Atlanta United FC: Hiring Frank de Boer as Coach a Gamble

Atlanta United FC has found the coach to replace Tata Martino and lead them on their quest to repeat as MLS champions. Frank de Boer of the Netherlands has been hired as the manager of the Five Stripes.

Frank de Boer comes to Atlanta United FC, having a decorated career as both a player and manager. Most of his playing experience took place as a defensive player with AFC Ajax. It is a club that plays out of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He won five championships as player in the top Dutch league.

The Ajax club Frank de Boer played for also won the KNVB cup twice. This is a tournament of all Dutch league champions. They win a UEFA Champions League title in the 1994-95 season, crowning them the world’s best soccer club for the season.

Frank de Boer also spent time with FC Barcelona in Spain, Galatasaray SK in Turkey and Rangers FC in Scotland. He finished his playing career with Al-Rayyan in Qatar. He had the privilege of playing the majority of his career alongside his twin brother Ronald de Boer.

Internationally Frank de Boer is one of the most decorated players in the history of the Netherlands National Team. He represented his country 112 times in his career. His teams reached the quarterfinals once and the semifinals twice in major tournaments such as the World Cup, during his international career.

As a manager Frank de Boer returned to Ajax, getting his start running their youth division for three years. In 2010 he was elevated to manager of the main club. De Boer went on to win an astounding four championships in six seasons. He was named manager of the year for the Netherlands in 2013.

Frank de Boer also managed for short stints of less than one year with Inter Milan in Italy and most recently, Crystal Palace FC out of London in 2017.

Frank de Boer certainly brings many positives. He has a winning pedigree, winning a 11 times as a player and manager combined.

De Boer’s early experience managing the Ajax youth club is also a plus. He is expected to be great for the development of young players such as 16-year-old George Bellows and 18-year-old Andrew Carleton. Carleton is a local product, who hails from Power Springs, GA.

Frank de Boer also likes to play an attacking style of soccer, that emphasizes possession of the ball. That should fit Atlanta United FC very well.

However there are a couple of reasons that hiring Frank de Boer is a gamble for the Five Stripes. The first reason the hiring is risky, is because de Boer has failed in his last two stints as a manager. He reportedly clashed with team management over player acquisitions for his system.

The fact that de Boer has lasted less than six months in each of his last two stops, is a potential red flag.

The other issue is, the Latin American pipeline that Atlanta United FC has taken advantage of under Tata Martino. Many of the Five Stripes’ best players hail from Latin American countries.

MLS MVP and single season goal scoring leader, Josef Martinez, MLS MVP runner-up Miguel Almiron and Ezequiel Barco, all originate from Latin American countries. That’s three of Atlanta’s six All Stars. Standouts Hector “Tito” Vialaba, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez and Franco Escobar are also Latin American born.

Under Gerardo “Tata” Martino, Atlanta United FC has become an attractive place for Latin America soccer players who are looking to hone their skills before chasing more lucrative contracts in Europe.

Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez of Argentina is rumored to be the next South American rising star to join the Five Stripes. Joe Hojnacki of SBI Soccer has the details in this article.

The Latin American players all respect and adore former coach Tata Martino. For that reason, it was widely speculated that Atlanta United FC would hire another coach of Latin decent.

It’s important for Frank de Boer to identify with the Latin American players and keep the South American pipeline flowing. He especially must connect with stars like Josef Martinez and young Ezequiel Barco.

Frank de Boer faces difficult expectations. Anything less than a second straight MLS Cup, will be a disappointment for the Five Stripes. However if he doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel concerning his new club’s style of play, and he is able to connect with the players, de Boer has a chance to add championship number twelve to his resume.

Josh Bouland of MLS Multiplex believes in Frank de Boer. He gives us three reasons de Boer is the next step to MLS dominance for the Five Stripes.

What are your thoughts on Atlanta United FC hiring Frank de Boer? Please leave your comments below. Atl All Day will have more on the Five Stripes offseason and all of the Atlanta sports teams that you love. Thank you for your support. Happy Holidays.