Atlanta United FC 2017 media guide

2017·21.6 MB·English

by  Atlanta United FC

E
X
E
C
U
T
IV
E
S
T
A
F
F
T
E
C
H
N
IC
A
L
S
T
A
F
F
P
L
A
Y
E
R
S
A
C
A
D
E
M
Y
M
L
S
H
IS
T
O
R
IC
A
L
S
T
A
T
S
U
.S
. O
P
E
N
C
U
P
A
B
O
U
T
A
T
L
U
INAUGURAL SEASON /// 3 TD
ATLANTA UNITED INAUGURAL SEASON
2017 SEASON SCHEDULE
MATCH 1 MATCH 13 MATCH 25
NEW YORK RED BULLS VANCOUVER WHITECAPS D.C. UNITED
SUN., MAR. 5 // 7:30 PM SAT., JUNE 3 // 5:30 PM WED., AUG. 23 // 7:30 PM
Bobby Dodd Stadium BC Place RFK Stadium
MATCH 2 MATCH 14 MATCH 26
MINNESOTA UNITED CHICAGO FIRE PHILADELPHIA UNION
SUN., MAR. 12 // 5:00 PM SAT., JUNE 10 // 4:00 PM SAT., AUG. 26 // 7:00 PM
TCF Bank Stadium Toyota Park Talen Energy Stadium
MATCH 3 MATCH 15
CHICAGO FIRE COLUMBUS CREW FIFA (AUG. 28–SEPT. 5)
SAT., MAR. 18 // 4:00 PM SAT., JUNE 17 // 7:00 PM
Bobby Dodd Stadium Bobby Dodd Stadium
MATCH 16 MATCH 27
FIFA (MAR. 20–28) D.C. UNITED FC DALLAS
WED., JUNE 21 // 7:30 PM SAT., SEPT. 9 // 7:00 PM
RFK Stadium Mercedes-Benz Stadium
MATCH 4 MATCH 17 MATCH 28
SEATTLE SOUNDERS COLORADO RAPIDS NEW ENGLAND REV.
FRI., MAR. 31 // 10:00 PM SAT., JUNE 24 // 7:00 PM WED., SEPT. 13 // 7:00 PM
CenturyLink Field Bobby Dodd Stadium Mercedes-Benz Stadium
MATCH 5 MATCH 18 MATCH 29
TORONTO FC COLUMBUS CREW ORLANDO CITY
SAT., APR. 8 // 7:30 PM SAT., JULY 1 // 7:30 PM SAT., SEPT. 16 // 4:00 PM
BMO Field Mapfre Stadium Mercedes-Benz Stadium
MATCH 6 MATCH 19 MATCH 30
MONTREAL IMPACT SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MONTREAL IMPACT
SAT., APR. 15 // 1:00 PM TUE., JULY 4 // 7:00 PM SAT., SEPT. 23 // 7:00 PM
Saputo Stadium Bobby Dodd Stadium Mercedes-Benz Stadium
MATCH 7 MATCH 31
REAL SALT LAKE GOLD CUP (JULY 7–16) PHILADELPHIA UNION
SAT., APR. 22 // 9:30 PM WED., SEPT. 27 // 7:00 PM
Rio Tinto Stadium Mercedes-Benz Stadium
MATCH 8 MATCH 20 MATCH 32
D.C. UNITED ORLANDO CITY NEW ENGLAND REV. BECOME A
SUN., APR. 30 // 3:00 PM FRI., JULY 21 // 7:00 PM SAT., SEPT. 30 // 7:30 PM
Bobby Dodd Stadium Orlando City Stadium Gillette Stadium
MATCH 9 MATCH 21
NEW YORK CITY FC ORLANDO CITY FIFA (OCT. 2–10) FOUNDING MEMBER
SUN., MAY 7 // 4:00 PM SUN., JULY 30 // 4:30 PM
Yankee Stadium Mercedes-Benz Stadium
MATCH 10 MATCH 22 MATCH 33 SAVINGS:
PORTLAND TIMBERS SPORTING KANSAS CITY NEW YORK RED BULLS
SUN., MAY 14 // 4:00 PM SUN., AUG. 6 // 8:00 PM SUN., OCT. 15 // 3:00 PM Founding Members always pay the best price. Seats start at $20 per match.
Providence Park Children’s Mercy Park Red Bull Arena
FLEXIBILITY:
MATCH 11 MATCH 23 MATCH 34 Can’t come to all of the matchers? No worries. Set your own price and re-sell
HOUSTON DYNAMO MINNESOTA UNITED TORONTO FC the matches you cannot attend directly through your Founding Member account.
