After 17 games
Atlanta United have announced that they have fired head coach Gabriel Heinze. The decision came after internal issues with star striker Josef Martínez surfaced on Friday and the club lost 1-0 to the New England Revolution on Saturday.
Gabriel Heinze Relieved of Duties as Atlanta United Head Coach.
Club President Darren Eales and Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra to address the media at 4pm today.
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) July 18, 2021
That result saw the Five Stripes slip to the tenth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Since being hired by Atlanta United ahead of the season, Heinze has averaged just 1.18 points per game in the 17 games he was in charge across all competitions. Just before the weekend, The Athletic reported that Heinze’s relationship with several key players had broken down and that star striker Martínez was made to train on his own.
“This was certainly not a decision we wanted to make at this point in our season, but it was the right one for the club,” Atlanta United president Darren Eales said in a club statement. “Gabi is a talented coach and is undeniably passionate about his craft and the sport of soccer. We are grateful to him for his service, and wish him all the best in the future.”
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