Frank De Boer takes over at MLS champions Atlanta United

MLS Champions Atlanta United have appointed Frank De Boer as their new head coach, the North American team announced on Sunday.

The 48-year-old Dutchman had been without a job since he was sacked by Crystal Palace in September 2017 after just five games in charge.

On his previous job with Inter Milan he lasted just 85 days before being sacked in November 2016.

Prior to that, he won four Dutch titles in a row with Ajax.

Martino’s replacement

De Boer will replace Tata Martino, who decided not to renew his contract after winning the MLS title in just the club’s second season in the league. The Argentine has since been linked with the Mexico national team job.

“Frank de Boer has a distinguished background, both as manager and player, and we’re ecstatic to welcome him to our club,” Atlanta United President Darren Eales said.

“When we began our search, we were determined to find someone who fit all of our criteria. In addition to meeting our club’s core values, Frank’s philosophical views for how to play unequivocally aligns with ours. He also has a proven track record of developing youth players, with many of them going on to star for top European teams. Finally, his multilingual capabilities, including Spanish and English, ensure a smooth transition in the leadership of our club.”

As a player, De Boer had successful stints as a defender at Ajax and Barcelona, as well as six months with Glasgow Rangers.

He is the second most capped outfield player in the history of the Netherlands national team, with 112 appearances.