After a bit of a football trip from Strømsgodset, to Celtic, then Vålerenga, New York City FC, Standard Liege and a guest stay at Club Brugge, Ronny Deila got on a long-haul flight to the United Arab Emirates. Okay, we thought, a little side road before it carries back to bigger tasks. Less than six months later, the desert adventure was over. Now Deila is back in MLS as an Atlanta United coach in the surroundings the Norwegian coach and showman loves.
Atlanta United secured Deila in December. The club management and “the whole” of New York remember the energetic Norwegian who did push-ups bare-chested after leading New York City FC to victory in the MLS Cup in 2021. Pep Guardiola saw what Manchester City’s sister club achieved with Deila at the helm, and said he was mightily impressed.
Deila has put his first MLS games as an Atlanta coach behind him, with a draw against FC Cincinnatti and a loss to Charlotte on Saturday.
From the perspective of Europe’s five biggest leagues, MLS may seem a little insignificant, but the American league has really picked up in the last five years. The interest in soccer in Atlanta is extreme. Even Celtic Park will struggle to create this atmosphere.
On March 9, Ronny Deila will stop Jürgen Klopp and Red Bull’s New York RB, on March 17 he will welcome Messi, Busquets, Suarez, Alba and the Inter Miami gang.
Ronny Deila is in the middle of the action.