SAT., MAY 20 // 7:00 PM SUN., AUG. 13 // 6:00 PM SUN., OCT. 22 // 4:00 PM
Bobby Dodd Stadium Mercedes-Benz Stadium Mercedes-Benz Stadium ACCESS:
Discounts on merchandise, pre-sales for single match tickets, invitations to
MATCH 12 MATCH 24 ATLUTD.COM/TIX
NEW YORK CITY FC LA GALAXY exclusive events - just to name a few.
SUN., MAY 28 // 5:00 PM SAT., AUG. 19 // 4:00 PM 678-420-7200
Bobby Dodd Stadium Mercedes-Benz Stadium [email protected]
678.420.7200 /// [email protected] /// ATLUTD.COM
@ATLUTD /AtlantaUnitedFC
HOME AWAY FIFA WINDOW FIRST GAME IN MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN
ATLANTA UNITED INAUGURAL SEASON
TABLE OF CONTENTS
{ATLANTA} UNITED
03 /// EXECUTIVE STAFF 107 /// HISTORICAL STATS
Arthur Blank .............................................................................................4 MLS Individual All-Time Leaders Through The 2016
Stephen Cannon ......................................................................................6 Regular Season ........................................................................108-112
Darren Eales .............................................................................................7 MLS Individual Single-Season Leaders In Games
(1996-2016) ...............................................................................112-114
Carlos Bocanegra....................................................................................8
MLS Individual Year-By-Year Leaders In Regular Season Games
Paul McDonough ....................................................................................9
(1996-2016) ...............................................................................114-121
Ann Rodriguez ......................................................................................10
MLS Individual All-Time Leaders In Postseason Games 121-125
Rob Geoffroy ...........................................................................................11
MLS Individual Single-Season Leaders In Postseason Games
Additional Executives ..........................................................................12 (1996-2016) .............................................................................125-126
MLS Individual Year-By-Year Leaders In Postseason Games
13 /// TECHNICAL STAFF (1996-2016) ..............................................................................127-132
Gerardo Martino ..................................................................................14

Assistants & Technical Staff ......................................................15-18 133 /// U.S. OPEN CUP
About the U.S. Open Cup ....................................................134-135
19 /// PLAYERS

Player Bios ...................................................................................20-62 137 /// ABOUT ATL UTD
Historical Timeline ................................................................138-139
63 /// ACADEMY All-Time Transactions ...........................................................140-141
Academy Technical Staff .........................................................64-65 Facilities: Mercedes-Benz Stadium ..................................142-143
U17-18 Roster ........................................................................................66 Facilities: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Facility ...144
U16-15 Roster ........................................................................................67 Facilities: Bobby Dodd Stadium ........................................145-146
U14 Roster .............................................................................................68 The Atlanta United Foundation ....................................................147
U13 Roster .............................................................................................69 Supporters Groups ...........................................................................148
U12 Roster .............................................................................................70 USL/Charleston Battery..................................................................149
Charleston Battery Schedule ........................................................150
Staff Directory ..........................................................................151-152
71 /// MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
About MLS ....................................................................................72-79
2016 Season Totals ...................................................................80-85
2017 Season Opponents ........................................................86-105
INAUGURAL SEASON /// 1

EXECUTIVE STAFF
F
F
A
T a newly-created company hours of personal volun-
S
E also owned by AMB Group, teer time. Blank is applying
V
TI and be home to the Falcons the same business acumen
CU and Atlanta United. and values in building his
E
X competitive, successful and
E
While diverse in nature, all community-oriented busi-
of Blank’s businesses are nesses today.
run based on a common set
F
F of core values, which focus Blank is also dedicated
A
AL ST ARTHUR M. orenl atidoenvsehlioppsi,n gt reacutisntgo maes-r tToh rohuisg h owhni s givgiennge robsaictky.,
C
NI BLANK sociates with respect, and The Arthur M. Blank Fam-
H supporting communities. ily Foundation has granted
C
E more than $300 million to
T Owner & Chairman
Blank is widely known in support early childhood de-
the business community velopment, education, the
S for his success in build- arts, and parks and green-
R
YE Arthur M. Blank is own- ing the world’s largest space. The foundation also
A
L er of Atlanta United home improvement re- leads giving programs for
P
FC, Atlanta’s first Major tailer. He co-founded The each of the for-profit busi-
League Soccer team award- Home Depot in 1978 and nesses in Blank’s portfolio.
