The 2018 Atlanta United FC season was the second season of Atlanta United FC's existence, and the tenth year that a professional soccer club from Atlanta, Georgia competed in the top division of American soccer. Atlanta played their home matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and were coached by Gerardo "Tata" Martino. Outside of MLS, the team participated in the 2018 U.S. Open Cup and the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs, as well as various preseason competitions.
On November 17, 2017, Atlanta United announced the launch of a reserve team, Atlanta United 2, to play in what is currently named the USL Championship at the start of the 2018 season.
With a win over Chicago Fire on October 21, Atlanta qualified for the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League by having the best aggregate record across the 2017 and 2018 MLS seasons. The club later qualified for the competition by winning MLS Cup 2018, so their previously held spot was allocated to the team with the second best aggregate record, New York Red Bulls.
Club
Squad no. Name Nationality Position(s) Date of birth (age) Previous club Apps Goals Goalkeepers 1 Brad Guzan (3rd Captain) GK Middlesbrough 53 0 25 Alec Kann GK Sporting Kansas City 23 0 27 Mitch Hildebrandt GK FC Cincinnati 0 0 33 Paul Christensen GK University of Portland 1 0 Defenders 2 Franco Escobar RB Newell's Old Boys 28 3 3 Michael Parkhurst (Captain) CB Columbus Crew 72 0 4 Greg Garza LB Tijuana 42 3 5 Leandro González Pírez CB Estudiantes 73 2 12 Miles Robinson (GA) CB Syracuse University 15 0 13 José Hernández LB Caracas 1 0 14 Sal Zizzo RB New York Red Bulls 8 0 16 Chris McCann LB Wigan Athletic 50 1 21 George Bello (HGP) LB Atlanta United Academy 3 1 22 Mikey Ambrose LB Orlando City SC 20 0 Midfielders 6 Darlington Nagbe AM Portland Timbers 28 0 8 Ezequiel Barco (DP) AM Independiente 33 5 10 Miguel Almirón (DP) LW Lanús 70 22 11 Eric Remedi DM Banfield 18 1 15 Héctor Villalba RW San Lorenzo 69 21 18 Jeff Larentowicz (Vice Captain) DM LA Galaxy 73 2 20 Chris Goslin (HGP) AM Atlanta United Academy 1 0 23 Lagos Kunga (HGP) LW Atlanta United Academy 1 0 24 Julian Gressel AM Providence College 75 10 28 Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu AM Harvard University 4 0 30 Andrew Carleton (HGP) RW Atlanta United Academy 11 1 32 Kevin Kratz CM Philadelphia Union 52 4 Forwards 7 Josef Martínez (DP) ST Torino 61 55 9 Romario Williams CF Montreal Impact 19 2 19 Brandon Vazquez CF Tijuana 25 3 Players out on loan 26 Jon Gallagher RW University of Notre Dame 0 0 29 Oliver Shannon MF Clemson University 0 0 31 Patrick Okonkwo (HGP) CF Atlanta United Academy 0 0 — Gordon Wild (GA) FW University of Maryland 0 0
International roster slots Atlanta had seven International Roster Slots at the end of the 2018 season. Josef Martínez occupied an International Roster Slot until July 9, when he received a green card, making him a domestic player for MLS roster purposes. Jon Gallagher occupied an International Roster Slot until August 19, when he was sent on loan to Atlanta United 2 and José Hernández was recalled from the second team to replace Gallagher.
