MLS kicks off this weekend, and a 54-year-old manager from Rosario – the city that gave us Lionel Messi – will write a new page in his already illustrious career, as he leads Atlanta United in their first season in MLS.

Gerardo “Tata” Martino, one of the greatest tacticians of the modern game, will be introducing his high-pressing, rapid possession philosophy (based upon the teachings of his mentor, Marcelo Bielsa) to a brand-new fanbase in Georgia’s capital. It won’t be an easy start, however. Sunday’s game is against the team that accumulated the most wins last year in the regular season, the New York Red Bulls.

Still, with all due respect to Atlanta United, whose roster includes the likes of the former Burnley defender Tyrone Mears, Martino was managing Lionel Messi at Barcelona less than three years ago. He then managed Messi for Argentina. So why did Martino choose to come to America, where he will not only have to overcome his limited English but also establish a whole new franchise, from the youth level all the way to the first team?

“First of all, I want you to know that personally I have always loved the US,” says Martino from his office in Atlanta. “But the opportunity of trying something brand new – and most significantly, from scratch – was very appealing to me.” And while coaching in El Clásico has obvious attractions, it also comes with huge pressure. The bonus of being able to coach on a day-to-day basis without the intense pressures of South American or Spanish media was a major selling point – particularly after Martino’s time with Argentina ended last summer amid infighting at the AFA.

“After my last two jobs, which demanded so much public attention and intensity, I wanted a different kind of environment,” he says.

Martino, a calm, calculated coach with an obsessive eye for detail, is more than ready to launch Atlanta United. We are, after all, talking about the 2007 South American manager of the year. A man who took Argentina to two Copa America finals, finished runner-up in both the league and Copa del Rey with Barcelona, and almost knocked out Spain in the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup with Paraguay.

In Atlanta, he’ll be true to himself. Martino, ever the student of his own tactical philosophies, doesn’t believe he should change anything just because he is in an unfamiliar league. “I think when a new manager who has a specific way of playing comes to any league, he doesn’t think about adapting but rather looks for ways to slowly implement his style so it can be developed for years to come. That’s what I’m trying to do here in Major League Soccer.”

It’s not an exaggeration to suggest that Martino’s arrival is historic for both Atlanta and the league, because it sees a new approach to elevating the quality of the North American game. If MLS can’t compete with China’s gargantuan player transfers, then it should focus on coaches who can help the infrastructure of their clubs. That, at least, was the thought process of Atlanta United’s club president, Darren Eales, and technical director, Carlos Bocanegra. They needed a teacher, a visionary who not only shared a philosophy that would suit their identity as a no-nonsense, hard-working unit, but also a disciple of youth development.

“Gerardo’s teams have always been organized and have displayed a fast and fluid style that aligns with how we intend to play,” said Bocanegra on the day Atlanta made news of Martino’s arrival official. “He’s also demonstrated a commitment to youth soccer, consistently proving his ability to enhance the progression of younger players. He’s a great fit for our club and I look forward to working with him to build a successful club.”

Excited about his family’s new American journey, Martino has embraced his new home, including an appreciation for the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons. “Despite the result, I had a great time going to the Super Bowl but I also went to every playoff game at the Georgia Dome to show my support. It’s a great spectacle.”

One of the first things you notice when you talk to Martino is his soothing demeanor. He is a thoughtful manager, who takes time listening to a question as much as he does answering it. His players, past and present, have always talked about his professorial, approachable personality but once you step on the field, it is nothing but business. “He’s quite an intense guy,” said the Irish midfielder Chris McCann, who joined Atlanta United from Wigan Athletic last year. “He’s very thorough and in-depth with what he wants to do.”

Martino is adamant that Atlanta United will put an extra focus on cultivating young talent, as it’s the best way to grow the value of a franchise. “I come from a city [Rosario] and a club [Newell’s Old Boys] that only stands today because of the hard work by its academy and this is a premise that has been agreed by all of us here in Atlanta.”



The following is brought to you by Atlanta United 16-year-old Andrew Carleton: https://t.co/MxaP4SoWJj — Simon Borg (@SimonBorg) February 26, 2017

Asked about other players in MLS to watch out for, Martino speaks highly of young American talent such as the 2016 rookie of the year, Jordan Morris, and the Argentinians Diego Valeri and Ignacio Piatti. “You can’t also ignore the great figures that have added so much to this league, such as David Villa, Andrea Pirlo and Steven Gerrard. These players have brought so much more than just their names.”

During the club’s first pre-season, Atlanta have been paying attention to Martino’s first lesson: intensity. In four consecutive matches, the team scored an early goal and they are beginning to develop a strong sense of chemistry when pressing high up the field. Martino, much like Jürgen Klopp, enjoys counter-pressing, but for it to work, the fluidity of pressure needs to run throughout the entire outfield. This will take time.

There is, naturally, room for improvement in possession, too. “We need to sustain the amount of time that we control the ball,” Martino said when asked about how preparations have gone. “We have done it for different periods in the games, but I want to see us do it for a longer period and be consistent controlling the ball.”

Time will tell how their first season will play out but one thing is for certain: Atlanta United have a manager who sees this as more than just another job. It’s a chance to build something no one has ever seen.