Y ed by the league on April 16, retired from the company
M
E 2014. Alongside Minneso- as co-chairman in 2001. At Blank is recognized
D
A ta United, the two expan- the time of his retirement, throughout the country
C
A sion teams join MLS for the The Home Depot was a for his personal and pro-
2017 season, bringing the component of the Dow fessional achievements. In
league’s total to 22 teams. Jones Industrial Average 2012, he received an hon-
S
L and one of Fortune mag- orary degree of Doctor of
M
Perhaps best known as azine’s “Global Most Ad- Laws from the University of
co-founder of The Home mired Companies.” During Georgia. In 2011, Blank was
Depot, Arthur Blank’s Fam- Blank’s last year as CEO of the recipient of the Free-
S
AT ily of Businesses portfo- the company, The Home ing Voices, Changing Lives
T
S lio currently includes the Depot ranked first in social Award from the American
L
A Atlanta Falcons; Atlanta responsibility in an annual Institute for Stuttering. In
C
RI United; PGA TOUR Super- survey conducted by Har- 2010, he was presented the
TO store; The Arthur M. Blank ris Interactive, Inc. Four Pillar Award – repre-
S
HI Family Foundation; Moun- senting the principles of
tain Sky Guest Ranch; AMB Blank believes in the im- quality, responsibility, vi-
West, LLC; and AMB Group, portance of making a dif- sion and integrity – by the
P the parent company of his ference – professionally Council for Quality Growth.
U
C for-profit businesses. Blank and personally. In addition
N
E and the Falcons, in partner- to the company’s finan- In 2008, he received an
P
O ship with the city of Atlanta cial success, during his 23 honorary Doctor of Humane
S. and state of Georgia, are the years with The Home De- Letters degree from the
U.
private funders of the Mer- pot the company donated University of South Carolina
cedes-Benz Stadium, which more than $113 million to Beaufort, and in 2006 he
will open in 2017. The stadi- communities, and Home was named Distinguished
D
T um will be operated by Atlan- Depot associates provided American by the Walter
U
L ta Falcons Stadium Company, hundreds of thousands of Camp Football Foundation,
T
A
T
U
O
AB 4 /// ATLANTA UNITED
E
X
E
which every year recognizes orary degree of Doctor of ory University’s Goizueta C
U
an individual who has Laws in 1998. Business School as its first T
IV
utilized his or her talents Distinguished Executive in E
to attain great success Recognizing the long-time Residence. He now serves ST
A
in business, private life support from Blank and as a Goizueta Executive F
F
or public service. Also in his businesses for the U.S. Fellow. Blank also served
2006, Blank was inducted Military, the Georgia Na- as the 2003 Chairman of
into the Junior Achievement tional Guard named Blank the Metro Atlanta Cham-
T
U.S. Business Hall of the Honorary Regiment ber of Commerce. E
C
Fame, and was awarded Commander of the Georgia H
N
an honorary degree of Army National Guard In- A native of Flushing, N.Y., IC
A
Doctor of Humanities from fantry Regiment. Blank will Blank received a B.S. De- L
S
Furman University. In 2005, serve in this position for two gree in Business Admin- T
A
he was named National years and is the first civilian istration with Distinction F
F
Entrepreneur of the Year by to hold this honorary title. from Babson College,
Ernst & Young. where he was active in a
In 2016, Sports Business wide variety of extracurric- P
L
In 2003, for the second Journal named Blank one ular activities. AY
E
time in three years – and of the 50 Most Influential R
S
the only time in the publi- People in Sports in recog- Arthur and Angie Blank’s
cation’s 30-year history – nition of his influence and marriage in June of 2016
Blank was named Georgia’s work across the sports and brought together their re- A
C
Most Respected CEO by business industries. spective families, includ- A
D
Georgia Trend magazine, ing nine children and five E
M
and in 2002 he was in- Blank serves on the Board grandchildren. Y
ducted into Georgia State of Trustees of The Carter
University’s Business Hall Center, Inc.; The Board of Consistent with the way he
M
of Fame. Among other pre- Trustees of The Cooper approaches work and life, L
S
vious honors, Babson Col- Institute; and the Board of his favorite T-shirt appro-
lege inducted Blank into its Trustees of The First Tee. priately reads, “There is no
Academy of Distinguished finish line.”
