Retro Atlanta United Shirt – The Five Stripes and Their MLS Cup Glory

Atlanta United Football Club was founded in 2014 and took its place in Major League Soccer as an expansion franchise in 2017, owned by Arthur Blank, the businessman behind the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. From day one, the club's ambition was crystal clear. Rather than building slowly, Atlanta splashed seven-figure sums on South American talent and hired Gerardo 'Tata' Martino, the former Barcelona and Argentina manager, to install a fluid, attacking 4-3-3. The result was immediate: in their inaugural 2017 season, Atlanta reached the playoffs and set new MLS attendance records at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The golden era arrived in 2018. Led by Venezuelan striker Josef Martínez — who smashed the MLS single-season goal record with 31 strikes — Atlanta United captured the MLS Cup by defeating the Portland Timbers 2-0 in front of more than 73,000 delirious fans. That same cycle produced a U.S. Open Cup triumph in 2019 and a Campeones Cup victory over Mexican champions Club América, the first MLS side to lift that continental trophy. Eastern Conference dominance followed in 2018 with the Conference Championship. The rivalry with Orlando City, dubbed El Ventón, quickly became one of MLS's most heated fixtures, while clashes with New York City FC and D.C. United carry real edge. Transition years followed the Martino and Martínez peak, with managers coming and going as the club sought to rediscover its early firepower, but the foundation laid in those first three seasons remains one of the most successful expansion stories in American sports.

The Atlanta United legend begins with Josef Martínez. The Venezuelan hitman arrived from Torino in 2017 and immediately became the heartbeat of the club, scoring 111 MLS goals and cementing his status as one of the greatest strikers in league history. His 2018 campaign — 31 goals, MLS MVP, and a brace in the MLS Cup final — is the stuff of Atlanta folklore. Alongside him, Paraguayan playmaker Miguel Almirón enchanted fans with his pace and trickery before a club-record transfer to Newcastle United in 2019 brought European glamour to MLS's transfer pages. Argentine winger Ezequiel Barco, signed as a teenage prodigy from Independiente for a then-MLS record fee, added flair, while midfielder Darlington Nagbe and captain Michael Parkhurst brought balance and leadership. In goal, Brad Guzan, the former Aston Villa and U.S. national team stalwart, provided experience and vocal command. The managerial story begins with Tata Martino, whose possession-based philosophy won silverware and hearts. Frank de Boer succeeded him and added a U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup. Gabriel Heinze, Gonzalo Pineda, and Rob Valentine have all taken the reins since, each attempting to restore the swagger of the Martino years. Through it all, homegrown talents like George Bello and Caleb Wiley have represented the club's commitment to developing American youth.

Atlanta United's shirts are among the most instantly recognisable in MLS, built around the iconic five vertical black and red stripes inspired by the club's crest. The inaugural 2017 adidas home shirt — worn during that record-breaking expansion season — is already a holy grail for collectors, with Martínez and Almirón versions especially coveted. The 2018 MLS Cup-winning kit, featuring the star above the badge the following season, is one of the most sought-after shirts in American football memorabilia. Away kits have played with golden 'ATL' tones, crisp whites, and bold peach-coloured designs paying tribute to Atlanta's 'Peach State' identity. Primary sponsors American Family Insurance have featured prominently across the chest since launch. The 2019 season kit, celebrating the U.S. Open Cup run, and the 20th-anniversary MLS jersey both stand out. Collectors particularly seek match-worn editions from continental competition, including the 2019 Campeones Cup victory.