Michael Parkhurst has been named the first captain of Atlanta United FC by manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino in a video released on the club's website and Twitter account.
Parkhurst, 33, joined the expansion franchise ahead of its inaugural season in Major League Soccer on the heels of three years with Columbus Crew SC.
Introducing our first ever captain, @MFparkhurst
#UniteAndConquer pic.twitter.com/7Y1Kmgi8Ln
- Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) February 17, 2017
And the four-time MLS All Star says he and and his new teammates are bullish on their chances in their maiden season, especially with an experienced manager like Martino at the helm.
"I think you know what you're getting involved with the predecessors of other expansion teams and their success early on, but that being said I don't think Atlanta United is like any other expansion team," Parkhurst said. "The way that they've set themselves up on and off the field is just a lot different than their predecessors. I think the expectations for us on the field are different as well.
"[Martino's] been great for us. He's really been open with his communication. He's made it clear he wants it to be physical, he wants it to be intense on the field. But off the field he's very approachable. He's working on his English and we're all working on our Spanish and we're making it work."
As the former coach of the Argentina and Paraguay national teams, Martino knows more than a little about trying to satisfy a demanding fan base. Atlanta's soccer-starved fans have bought more than 27,000 season tickets.
And six MLS expansion teams have failed to make the postseason since Seattle lost in the first round of the playoffs in its 2009 inaugural season.
"I can't comment on the other teams, but we're excited to try to be the second team to make the playoffs," Martino said on Thursday through an interpreter.
Atlanta has been called the league's "Seattle of the South" due to the strong ticket sales. Seattle led MLS with its average attendance of 42,636 last season while winning the MLS Cup.
More than 40,000 tickets have been sold for Atlanta's March 5 opening game against the New York Red Bulls at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium and Atlanta could rank near the top of this season's attendance leaders.
"It's great that the reception has been what it has been," Martino said. "I hope the team can meet the expectations of the city."
Parkhurst credited the team's technical director, Carlos Bocanegra, a former captain of the U.S. national team, for Atlanta's "very organized" front office.
He said: "I think Atlanta has really set us up to have success, and that's the most important thing."
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.