Atlanta United strengthens front office with hire from Falcons

Atlanta United has restructured a part of its front office in an attempt to better position itself for the future.

The team hired Chase Falivene as Director of Player Administration to handle player contracts and the MLS salary structure, according to team president Darren Eales. Falivene joins Atlanta United after 11 seasons working with the Falcons, where he was most recently Manager of Football Administration, a job in which he was responsible for player contracts and salary cap research and analysis.

Falivene, a graduate of Ohio State, will replace Paul McDonough, who left Atlanta United as Director of Soccer Operations to join Inter Miami on Aug. 2. Falivene started on Monday.

Eales said that he liked Falivene’s background working with the NFL salary cap, as well as the fact that because he comes from another Arthur Blank-owned company, he is familiar with the core values that are shared across the businesses.

Falivene will also oversee player transactions for Atlanta United 2, the Atlanta United’s academy. He will oversee budgeting and finances for the team’s technical programs.

McDonough had a variety of responsibilities with Atlanta United, including managing salary structure, player contracts and overseeing the construction of the team’s $60 million training facility in Marietta.

Eales said having Falivene focus exclusively on the peculiar salary mechanisms within MLS will make the Atlanta United franchise better.

“We’re going from strength to strength and can’t afford to rest on our laurels,” Eales said.

In addition, the team is going to hire a video analyst for its player scouting department, as well as increase its scouting department to add at least 3 more regions to its network. Eales said the details on the scouting network are being discussed. Falivene will assist in the development and operations of the scouting network.

“We’re not just scouting North America, we’re scouting the world,” Eales said.

Atlanta United leads MLS in points (63) and average attendance this season. It will play at New York Red Bulls on Sunday.