish:
“Trabajo por el equipo.”
Work for the team.
“He’s the type of player who sacrifices for the team, and I think that’s what you want in your designated players, to be leaders like that. That’s where he’s matured while he’s been away,” Henderson said.
Almirón’s experience should help a group that Deila described as “quiet” during the early days of preseason training. As a designated player, Almirón will be expected to lead and direct on the pitch.
And the 30-year-old welcomes responsibility. It’s not too far off from what he felt during his first go around with the club.
“When I arrived the first time, I was very happy,” Almirón said. “We were starting a new project, so we felt a great responsibility as players to be a part of that. But now here today, I think I'm more happy to be back and to be able to share these moments with my family, at the same time also with an increased responsibility to help this team.”
