ATLANTA — Atlanta United announced that its head coach was "dismissed" on Monday. On Tuesday, the club will start a global search to find its next head coach.
The club did not announce why Gonzalo Pineda was fired but announced plans for Assistant Coach Rob Valentino to step up to fill his role.
Two other assistant coaches, Diego de la Torre and Eugenio Villazon, were also dismissed from the team. The goalkeeper coach will step up to fill their roles.
"We are grateful to Gonzalo for his commitment and dedication to the club over the last four seasons. He has been an exemplary ambassador for the organization, and we want to thank him for his contributions to the club," Atlanta United CEO and President Garth Lagerwey said.
According to the club's news release, Pineda first joined the team in August 2021 and led it to a 34-34-29 record in league play.
"We made this decision in an effort to move the team in a new direction. As we continue to evaluate all aspects of our sporting operation, Rob will have our full support to turn our season around in the second half," said Lagerwey.
Valentino has been with the team since 2019 and has served in several roles on the team.
This won't be his first time serving as the interim head coach for the team.
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at WhereAtlantaSpeaks@11Alive.com.