De Boer finds Southern comfort

Hard-luck coach takes reins of MLS champion Atlanta

MARIETTA, Georgia - Frank de Boer was fired by Inter Milan after less than three months on the job.

He lasted just four Premier League games at Crystal Palace.

Now, after two short-lived coaching stints, de Boer has a chance to revive his career in the Deep South with the champion of Major League Soccer.

The longtime stalwart of the Dutch national team has taken over at Atlanta United, which won the MLS Cup in just its second season in the league.

De Boer said it is a shot at redemption, while also stressing that his chances of success are much greater in North America.

"Of course, you have to learn from your mistakes, but also about organizations that aren't good and organized and structured like Atlanta United," he said at a Monday media conference at the team's suburban training facility.

De Boer spoke disparagingly of his two previous employers, Inter and Palace, adding: "There was no cohesion between all the departments. Everything was separate. Now, we have a feeling, 'OK, I don't have to look around for the dead body in the closet or behind the closet.' Everything is very clear and structured."

The former Barcelona and Ajax defender represented his country 112 times on the field, memorably delivering a sublime 60-yard pass to set up Dennis Bergkamp's winner against Argentina in the closing minutes of a 1998 World Cup quarterfinal.

He moved into coaching after his playing career ended, leading Amsterdam giant Ajax to a record four straight Dutch top-flight titles.

Taking over at Inter Milan in 2016, de Boer failed to match the success he had in his native country. The Italian club struggled in Serie A and the Europa League, leading to his firing on Nov 1 with the club mired in 12th place.

His tenure lasted just 85 days.

The following summer, de Boer was hired by Crystal Palace. Despite modest expectations - the south London team avoided relegation by just five points the previous season - he was quickly fired again after the Eagles became the first team in 93 years to lose its first four matches in the top flight without scoring.

Atlanta United is in a much different position, having quickly become MLS' flagship franchise on and off the field.

The team has a clear power structure led by owner Arthur Blank, team president Darren Eales and technical director Carlos Bocanegra - a setup that was appealing to de Boer.

"For me, that is so much easier," he said. "The five and a half seasons that I was working for Ajax as a head coach it cost me less energy than the eight months at Inter and Crystal Palace. I was already starting to get gray hairs."

De Boer certainly has some big shoes to fill.

In two years as United's coach, Tata Martino instilled an attacking style of play that was a big hit with the fans and hugely successful on the field.

The club averaged more than 53,000 per game this season, easily eclipsing its own record, and thrilled the city by capturing the MLS Cup championship in December.

Martino stepped down to take over as Mexico's national coach.

The expectations remain the same.

"Everybody expects a lot from Atlanta United," de Boer said. "That's normal when you're a champion."

De Boer's team is still a work in progress. MVP runner-up Miguel Almiron was expected to transfer to English Premier League struggler Newcastle during the January window, but no deal has been reached. The 24-year-old Paraguayan reported for the start of Atlanta's training camp on Monday.

River Plate star Pity Martinez announced last month he had a deal to come to Atlanta, supposedly as Almiron's replacement in midfield, but that's on hold for the moment.

United already has three designated players who are exempt from the salary cap: Almiron, record-setting scorer and league MVP Josef Martinez and 19-year-old Ezequiel Barco.

Less than six weeks removed from its MLS Cup triumph, Atlanta reported for camp to begin preparing for its first appearance in the CONCACAF Champions League.

The team opens with a home-and-home series against Costa Rican club Herediano late next month, just ahead of the MLS season opener.

Atlanta is eager to become the first MLS club to win the continental championship since the league format began in 2008. Mexican teams have won 10 straight titles, including Chivas' thrilling victory over Toronto FC last year that came down to penalty kicks.

"We need to have an MLS club win it," Eales said. "It would be great if that could be Atlanta United."

But pulling off a CONCACAF title, while also maintaining domestic success, presents a daunting challenge for the new coach. Toronto put its emphasis on winning the Champions League and wound up missing the MLS playoffs.

"We're not naive. We saw what happened to Toronto," Eales said. "It's going to be tough."

Associated Press