H
Entrepreneurs in 1995 and In September 2001, Blank IS
T
conferred on him an hon- joined the faculty of Em- O
R
IC
A
L
S
T
A
T
S
U
.S
. O
P
E
N
C
U
P
A
B
O
U
T
A
T
L
U
INAUGURAL SEASON /// 5 TD
F
F
A
T and chief executive officer of the M-Class, the first Mer-
S
E Mercedes-Benz USA (MBU- cedes-Benz SUV ever made
V
TI SA) and was responsible in, and for this market. Fol-
CU for leading operations that lowing his time in Germany,
E
X generated record sales with Cannon served as director of
E
annual revenues exceed- marketing for Debis Finan-
ing $20 billion. During his cial Services (later Daimler
tenure, MBUSA achieved a Financial Services). He also
F
F first-ever No. 1 ranking on served as principal for The
A
AL ST STEPHEN tishfea cAtmioner Iincadne xC aunsdto wmaesr aSlasto- Rlaircgheasrtd isn dGerpoeunpd, eonnt ef uollf- stehre-
C
NI CANNON lauded as one of the best vice advertising agencies
H places to work by Fortune in the U.S. before re-joining
C
E Magazine five years in a row. MBUSA in 2007 where he
T
CEO, AMB Group
Cannon oversaw MBUSA’s served as the vice president
successful headquarters of marketing for MBUSA
S relocation from New Jersey from June 2007 until he was
R
E Steve Cannon was named to the metro Atlanta area, in promoted to president and
Y
LA chief executive officer addition to crafting a sports CEO in 2012.
P
of AMB Group, LLC Dec. 21, sponsorship strategy that
2015, assuming the day-to- closely aligned the premium Cannon graduated with hon-
Y day leadership of the com- brand with properties reflec- ors from the United States
M
E pany’s for-profit businesses. tive of its category leader- Military Academy at West
D
A Cannon leads all business ship and brand position. Point (B.S., Economics). He
C
A operations of the National is Airborne Ranger qualified
Football League’s Atlan- Cannon began his auto- and served as 1st Lieutenant
ta Falcons; Atlanta United motive career in 1991 as in West Germany during
S
L of Major League Soccer; executive assistant to the the fall of the Iron Curtain.
M
Atlanta Falcons Stadium president and CEO of Mer- During his time in the Army,
Company, the developer of cedes-Benz of North Amer- he also served five years as
Mercedes-Benz Stadium; ica (predecessor to MBU- an artillery officer.
S
AT PGA TOUR Superstore; and SA). From there, he moved
T
S Mountain Sky Guest Ranch. to Stuttgart, Germany and
L
A joined a small team tasked
C
RI Prior to joining AMB Group, with the development, man-
TO Cannon served as president ufacturing and launch of
S
HI
P
U
C
N
E
P
O
S.
U.
D
T
U
L
T
A
T
U
O
AB 6 /// ATLANTA UNITED
E
X
E
qualified for European compe- captain Carlos Bocanegra C
U
tition every season, reached as technical director, former T
IV
the quarterfinals of the UEFA FC Barcelona and Argentine E
Champions League in 2011, and National Team manager Ge- ST
A
reached the quarterfinals of the rardo “Tata” Martino as head F
F
UEFA Europa League in 2013. coach, and former Orlando
City SC general manager
A barrister specializing in Paul McDonough as director T
sports law, Eales has legal ex- of soccer operations. EC
DARREN perience in a variety of areas HN
from intellectual property and Raised by his father as a Ches- ICA
EALES employment to contractual terfield FC fan, Eales has been L S
issues and dispute resolution. immersed in soccer all his life. TA
President While at Tottenham, he served After playing in the Academy FF
on numerous high-profile soc-
at Cambridge United FC in
cer governing bodies and
England, he moved to the
Atlanta United announced panels across Europe and US on a soccer scholarship, PL
the appointment of Dar- within England. Prior to join- spending one year at West AYE
ren Eales as President on Sept. ing Tottenham in 2010, Eal- R
Virginia University before S
10, 2014. He joined the club es served as in-house legal
transferring to Brown Univer-
several months later, following counsel, director and club
sity. At Brown, he went on to
a transition period with Totten- secretary at West Bromwich A
become Ivy League Player of C
ham Hotspur Football Club, a Albion Football Club for four A
the Year, NSCAA First-Team D
world-renowned English Pre- years. West Brom is recog- All-America, COSIDA Aca- EM
mier League team. nized within the Premier League Y
demic All-American of the
as a well-run and financially
Year and USA Today Student
A former Ivy League Player of the stable club.
