Atlanta United History: 2019-2020

2019

January 20 - Atlanta United 2 announce they will be playing their home matches at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia, at the Kennesaw State University campus.

January 24 – Atlanta United signs Gonzalo "Pity" Martínez as Designated Player following a transfer from Argentina’s River Plate, after winning the Conmebol Libertadores with the Argentinean club.

Pity_Martinez

January 30 - ATL UTD 2 head coach Scott Donnelly leaves and the club names former Scottish player Stephen Glass becomes ATL UTD 2 head coach, after being Shamrock Rovers assistant coach

January 31 - Atlanta United transfers midfielder Miguel Almirón to England’s Newcastle United of the Premier League for an MLS record-transfer fee of US$26 million.

February & March - Atlanta United makes its debut in the Concacaf Champions League. The club beat Herediano (Costa Rica) 5-3 in aggregate in the Round of 16, advancing to the Quarterfinals where they lost to the eventual champion, CF Monterrey (Mexico). 

February 15 - The club introduces the second home kit for the 2019 and 2020 seasons: the Star and Stripes Kit.

May 27 - Atlanta United Academy U-14 wins the Manchester City Cup in San Diego, California, by beating CF Monterrey 3-2 in the final.

July 15 - Five Atlanta United players are named to the 2019 MLS All-Star Game: Ezequiel Barco, Leandro González Pirez, Brad Guzan, Josef Martínez and Pity Martínez.

August 3 - The club sets a new league record for single-match attendance in Regular Season, with 72,548 spectators for Atlanta’s 3-0 win over the LA Galaxy. The record will remain unbeaten until March 5, 2022.

Campeones Cup CHAMPION
Atlanta United

August 14 - Atlanta United wins the Campeones Cup with a 3-2 win against Club America, becoming the first MLS team to win the award that sees the MLS Cup Champion take on Liga MX Champion.

U.S Open Cup CHAMPION
Atlanta United

August 27 - Atlanta United wins its first U.S. Open Cup title, defeating Minnesota United 2-1 in front of an Open Cup Final record crowd of 35,709. Pity Martínez scored the game-winner in the 16th minute after Minnesota scored an own goal six minutes earlier.

October 31 - First club captain Michael Parkhurst retires from professional soccer, following a career that saw him play in Denmark, Germany and for three MLS clubs. He won one MLS Cup with Atlanta United, two U.S. Open Cups (one with Atlanta and one with New England), one Danish SuperLiga and two Danish Cups with FC Nordsjælland. He also won two Concacaf Gold Cups and played a total of 25 matches with the U.S. Men’s National Team.

December 11 - Atlanta United announces the singing of Paulo Neto as the club’s eMLS gamer replacing RatedHugo.

2020

January 21 – The first Designated Player in club history, Tito Villalba is transferred to Club Libertad from Paraguay.

February 5 - The club introduces the King's Kit, as secondary uniform.

March 12 - Major League Soccer announce the 2020 season will be put on hold after two Matchdays due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

May 18 - Paulo Neto and Atlanta United defender Franco Escobar win a special eMLS Tournament, where each club's gamer partnered up with a first team player.

July 8 - After almost four months of inactivity, the MLS is Back tournament begins having all the clubs play behind closed doors and severe lockdown measures in the camp at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney Resort in Florida.

July 24 - Frank de Boer and Atlanta United mutually agree to part ways following the club’s elimination from the MLS is Back tournament, after losing all three group stage matches. Atlanta United 2 coach Stephen Glass is named interim.

September 7 - Pity Martínez is transferred to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr for a second-largest club record fee of US$18 million.

September 22 - Argentinean midfielder Marcelino Moreno is signed as Designated Player from Club Atlético Lanús.

December 18 - Argentinean Gabriel Heinze is named Atlanta United head coach, following a prolific playing career and after having previously managed three clubs in his home country.