Atlanta United FC Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra has been removed from his position, effective immediately, the team announced Wednesday.
Team president and CEO Garth Lagerwey, who has experience building teams after serving as general manager at Real Salt Lake and the Seattle Sounders, will take over Bocanegra's duties.
Beginning in 2015, Bocanegra was part of the executive team (a group that eventually included president Darren Eales, vice president of soccer operations Paul McDonough and former head coach Gerardo Martino) that helped Atlanta get off to a flying start in MLS, with the Five Stripes claiming the 2018 MLS Cup title.
That was one of three trophies the organization won in its first three years of existence.
But the following years proved more difficult, as Bocanegra spearheaded a player recruitment strategy that included some highly sought-after players who failed to live up to expectations, including Ezequiel Barco and Santiago Sosa. This coincided with a period in which Atlanta failed to make the postseason in two of the last four seasons.
There was also an expectation that Lagerwey, who joined the club in 2022, would eventually make his own choice for that role.
“We are deeply grateful for Carlos' dedication and success over the past nine years with Atlanta United,” Lagerwey said in a club statement.
“However, I believe it is time for our club to move in a new direction. While we will continue to fight for a playoff spot down the stretch of the season, this gives us a blank slate and a runway to properly evaluate all vacancies in our football operation ahead of what will be an extremely important offseason for our club.”
