ATLANTA — Carlos Bocanegra, an original executive with Atlanta United who was instrumental in their early success before the team's rise stalled over the past few seasons, has parted ways with the club.
The team made the announcement on Wednesday, saying that club president and CEO Garth Lagerwey will assume Bocanegra's duties on an interim basis for the remainder of the 2024 season.
United, the 2018 MLS Cup champions, are currently clinging to the ninth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference in MLS, with eight wins, seven draws and 12 losses. They've finished no higher than fifth in the conference in each of the last four seasons, failing to make significant playoff runs or missing the playoffs entirely each year.
“We are deeply appreciative of Carlos’s dedication and success over the last nine years with Atlanta United. However, I believe it’s time for our club to move in a new direction,” Lagerwey, who took over as president and CEO of the club in late 2022, said in a statement. “While we will continue to fight for a playoff spot down the final stretch of the season, this gives us a clean slate and a runway to properly assess all vacancies in our sporting operation ahead what will be an extremely important offseason for our club.”
Bocanegra oversaw United's first rosters that included stars such as Josef Martinez and Miguel Almiron, ushering in an initial era from the team's first season in 2017 that peaked with a championship the next year. United finished second in the conference in 2019 and reached the conference finals in the playoffs, extending a run at or near the top of MLS that looked like it would continue uninterrupted with the club as a new standard-bearer in the league.
But the departure of Almiron to England's Newcastle United in a high-profile sale, injuries and decline with Martinez and the failure to replicate the success of those two with high-profile signings such as Pity Martinez, Ezequiel Barco and Thiago Almada has seen United mired in MLS' middle class for the last half-decade.
The team has also cycled through three head coach hirings in the last five years, none of which replicated the success of the team's first manager, Gerardo Martino. Rob Valentino is currently the interim manager after Gonzalo Pineda parted ways with the club this summer.
"The club is currently conducting its search to fill the head coach vacancy; however, there is no timetable for filling that role. The search for the club’s next Technical Director will begin immediately," a club statement said.
Arthur M. Blank, Atlanta United's owner and chairman, thanked Bocanegra for his contributions in a statement.
He was here from the beginning and deserves much credit for our MLS Championship; other trophies we’ve won over the last nine years; and the way our team captured the heart of this city even before we launched in 2017. Several dynamic players signed by Carlos have been foundational to our success, including some who have moved on to opportunities in elite leagues and clubs across the world. I will always have great affection for Carlos and his beautiful family, and deep gratitude for the passion and dedication he brought to our club over the years. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
