-
Jeff Carlisle
Gerardo “Tata” Martino, former manager of Atlanta United FC and Inter Miami CF, along with ex-Portland Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese, is in the running to take over Atlanta’s managerial position, multiple sources have confirmed to ESPN.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the first to report on Martino’s interest in the role, while The Athletic suggested he is currently the frontrunner. Savarese’s interest had not been previously noted. One insider mentioned that Atlanta plans to continue interviewing other candidates, with another interview set for Tuesday.
At 62 years old, Martino has been without a club since leaving Inter Miami unexpectedly last November after their surprising playoff exit against Atlanta. He was Atlanta’s first-ever manager when he joined in 2016, leading the team to an MLS Cup victory in 2018 before moving on to manage the Mexico national team.
After the 2022 World Cup, Martino was appointed as head coach of Miami, where he served for two years. His coaching experience also includes reputable clubs such as Newell’s Old Boys, Barcelona, and the Argentina national team.
Giovanni Savarese, age 54, managed the Timbers between 2017 and 2023, leading them to the 2021 MLS Cup final, where they lost to New York City FC in a penalty shootout. Before that, he coached the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct NASL from 2012 to 2017. He has also worked as an analyst for ESPN and appeared on MLS broadcasts on Apple TV.
Atlanta is currently experiencing significant changes, having dropped from their previous status as MLS contenders to barely avoiding the worst record in the league this season. Despite having the third-highest payroll in MLS at $27.6 million, Atlanta ended with only 28 points across 34 matches, finishing just two points above last-place D.C. United.
This decline in performance led to the dismissal of manager Ronny Deila after just one season. Since Martino’s departure, the club has cycled through four different head coaches, and the Five Stripes have managed to qualify for the playoffs in only three of the past six seasons.