Atlanta United Report Cards: Frank de Boer

It’s no secret that Frank de Boer and his team went through a great deal of issues this season. Early season results were not up to Atlanta’s standards and issues between de Boer and his squad became public knowledge (which is never a good thing). De Boer and his players righted the ship towards the end of the season, but did the turn around just paper over the cracks?

Atlanta Managerial Record: 47 games (28-15-4)

Trophies Won: U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup

What went right this season?

De Boer saved his job in Atlanta towards the end of the 2019 season by winning two trophies, even if those trophies weren’t the ultimate goal that the club set out to achieve prior to the start of the season. Expecting a new manager to come in and start winning every game and available trophy in the circumstances that Atlanta was in (losing Almiron, schedule congestion, etc.) would be ludicrous, but de Boer admittedly didn’t do himself any favors, either. De Boer eventually made the necessary changes and the result was an Atlanta United team that finished the year on a higher note than anyone would have imagined earlier in the season.

What does he need to improve on?

On a few occasions, de Boer negatively stirred up his players and fans when speaking with the media. I’m not a fan of comparing everything about Frank de Boer to former manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino, but I can’t remember Tata inciting trouble in the media on so many occasions.

De Boer also needs to work on rotating his players more effectively. As the roster continues to undergo change during the off season, de Boer will have a voice as to what type of players are brought into the club, a luxury he didn’t have when he first came to Atlanta.

Overall grade: B