Garth Lagerwey Will Not Continue as CEO of Atlanta United
Garth Lagerwey will not continue as CEO of Atlanta United FC for next season, according to a club spokesperson. Lagerwey, 52, was diagnosed with cancer in July, which led him to take a leave of absence. Although he returned later in the season with limited functions, he took a second leave in October to focus on his recovery. The spokesperson added that a successor to Lagerwey is already being sought. The new CEO will take on an expanded role that will include overseeing both Atlanta United and the NWSL expansion team that was announced last month. The NWSL team will begin playing in 2028, and the organization will begin hiring staff in 2026. Lagerwey arrived at Atlanta United in 2022 after successfully leading Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders FC. The hope was that Lagerwey’s arrival would mark a new era in Atlanta, which had moved away from the initial success the team enjoyed in its first years in the league, winning the MLS Cup in 2018 and the U.S. Open Cup the following year.However, Lagerwey’s arrival did not stop Atlanta’s decline. Although the team had a brief recovery in 2023 and enjoyed a memorable playoff victory over Inter Miami in 2024, the team’s overall performance in the league continued to deteriorate, culminating in 14th place in the Eastern Conference this season, 25 points behind Orlando City for the last playoff spot.
This situation arises despite Atlanta remaining one of the teams that spends the most in the league. The most recent salary report from the MLS Players Association placed Atlanta in third place in the league, with a spending of $28.48 million. Atlanta boasts significant front office experience, with Chief Soccer Officer Chris Henderson, hired in December of last year, ready to handle roster construction duties alongside new coach Gerardo Martino. On the business side, the club has been led by Sarah Kate Noftsinger and Dimitrios Efstathiou.
