Jeff Carlisle, US soccer correspondent
AtlantaUnited FC ESPN sources confirmed that it has hired Chris Henderson to be its next athletic director.
GiveMeSport was the first to report the news.
Henderson held a similar position in InterMiami CFand replaces Carlos Bocanegra, who was fired in September. Inter Miami will receive a second-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft as compensation.
This move is not surprising on many levels. Henderson’s position at the Herons had seemed redundant since the club hired Raul Sanllehi as president of football operations in June. This is despite Henderson doing much to help Miami deal with fines imposed on the club following repeated violations of the league’s roster rules in 2021.
The move will reunite Henderson with Atlanta team president Garth Lagerwey. The two formed a fruitful partnership when they both worked for Seattle Sounders FC from 2008-21, a span that included two MLS Cups, a Supporters’ Shield and four US Open Cup titles.
The hiring comes at an opportune time for Five Stripes. The team is still without a permanent manager following the sacking of Gonzalo Pineda last June, although interim manager Rob Valentino has performed well this season leading Atlanta to upset Inter Miami in the MLS Cup playoffs before losing to Orlando City SC in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Atlanta also has two open designated player spots.
As a player, Henderson had a 12-year professional career that took him to Germany and Norway before joining the Colorado Rapids in 1996, the inaugural season of MLS. Henderson also played for the Kansas City Wizards, Miami Fusion, Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls. He was a member of the Wizards team that won the MLS Cup in 2000.
At international level, Henderson made 79 appearances, scored three goals and was part of the team that took part in the 1990 World Cup.
