Atlanta United History: 2017-2018
January 11– ATL UTD acquires Miles Robinson from the University of Syracuse as the club's first-ever pick in the MLS SuperDraft. Robinson was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. The club also acquired German midfielder Julian Gressel.
January 25 - Goalkeeper Brad Guzan signs with Atlanta United from Middlesbrough. He would join the club in July after the conclusion of the 2016/17 Premier League season.
February 1 - The club signed Venezuelan striker Josef MartÃnez as a Designated Player originally on loan from Torino. He would become a permanent transfer in late March.
February 11 - Atlanta United play the club's first-ever match. A friendly away against Chattanooga FC in Chattanooga, Tennessee. ATL UTD won 4-0, with Tito Villalba scoring the club’s first-ever goal.
March 5 - Atlanta United make their MLS debut in front of more than 55,000 supporters at Bobby Dodd Stadium, as the club waited for the completion of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Argentine midfielder Yamil Asad scored the club’s first official goal in a 1-2 loss vs New York Red Bulls.
March 12 - There two expansion teams for the 2017 MLS season, Atlanta United and Minnesota United faced off for the very first time at Minneapolis’ TCF Bank Stadium in Week 2 of the regular season, in the middle of a snow blizzard. Atlanta won 6-1 with a hat trick by Josef MartÃnez.
April 11 - The Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, the new training facility and club headquarters for Atlanta United opens in Marietta, Georgia.
July 16 - Atlanta United Academy U-15/U-16 win the U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Championship in the club’s first season.
August 2 - Defenders Michael Parkhurst, Greg Garza and midfielder Miguel Almirón participate in the MLS All-Star Game vs Real Madrid in Chicago.
September 10 - Atlanta United play their first match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in front of 45,314 spectators, who witnessed a 3-0 win vs FC Dallas. Argentine defender Leandro González-Pirez scores the team’s first goal in the new stadium.
September 13 - Atlanta United score the club's biggest win in history, a 7-0 win at home over New England Revolution.
September 16 - Atlanta United break the MLS single-match attendance record with 70,425 supporters in Atlanta’s 3-1 win over Orlando City.
October 22 - With 71,874 supporters in attendance for a 2-2 draw vs Toronto FC, Atlanta United break their own single-match attendance record again.
October 26 - Atlanta United play their first MLS Cup Playoffs match at home, a 0-0 draw vs Columbus Crew. Atlanta was eliminated from Playoff contention after the penalty shootout.
November - Atlanta United sweeps the MLS end of season awards, with Miguel Almirón and Josef MartÃnez in the MLS Best XI, Julian Gressel as Rookie of the Year, Almirón as Newcomer of the Year, Héctor Villalba wins the Goal of the Year for his goal scored at Orlando and Brad Guzan wins Save of the Year for one made during an away match vs New York Red Bulls.
November 17 - Atlanta United announce the launch of Atlanta United 2 to play in the USL (second division) at the start of the 2018 season. United States U-18 assistant coach Scott Donnelly becomes the team’s first coach.
December 8 - Atlanta United announce the launch of their new youth soccer development program - United Juniors Development Training.
January 18 – The club signs Argentinean midfielder Ezequiel Barco as a designated player from Club Atlético Independiente.
February 16 - The King Peach Kit, Atlanta United's second secondary kit in history, is unveiled.
March 11 - The club sets a new single-match attendance record with 72,035 supporters for Atlanta United's season opener, a 3-1 win vs D.C. United.
March 24 - Atlanta United 2 play their first match, a win over New York Red Bulls II at home, in their opening match of the 2018 USL season.
July 15 - A new club and league record for single-match attendance is broken: 72,243 spectators filled Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Atlanta United’s 1-1 draw vs Seattle Sounders.
August 1 - Atlanta United host the MLS All-Star Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The MLS All-Star Team played Juventus in front of 72,317 spectators to a 1-1 draw, with Atlanta’s Josef MartÃnez scoring the lone goal for MLS. Five other Atlanta United players were selected to the All-Star team: Miguel Almirón, Ezequiel Barco, Brad Guzan, Darlington Nagbe, and Michael Parkhurst.
October 21 - For the first time in the club's history, Atlanta United secure qualification for the Concacaf Champions League 2019, after a win at home vs Chicago Fire, with one matchday left in the season.
October 28 - Josef MartÃnez wins the MLS Golden Boot award by scoring 31 goals in the Regular Season, setting a historic record for the most goals scored by a single player in one season. The record will be broken by Carlos Vela one year later.
November 4 - Atlanta United win their first MLS Cup Playoff match away vs New York City, with a lone goal by Eric Remedi.
November 15 - Atlanta United joins eMLS, the eSports competition of Major League Soccer and signs their first eMLS player in RatedHugo.
November 29 - The club wins the Eastern Conference Final with a 3-1 aggregate score vs New York Red Bulls.
December 5 - Josef MartÃnez is named MLS Most Valuable Player.
December 8 - Atlanta United become MLS champions after defeating Portland Timbers 2-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the MLS Cup Final, with goals by Josef MartÃnez and Franco Escobar in front of 73.019 spectators. It also becomes the MLS Cup Final, Playoff and MLS match with the highest attendance. It was Atlanta’s first major title since the Braves won the World Series in 1995, ending a 23 year drought. Josef MartÃnez is named MLS Cup MVP.
December 10 - Gerardo "Tata" Martino departs Atlanta United to become the head coach of the Mexican National Team.
December 23 - Former Dutch National Team player Frank de Boer is named head coach, after managing Dutch Ajax, Italian Inter Milan and English Crystal Palace.
