Atlanta United has announced that it has fired head coach Gonzalo Pineda, with assistant Rob Valentino taking over on an interim basis.
The move has been anticipated for some time, as the Five Stripes are in the midst of a run of just one win in 11 matches and five straight home defeats.
Pineda’s final game in charge was a 3-2 home loss to Charlotte FC on Sunday, dropping Atlanta to 13th in the 15-team Eastern Conference.
“We are grateful to Gonzalo for his commitment and dedication to the club over the last four seasons. He has been an exemplary ambassador for the organization, and we want to thank him for his contributions to the club,” Atlanta United CEO and president Garth Lagerwey said in a club statement.
“We made this decision in an effort to move the team in a new direction. As we continue to evaluate all aspects of our sporting operation, Rob will have our full support to turn our season around in the second half.”
Pineda took over as head coach in August 2021 after previously serving as an assistant with the Seattle Sounders. The 41-year-old led Atlanta to the postseason twice, in 2021 and 2023, but the club exited in the first round on both occasions.
Overall, Pineda led the club to a record of 34W-29D-34L in league play.
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