Heinze replacement
Almost one month after firing Gabriel Heinze, Major League Soccer giants Atlanta United appear to have found a replacement. Sounders At Heart writer Niko Moreno reported on Wednesday that Seattle Sounders assistant coach Gonzalo Pineda is headed to Atlanta where he is going to sign a three-year contract.
I’m told that #Sounders assistant coach Gonzalo Pineda has come to terms with #Uniteandconquer and will be signed to a 3 year contract, putting him in charge of the team immediately.
We will wait for official word from either Seattle or Atlanta but it appears the deal is done. pic.twitter.com/Q3wt6gcpcj
— Niko Moreno (@ELROLONW) August 11, 2021
Pineda was not on the bench in the Seattle Sounders’ 3-0 victory over Tigres UANL in the Leagues Cup. It was “intentional,” Sounders’ head coach Brian Schmetzer said to Dirty South Soccer when asked about the absence of his assistant.
A 45-times Mexican national team player, the 38-year-old has been Schmetzer’s assistant since 2017. Pineda has been retired since 2016 and the former midfielder has never been in charge of a senior team.
