Atlanta United announced on Tuesday that their head coach, Gerardo Martino, will leave the club after the 2018 season, after deciding not to renew his contract. This comes after Martino was linked with several other jobs, including managing Mexico and Argentina’s national teams.
“We are very grateful to Tata for his commitment to Atlanta United and for all he has done to help build our club during our first two years in the league,” – said Atlanta United president Darren Eales. “True to his reputation, he has been an incredible leader and has set us up for great success moving forward.”
ESPN reported last week that Gerardo Martino already made a verbal agreement with Mexican Football Federation to take over the country’s national team. The 55-year-old, however, refused to speak about his future, insisting that he wants to finish the job with Atlanta United this season. Atlanta United have one more game left to play in 2018 MLS season, currently sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference.
“This was not an easy decision to make, I have enjoyed my time with Atlanta United very much and am proud of what we have accomplished together in such a short time,” – said Martino in a statement. “The decision was not made for financial reasons, negotiations with the front office were transparent and fair. It was simply the right move for me and my family at this time. The opportunity to build a team from the start does not come along often, and I am grateful to the club and to the fans for putting their trust in me to establish a solid foundation here in Atlanta. What is most important now is that the focus remains on our goals for this season.”