+Atlanta United International Roster Slots Slot Player Country1Franco Escobar Argentina2Leandro González Pírez Argentina3Ezequiel Barco Argentina4Miguel Almirón Paraguay5Julian Gressel Germany6Eric Remedi Argentina7José Hernández Venezuela
Results
Non-competitive
Friendlies
Carolina Challenge Cup
Competitive
Major League Soccer
League tables
Eastern Conference
Overall
Results summary
Results by round
Matches
MLS Cup Playoffs
U.S. Open Cup
Statistics
Top scorers
PlacePositionNameTotal1FW Josef Martínez3140352MF Miguel Almirón1210133MF Héctor Villalba71084MF Ezequiel Barco40155MF Julian Gressel40046DF Franco Escobar12037MF Kevin Kratz2002FW Romario Williams10129DF George Bello1001MF Andrew Carleton0011DF Greg Garza1001DF Leandro González Pírez1001MF Jeff Larentowicz1001DF Chris McCann1001MF Eric Remedi0101Own Goals3003Total 70 9 3 82
Disciplinary record
No. Pos. Name MLS MLS Cup Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Total 1 GK Brad Guzan 3 1 3 1 2 DF Franco Escobar 7 1 8 3 DF Michael Parkhurst 6 6 4 DF Greg Garza 2 1 2 1 5 DF Leandro González Pírez 7 1 1 1 9 1 7 FW Josef Martínez 1 1 2 8 MF Ezequiel Barco 2 2 9 FW Romario Williams 4 4 10 MF Miguel Almirón 4 4 11 MF Eric Remedi 3 1 4 12 DF Miles Robinson 1 1 15 MF Héctor Villalba 5 1 6 16 MF Chris McCann 6 1 7 18 MF Jeff Larentowicz 6 6 22 DF Mikey Ambrose 1 1 24 MF Julian Gressel 3 3 Total 59127001006712
Player movement
In No.Pos.PlayerTransferred fromTypeUSFee/notesDateSource 31 ST Patrick Okonkwo Atlanta United Academy Transfer US Signed as a Homegrown Player (HGP) June 17, 2017 21 DF George Bello Atlanta United Academy Transfer US Signed as a Homegrown Player (HGP) June 17, 2017 23 MF Lagos Kunga Atlanta United Academy Transfer US Signed as a Homegrown Player (HGP) June 17, 2017 4 DF Greg Garza Tijuana Transfer US Undisclosed November 29, 2017 27 GK Mitch Hildebrandt FC Cincinnati Transfer US Free December 1, 2017 2 DF Franco Escobar Newell's Old Boys Transfer Non-US Undisclosed December 8, 2017 13 DF José Hernández Caracas Transfer Non-US Undisclosed December 13, 2017 6 MF Darlington Nagbe Portland Timbers Trade US Included in multi-person trade. December 13, 2017 — DF Gbenga Arokoyo Portland Timbers Trade Non-US Included in multi-person trade. December 13, 2017 9 ST Romario Williams Charleston Battery Loan Return US Free December 31, 2017 — ST Jeffrey Otoo Charleston Battery Loan Return Non-US Free December 31, 2017 8 MF Ezequiel Barco Independiente Transfer Non-US $15 Million January 19, 2018 26 FW Jon Gallagher University of Notre Dame Draft Non-US Free January 19, 2018 — FW Gordon Wild University of Maryland Draft Non-US Free January 19, 2018 14 DF Sal Zizzo New York Red Bulls Transfer US Free January 30, 2018 29 MF Oliver Shannon Clemson University Draft Non-US Free February 21, 2018 11 MF Eric Remedi Banfield Transfer Non-US Undisclosed; Required TAM June 26, 2018
SuperDraft picks Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only trades involving draft picks and executed after the start of 2018 MLS SuperDraft will be listed in the notes. Atlanta had four selections in the draft.
Round Selection Player Position College Status 1 14 Jon Gallagher FW Notre Dame Non-US 2 36 Oliver Shannon MF Clemson Non-US 37 Gordon Wild FW Maryland Non-US 4 70 Paul Christensen GK Portland US
Loan in
No.Pos.PlayerLoaned fromUSStartEndSource33GK Atlanta United 2USMay 4, 2018May 8, 2018May 8, 2018May 10, 201834FW Atlanta United 2USJune 5, 2018June 9, 2018
Out Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed. No.Pos.PlayerTransferred toTypeUSFee/notesDateSource 21 DF Mark Bloom Free Agent Option Declined US Free November 20, 2017 12 DF Bobby Boswell Free Agent Contract Expired US Free November 20, 2017 9 FW Kenwyne Jones Sporting Kansas City Option Declined US Free November 20, 2017 27 DF Zach Loyd Free Agent Option Declined US Free November 20, 2017 2 DF Tyrone Mears Minnesota United FC Option Declined Non-US Free November 20, 2017 — FW Jeffrey Otoo Free Agent Option Declined Non-US Free November 20, 2017 25 GK Kyle Reynish Fresno FC Contract Expired US Free November 20, 2017 23 GK Alexandros Tabakis Sporting Kansas City Option Declined US Free November 20, 2017 13 MF Harrison Heath Minnesota United FC Trade US Received 2019 fourth-round pick December 10, 2017 26 DF Anton Walkes Tottenham Hotspur Loan Return Non-US Free December 31, 2017 11 MF Yamil Asad Vélez Sarsfield Loan Return Non-US Free December 31, 2017 14 MF Carlos Carmona Colo-Colo Transfer Non-US Undisclosed January 30, 2018 29 MF Jacob Peterson Free Agent Waived US Free January 29, 2018 — DF Gbenga Arokoyo Kalmar FF Transfer Non-US Free January 31, 2018
Loan out No.Pos.PlayerLoaned toStartEndSource31FW Charleston BatteryFebruary 17, 2018October 20, 2018—FW Charleston BatteryFebruary 17, 2018October 20, 201829MF Atlanta United 2February 17, 2018October 13, 201813DF Atlanta United 2July 15, 2018August 19, 201826FW Atlanta United 2August 19, 2018October 13, 2018
Due to a surplus of players under contract that required an International Roster Slot, Oliver Shannon was loaned to Atlanta United 2 for the full 2018 season. In addition, as part of Eric Remedi's incoming transfer, José Hernández was officially loaned to Atlanta United 2. Neither player could be recalled to the first team without an additional corresponding roster transaction. Players on the first team roster were able play for the second team without restriction.
