Deila has MLS experience. He managed NYCFC from 2020-22 and won MLS Cup in 2021. Deila was fired by UAE club Al Wahda on Wednesday.

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Deila, 49, led NYCFC to the title and a record of 46-29-15 before leaving to join Standard Liege in Belgium. He went from Liege to Club Brugge, leading it to the Belgian title in 2023-24, before going to Saudi Arabia.

Before NYCFC, Deila led Odd in his native Norway to the Norwegian Football Cup in 2020, Strømsgodset to the Cup in 2010 and league title in 2013, and Celtic in Scotland to the league title in 2014-15, and 2015-16, and league cup in 2014-15.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ronny as the new head coach of Atlanta United,” Lagerwey said in a statement provided by the club. “He has a proven track record of winning in multiple leagues around the world, including the 2021 MLS Cup with NYCFC, and his knowledge of MLS was a key factor in our search. 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.”

Deila will manage a club that is solid but has room to improve with a multi-million dollar purse that it’s not limited to.

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Atlanta United has two Designated Player slots open but a lot of solid pieces. Returning from a team that knocked off Inter Miami in last year’s playoffs are goalkeeper and captain Brad Guzan, starting centerbacks Stian Gregersen, Derrick Williams and Luis Abram, fullbacks Brooks Lennon, who will miss the beginning of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, and Pedro Amador, midfielders Bartosz Slisz, Tristan Muyumba, Jay Fortune and Alexey Miranchuk, wingers Saba Lobjanidze and Xande Silva, and striker Jamal Thiare. The team acquired midfielder Mateusz Klich in a trade Friday morning.

Atlanta United also is undergoing a $23 million expansion of its training facility.

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