Athlete of the Year, before M
Year, NSCAA All-America and L
graduating with a degree in S
U.S. professional soccer player, In Atlanta, Eales has already
economics. In 2012, he was
British-born Eales previous- mirrored his extensive experi-
inducted into the Brown Uni-
ly served as executive director ence at Tottenham, including H
at Tottenham. In this role, he new facility development and versity Athletics Hall of Fame. IS
T
touched on all major aspects community involvement. After O
R
of soccer operations, including having participated in the final Following his university play, IC
Eales remained in the US, play- A
the club’s overall soccer strate- planning stages for Totten- L
ing for the Hampton Roads S
gy, succession planning, player ham’s state-of-the-art training T
A
acquisitions, performance anal- ground, which opened in 2012, Mariners and Hershey Wild- TS
ysis, first team administration, Eales has led the club’s develop- cats in the USISL and the New
player development, academy ment of its $60 million training York Centaurs in the A-League.
and medical supervision. facility in Marietta. Slated to When injuries cut short his U
open in April, it will be one of professional playing career, .S. O
While at Tottenham, Eales the top training facilities in MLS. he returned to England and P
E
helped to negotiate and execute earned a MA in Law at Cam- N
C
all player transfers, including Eales has also spearheaded bridge University. In 2000, U
P
playing a key role in the 2013 the club’s on-field progres- he qualified as a barrister, and
world record transfer fee sale sion, hiring three integral then spent six years practic-
of Gareth Bale to Real Ma- members to join the tech- ing law at 2 Temple Gardens
A
drid. During Eales’ four-year nical staff, including former Chambers in London, where B
O
tenure with Spurs, the team U.S. Men’s National Team he is still a door tenant. U
T
A
T
L
U
INAUGURAL SEASON /// 7 TD
F
F
A
T career in professional soc- club and country simulta-
S
E cer. Thanks to his diverse neously. Following his time
V
TI playing career, ranging with Fulham, Bocanegra
CU from the highest levels of moved to France’s Ligue 1
E
X club and international soc- where he played for Rennes
E
cer, Bocanegra has helped and Saint-Etienne until he
identify and recruit Atlanta
joined Rangers of the Scot-
United’s inaugural roster,
F tish Premier League until
F which features 14 players
A 2013. In July 2013, he of-
L ST CARLOS oexuptseirdieen ocfe MinL Sa wcohuo nhtrayv’es ficially returned to MLS to
NICA BOCANEGRA top division. pfilnaiys hfeodr hCish ivcaasre, ewr hheorled inhge
H
C the all-time record for most
E A California native, Bo-
T Technical Director international goals scored
canegra attended colle-
giate soccer powerhouse by a U.S. defender.
S UCLA and was drafted by
R
E Carlos Bocanegra was the Chicago Fire as the No. Bocanegra was selected to
Y
LA named technical direc- 4 overall pick in the 2000 the 2006 and 2010 FIFA
P tor of Atlanta United FC on MLS Superdraft. Starting World Cup teams where he
March 2, 2015. Along with in his first year as a profes- appeared in six matches.
Y President Darren Eales, Bo- sional, Bocanegra helped He’s tied for 10th all-time
M
E canegra oversees day-to- lead Chicago to the 2000 in U.S. Soccer history with
D
A day non-coaching soccer MLS Cup final and two La- 110 caps, and is tied among
C
A operations of the first team, mar Hunt U.S. Open Cup U.S. players for career
including development and championships in 2000 World Cup qualifying ap-
implementation of a world- and 2003. He won the MLS
pearances with 31. He also
MLS wide scouting network and Rookie of the Year Award in helped lead the U.S. to two
oversight of player wellness 2000 and quickly became
Gold Cup victories in 2002
and rehabilitation. one of the top MLS defend-
and 2007 and he scored an
ers, winning back to back
S impressive 14 goals during
T Former captain of the Unit- MLS Defender of the Year
STA ed States Men’s Nation- Awards in 2002 and 2003. his international career. He
L al Team for six seasons, served as captain for the
A
RIC two-time Major League In 2004, he signed with En- U.S. team 64 times during
O Soccer Defender of the glish Premier League club his international career on
T
S Year and 2010 World Cup Fulham where he played the backline, and he played
HI
team captain, Bocanegra four seasons during which under elite coaches includ-
retired from play in 2014 he became one of the few ing Bruce Arena, Bob Brad-
P after an esteemed 15-year U.S. players to captain both ley and Jurgen Klinsmann.
U
C
N
E
P
O
S.
U.
D
T
U
L
T
A
T
U
O
AB 8 /// ATLANTA UNITED