On August 19, Hernández was in the matchday squad for the first team's match against the Columbus Crew. In order for this to be in compliance with league roster rules, Atlanta had to send forward Jon Gallagher on loan to Atlanta United 2 for the rest of the season and recall Hernández from the second team.
Non-player transfers
AcquiredFromForSource2018 Fourth Round Pick Los Angeles FCInternational roster slot - 20182018 Second Round Pick Sporting Kansas City2021 Fourth Round PickUp to $600K in TAM ($500K minimum) D.C. UnitedDiscovery rights for Yamil Asad$50K in GAM New York Red BullsDiscovery rights for Kaku
Honors
Weekly / monthly
MLS player of the month Month Player Stats Ref April Miguel Almirón 4 GP, 5 G, 2 A July Josef Martínez 5 GP, 9 G, 1 A August Josef Martínez (2) 4 GP, 4 G, 1 A
MLS team / player / coach of the week
Week Team of the week Player of the week Coach of the week Ref Starting XI Bench2 Julian Gressel Miguel Almirón3 Josef Martínez Julian Gressel (2) Josef Martínez5 Michael Parkhurst6 Julian Gressel (3) Michael Parkhurst (2) Miguel Almirón (2) Gerardo Martino7 Miguel Almirón (3)8 Miguel Almirón (4)9 Miguel Almirón (5) Kevin Kratz Ezequiel Barco Miguel Almirón10 Miguel Almirón (6)11 Jeff Larentowicz14 Miguel Almirón (7) Josef Martínez (2) Josef Martínez (2)15 Brad Guzan16 Michael Parkhurst (3) Jeff Larentowicz (2) Josef Martínez (3) Gerardo Martino (2)17 Julian Gressel (4)18 Miguel Almirón (8)19 Leandro González Pírez Josef Martínez (4)21 Josef Martínez (5) Josef Martínez (3)22 Josef Martínez (6)23 Josef Martínez (7) Jeff Larentowicz (3)25 Héctor Villalba26 Josef Martínez (8) Josef Martínez (4)29 Miguel Almirón (9) Julian Gressel (5) Leandro González Pírez (2)30 Miguel Almirón (10) Julian Gressel (6) Héctor Villalba (2) Josef Martínez (9)32 George Bello Héctor Villalba (3)34 Franco EscobarPostseason Miguel Almirón (11) Franco Escobar (2) Leandro González Pírez (3) Josef Martínez (10) Not awarded
MLS goal of the week Week Player Ref2 Miguel Almirón3 Josef Martínez9 Kevin Kratz10 Ezequiel Barco15 Josef Martínez (2)19 Héctor Villalba26 Josef Martínez (3)30 Héctor Villalba (2)
Annual
Honor Player Ref MLS MVP Josef Martínez MLS Cup MVP Josef Martínez MLS Best XI Miguel Almirón Josef Martínez MLS Golden Boot Josef Martínez MLS Coach of the Year Gerardo Martino MLS All-Star Game Miguel Almirón Ezequiel Barco Brad Guzan Josef Martínez Darlington Nagbe Michael Parkhurst MLS All-Star Game MVP Josef Martínez
References