It’s 8:30 AM, and Carlos Bocanegra is already hard at work. Atlanta United’s Technical Director is preparing the club for their Major League Soccer debut next year, and as such a variety of decisions need to be made.

“Today is a nice day, because I know I’m in one spot,” Bocanegra told Yahoo Sport UK. “I’m in front of my computer, making calls, answering emails, and trying to strategise with my team. Once a week we’ll go and meet by the trailers outside the new training ground that’s being built, and talk about the progress on that. Whether it’s placing the net directly behind the field, or moving it back 20 yards and angling it. The next day we’ll be in the architect’s office, looking at almost 20 different chairs. 5 will be for the lounge area, 5 are office chairs, and 5 or 6 of them are for the dining area in our training complex.”

The 37-year-old is not complaining about his workload. If anything, the former Fulham and Rangers defender is relishing the opportunity to choose everything from the players on the pitch to the pens used in the office. “The little things like that are fun because it’s all about the designing process and building a club,” he said. “You get down into the nitty gritty. I’ve really enjoyed learning what goes into building a training field, or a building, the permits you need, etc.”

In his efforts to build a squad Bocanegra has signed just over half a dozen players from a variety of backgrounds. Kenwyne Jones is someone Bocanegra knows well from his time in England, while Héctor Villalba brings blistering speed and dangerous tricks from San Lorenzo. The duo joins the likes of Chris McCann, Jeffrey Otoo, Junior Burgos and Alexander Tambakis on the roster, with all the players matching a simple criteria. “Be it South America, Central America, or Africa, the most important thing is we’re trying to get guys that can compete in MLS,” he said. “We have to get guys that we think can do a job in MLS and be productive on the field.”

Finding players to match that criterion can be tricky, especially given the club are not short of offers. Agents from across the globe have been in touch, presenting a wide variety of players. Such choice, while at times a relief, can also prove to be daunting. “There’s quite a lot of agents [calling the club],” Bocanegra explained. “Nowadays its changed. There used to only be a few agents, but I think now everybody wants to be an agent. You get some interesting calls, but it’s all part of it.”

Despite movement in the transfer market, the club is still to appoint a head coach. Interestingly, they have installed their academy set-up, with Richard Money, formerly of Newcastle United, joining as the club’s Academy Director. Bocanegra was unable to provide an estimate on who their first head coach will be, or when they will be appointed, but he was clear on the relationship they will have with the club’s hierarchy. “We want our manager to be aligned with our goals, and our vision, and then that’s his team,” Bocanegra said. “He can figure the tactical system out, and make it work. We have a couple of players that can play a few positions, and that’s where the manager can decide where to play them.”

As Bocanegra discussed his vision for the club, he was keen to reference youth development. The club forged a partnership with Georgia United last year, and has already signed one of their players — 16-year-old Andrew Carleton — to a Homegrown deal. “We’re lucky to have a very good talent pool here in Georgia,” Bocanegra said. “You look at a team like FC Dallas and see how they’ve pushed Homegrown players into their first team, and that’s definitely something we want to do. We want to be competitive, but we also want to give chances to our younger guys. Being a new club, we’ll have a chance to do that.”

Their ambition does not end at state lines though. Backed by over 22,000 season ticket holders, (a record for a debuting expansion team in MLS) Atlanta is looking to emulate the likes of the LA Galaxy in terms of international reach. “We definitely want our club to have a global feel and be very international,” he said. “We have big aspirations, and big goals. We think globally and act locally, if you understand what I mean, but we’re trying to utilise all of our contacts earned through the years.”

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