Reigning champions Atlanta United name Frank de Boer new head coach

After much speculation, Atlanta United have found their replacement for Tata Martino.

The reigning MLS Cup champions announced Sunday that Dutchman Frank de Boer, who has spent time on the bench at Ajax, Inter, and Crystal Palace, inked a multiyear contract to become the club's next head coach.

"The club's sportive ambitions, as set out in a long-term strategy to be the best in class, clearly fits my personal ambitions," de Boer said.

"I would like to build on the current success to develop a secure, solid foundation for the club at the top of MLS and beyond. Aside from the club's ambitions, the values, culture, and the philosophy for the entire organization are a vital part in realizing that point of success. This is exactly what I believe in as a person and as a coach. All of this combined, makes that I am really excited to be a part of it," he added.

The 48-year-old arrives in MLS following a dubious Premier League stint with Crystal Palace in 2017; he was fired after the Eagles lost their opening four matches of the season without scoring a goal.

In Atlanta, though, the decorated former defender will have the benefit of working with arguably the most talented squad in the league, even if the Five Stripes could soon lose some of their key contributors from last season's title-winning campaign.