Tata Martino named MLS Coach of the Year

Today, the league announced that Atlanta United manager Tata Martino was named MLS Coach of the Year for the 2018 season.

In his second year with the Five Stripes, Martino’s team took the next step under his direction, finishing with the second highest point total in league history, and enjoying the league’s best ever road record. Known for employing an attacking style, the Argentine’s tactics paid dividends as Atlanta became the first club in MLS history to score over 70 goals in back-to-back seasons.

Martino won 33% of the vote, beating out LAFC’s Bob Bradley (22.3%), and Sporting KC’s Peter Vermes (11%), among others. He won the players vote with a whopping 46% and also won the club vote. Interestingly, it was Bradley who won the media vote with 31.5% to Martino’s 21%.

The accolade certainly solidifies Martino’s impact on Atlanta United, and all of MLS, for that matter. But with his team in the Eastern Conference Finals, there is still plenty of work left to do for “El Tata.”