Atlanta United FC a mess less than two years after winning MLS championship

AP file photo by Curtis Compton / Atlanta United FC's Jeff Larentowicz, a veteran midfielder, said everyone on the team "kind of needs to look at themselves and recalibrate" after the roughest stretch the team has experience since debuting in the 2017 MLS season. AP file photo by Curtis Compton / Atlanta United FC's Jeff Larentowicz, a veteran midfielder, said everyone on the team "kind of needs to look at themselves and recalibrate" after the roughest stretch the team has experience since debuting in the 2017 MLS season.

By PAUL NEWBERRY / The Associated Press August 21, 2020 5 min read

ATLANTA – The first three seasons went so smoothly for Atlanta United FC.

Championships. Trophies. Record crowds.

Sure, there were a few hiccups along the way, but the club quickly established itself as one of Major League Soccer’s flagship franchises, a model that was held up to others as the way to do things the proper way.

Which is why the current state of affairs is so shocking.

Atlanta hasn’t won a game – or even scored a goal – in more than five months. A four-game losing streak over all competitions is the longest in team history. An interim coach is now running the team.