Inter Miami’s newest head coaching hire brings plenty of connections with the current players on the roster.
Tata Martino was appointed new Inter Miami head coach on Wednesday, the Eastern Conference club announced. The Argentine replaces Phil Neville, who was fired as head coach back in early-June.
“We are very happy to be able to welcome Tata to Inter Miami. We feel he is a coach who matches our ambitions as a club and we’re optimistic about what we can accomplish together,” said Managing Owner Jorge Mas. “Tata has coached at the highest levels and we believe that experience will be hugely beneficial to us as we aim to compete for titles here.”
“I’m very excited to join a big club like Inter Miami and I know together we can accomplish many great things,” said Martino. “The Club has the necessary infrastructure to be a major competitor in the region and I believe that with everyone’s hard work and commitment we can get there.”
Martino brings plenty of international and club experience to Inter Miami after managing over 400 matches in his career. He last served as head coach of the Mexican national team from January 2019 to November 2022, registering a 42-12-12 record with El Tri. He led Mexico to a Concacaf Gold Cup title in 2019, as well as a berth into the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Martino also led Atlanta United to its first MLS Cup in 2018, while also being named MLS Coach of the Year. In total, Martino has won seven trophies between club and international level, also managing at Barcelona, Newell’s Old Boys, and both the Paraguay and Argentina national teams.
He will be reunited with several of his former teammates including recent club signings Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets. In addition, Josef Martinez shined under Martino’s tutelage at Atlanta United and will also be reunited with his former head coach.
Martino will be joined by a staff including assistant coach Jorge Theiler, fitness coaches Rodolfo Paladini and Jose Manuel Alfaro, and video analyst Damian Silvero.
Inter Miami sits bottom of the Eastern Conference with 15 points earned through 18 matches. The Herons remain in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals and will also begin Leagues Cup play in July against Cruz Azul and Atlanta United.
“I’m very excited to join a big club like Inter Miami and I know together we can accomplish many great things,” said Martino. “The Club has the necessary infrastructure to be a major competitor in the region and I believe that with everyone’s hard work and commitment we can get there.”
Is that a direct quote or was that translated?
I’m sooooooooooo maaaddddd!
Well, he ain’t Neville and as we can see…. wasn’t the root to El Tri’s issues.
Well not exactly totally responsible but if you put the brick on the gas pedal and jump out of the car you didn’t drive the car off the cliff but…
Tata wasn’t able to integrate new players despite the aging roster so he’s not completely innocent. The federation and Liga Mx clubs haven’t been developing players the way they used to either so plenty of blame to go around. Throw in the hiring of a manager that plays a very different style than the traditional style the NT plays and we saw what happened last week.
JR
Do you suppose Tata being born in Rosario, Argentina and being fluent in Spanish had anything to do with this hiring?
V: yeah ya think. That he got the best out of Josef doesn’t hurt either. Heard Messi and he aren’t super tight but have a solid professional relationship from their days with Argentine NT and Barcelona.
No manager is completely innocent and the nature of the position is taking responsibility. I’m not saying he didn’t make mistakes, it’s just the narrative in Mexico was pinning it all on Tata. What’s was likely clear to Martino is that the cupboards are maybe even more bare than we thought for promising young players.
OOOOOOHHHHHHH SSSSNNNNNAAAAPPPPPP!!!!!!!
I’m definitely subscribing to apple TV now…..lol
I’ve been holding out on Apple TV given all the paid subscriptions now. But with Messi in the league, I’ve decided to go that route, too.