Atlanta United appointed Ronny Deila as its new head coach Friday, bringing the Norwegian manager back to Major League Soccer where he previously led New York City FC to the 2021 MLS Cup title.
Deila signed a contract that runs through the 2027 MLS season. He will report directly to club President and CEO Garth Lagerwey.
The 49-year-old brings a stocked trophy cabinet to Atlanta, having won six major titles across multiple countries, including four league championships and two domestic cups during his 17-year coaching career.
“We believe his style of play aligns with the club’s philosophy as we look to build a team that will compete for trophies consistently,” Lagerwey said.
Deila’s most recent position was with Al-Wahda in the United Arab Emirates Pro League, where he compiled a 5-2-3 record. Before that, he managed Club Brugge in Belgium’s top division, posting a 28-10-11 record and averaging 1.94 points per game until his dismissal in March 2024.
His path to Atlanta includes successful stops at several high-profile clubs. At Celtic FC in Scotland, Deila secured back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles in 2015 and 2016, along with the 2015 Scottish League Cup.
During his tenure with NYCFC from 2020 to 2022, he compiled a 46-29-15 record and led the club to its first MLS Cup championship in 2021.
Deila’s coaching career began in his native Norway, where he first made his mark with Strømsgodset. Taking over in 2008, he guided the club to the 2010 Norwegian Cup and, most notably, their first league title in 43 years in 2013.
“This is a club with great ownership, excellent facilities, and the ambition to succeed and continue to drive the league forward,” Deila said. “I’m happy to return to MLS, a competitive league that I enjoy.”
Before transitioning to coaching, Deila enjoyed a 20-year playing career in Norway as a defender, making 352 professional appearances and scoring 32 goals. He spent the majority of his playing days with Odd, where he made 240 appearances and scored 22 goals between 1993 and 2004.
Atlanta United won the MLS Cup in 2018.