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Atlanta - On Monday Arthur Morris Blank Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE) introduced their new Atlanta City FC Chief Soccer Officer Richard Gunney to supporters via press conference. Gunney was hired on October 18.
Not much new was learned in this presser. Gunney was very corporate, very safe with his words. He frequently discussed collaboration, Arthur Blank, and how his experience will guide him. You could tell that he was very much an AMBSE employee already. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, just a continuation for the type of person that Arthur Blank will hire in this stage of his career.
Culebro detailed what Gunney’s role will be, which is to develop and implement the soccer strategy for Atlanta City. Mauricio detailed his accomplishments, adding that his former club Gotham FC just won the NWSL Shield, which, like the MLS supporter shield, is the award for most points in a season. Culebro did not detail the process used to identify and select Gunney, other than that it was collaborative. Below is a summary of the questions and answers provided by Gunney, condensed for clarity.
What will his game model look like for City?
He wants to see something entertaining, as that's in the name AMBSE. The model will be attacking and following the gameplay that he has developed over his 10 years in this league.
He blandly discussed the needs for a collaborative approach that connects the soccer and business teams. More specifically in NWSL, he discussed the transitional and athletic needs for players that balance an attacking and exciting team.
How will he identify players for the new team?
Gunney says successful teams always have a few strong USWNT players on the roster. He believes City will be a great partner for US soccer. from the Athletic focused on this topic more in his story.
Will the head coach have NWSL experience?
They don't have to. He brings that experience, and the coach will be the most qualified available to them from any background.
Will players be signed before the manager?
Probably. We can start signing players this winter. They intend to explore doing this. The players can be signed before the manager.
How important is the Latino market in bringing in new players?
All markets are important. They will not limit themselves to focus on any one market.
5 questions into the presser, the first woman is called on to ask one.
What role will Atlanta City play in the greater community it exists in.
Significant. 1The Renatas, an unofficial nickname we’re trialing for the team, will give back to the culture and give back to the community. Culebro added in how they intend to have a grassroots effort that engages young fans.
Without the college draft, how will that impact the recruitment process?
Gunney says that the draft has been a big part of his previous efforts at team building and expressed that signing players now and loaning players for a year will be a big part of the alternative strategy.
How will local Georgia talent be factored into the team building?
Georgia is the 4th top state in collegiate talent in NWSL. This will factor greatly into how they build.
What is important for expansion teams when starting, and what did he learn from the San Diego Wave rollout?
Being strategic and diligent in how they prepare. There are many demands for NWSL, including multiple competitions such as the Arthur Blank Crest Cup.
How will we balance rule changes coming in 2028 with the roster build?
He will lean on his prior experience in the NWSL. He seemed to say that he will oversee the salary cap management. Atlanta City has hired a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in Keith McCloat, whom we believed would have a similar role to Dimitrios Efstathiou, Atlanta United FC Senior VP of Strategy, in overseeing cap management.
Will sharing information between United and City be important?
Mauricio jumped in and said the teams will collaborate to represent two identities.
Will recruitment be data-driven?
Gunney states that his recruitment is always data informed and expert-led. He has been involved in scouting for more than a decade, and that gives him an insight that data cannot. As much information as possible will be used to collaborate and make decisions.
There you have it. Please let us know what you think of Gunney’s remarks in the comments or on the Atlanta United Fan TV discord.
Additional Coverage
Read about Gunney’s hiring and background here.
View the full Gunney press conference here.
Read about Mauricio Culebro’s introduction here
Read about Deandra Duggins (Chief Business Officer) here.
Read about Keith McCloat (Chief Financial Officer) here.
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