Atlanta United have hired Chris Henderson as their new sporting director, the club announced on Monday.
Henderson joins from Inter Miami, where he also held the sporting director title. Widely respected around MLS, Atlanta sent a second round 2026 SuperDraft pick to Miami as compensation to get the 54-year-old out of his contract. He’ll now reunite with Atlanta United president and CEO Garth Lagerwey after the two worked together in the Seattle Sounders’ front office.
“Chris has experience building consistent, winning teams in this league and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the club as our new Sporting Director,” Lagerwey said. “His illustrious career and vast experience was something we valued in this hiring process and he was someone who immediately rose to the top of our search. He understands all the nuances that MLS roster building brings and I’m excited to see him play a pivotal role in helping us bring that consistent winner to Atlanta.”
“I’ve followed this club for a while now and the ambitions of the club, both on and off the pitch, are clear and that’s to compete for trophies every single season,” Henderson said. “I’m excited to get to work with Garth and to play a role in helping Atlanta United build on its history of success.”
Henderson’s arrival fills the hole in Atlanta’s front office that had existed since the club fired technical director Carlos Bocanegra in September.
Joe’s view:
Adding someone who played a key role in talent identification, roster building, and cap compliance in two other highly successful MLS teams to one of the most ambitious spending organizations in the league? Henderson certainly looks like a slam-dunk hire for Atlanta United.
