Almost a year ago, Atlanta United brought in Norwegian defenseman Stian Gregersen from Girondin’s Bordeaux and almost immediately gave him a lot of confidence.
Available at the right time and some good words from the former Molde player meant that Ronny Deila was in place with the signature pen two days after he got the sack from Al Wahda. Although MLS is not the most exciting series in the world, there are many notches above desert football.
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 is over.
Al Wahda is very keen that they have won something, I would encourage everyone to take a look at their Intragram profile. 🙂
“All” New York remembers 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.
At Atlanta United, Deila’s immediate availability after being sacked on Wednesday is being received with great enthusiasm. Deila left MLS as the big winner.
Atlanta United confirm they have signed a deal with Ronny Deila until the end of the 2027 season.
“I couldn’t be more excited. This is a club with good ownership, has excellent facilities and has ambitions to succeed,” Deila told Atalanta United.
“I’m happy to be back in MLS. It’s a competitive league that I enjoy and I’m looking forward to working with the players.”
The news of the USA comeback came a few days after it was announced that the Telemark native was finished as coach in Abu Dhabi. Deila coached Al Wahda for just over five months.
The 49-year-old took Strømsgodset to gold in the Eliteserien in 2013. In the last decade, he has also been head coach at Celtic, Vålerenga, Standard Liège and Brugge. At the latter club, he was fired in March.
In January this year, Stian Gregersen became part of the Atlanta United squad. The club surprisingly knocked out the big favorite Inter Miami and Lionel Messi early in this year’s MLS playoffs, but later dropped out to Orlando City.
