Inter Miami’s Rollercoaster Offseason: From Record-Breaking Highs to Coaching Shake-Ups
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The 2024 season for Inter Miami was a tale of two halves. On one hand, the Herons soared to new heights by clinching the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, setting a league record for the most points in a single season. On the other hand, their playoff dreams were dashed early with a first-round exit. Yet, optimism was in the air as the team secured another year of their dynamic duo, Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, by extending Suárez’s contract.
However, the anticipation for 2025 took an unexpected turn when head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino announced his resignation on Nov. 22, citing “personal reasons.” The news leaked before Martino could formally inform his players, leaving the club’s staff in shock, as confirmed by sources to ESPN.
Despite the surprise, Inter Miami’s board acted swiftly. Co-owner Jorge Mas, alongside co-owner David Beckham, then-sporting director Raul Sanllehi, and Messi, began the search for a new manager who could handle the locker room dynamics and meet the high expectations.
On Nov. 26, Inter Miami introduced Javier Mascherano as their new head coach. The former player, with no prior club managerial experience and a limited coaching résumé from his time with the Argentina youth national team, now faces the challenge of leading the Herons to continued success.
The appointment sparked mixed reactions among fans, with many questioning Mascherano’s qualifications to lead a star-studded club like Inter Miami.
“Obviously people in the world are going to have opinions, and that’s a valid opinion, of course,” Mascherano said at his introductory news conference. “I am convinced I can do it. I have no doubt.”
How Did Miami Land on Mascherano?
Mascherano’s connection with Inter Miami dates back to 2019, when he met with Mas in South Florida to discuss soccer. The two spent an entire night discussing Mascherano’s extensive knowledge and unique philosophy on the game, which made him an attractive choice for the then-new MLS club.
Initially, Mas hoped to sign Mascherano as a player on a one-year contract, with plans to transition him into a coaching role to develop the team’s academy. However, the deal fell through for personal reasons, and Mascherano retired with Argentine club Estudiantes in 2020.
Five years later, Mas finally convinced Mascherano to join his team. The hiring process was swift. After learning of Martino’s plans to retire on Nov. 17, Mas began the search for a coach who would be comfortable leading Messi and managing the locker room’s personalities. Within days, the board narrowed down a list of three candidates before Mas contacted Mascherano to begin negotiations.
“Above all, it was very fast and very intense because I received a message from Jorge where he wanted to talk to me,” Mascherano told ESPN. “First we had a five-minute talk where he told me he intended to have a meeting, then the next day we had a meeting via Zoom. Two days later, we were already reaching an agreement so that I could be the new coach. It was the truth that very quickly there was not much to think about.”
Before accepting the role, Mascherano consulted with Messi, with whom he shares a long-standing friendship from their time together with the Argentina national team and Barcelona.
Messi didn’t offer specific advice, but the conversation facilitated the ongoing negotiations. Once Mas conferred with both Messi and Mascherano, the decision was made. This marked the first time the club explicitly acknowledged Messi’s involvement in hiring front office staff.
Earlier this year, a source confirmed to ESPN that Sanllehi would no longer oversee sporting matters, with the club’s academy director, Guillermo Hoyos, taking over. Hoyos, nicknamed by Messi as his “footballing father,” was promoted amid rumors of a disagreement between Messi and Sanllehi, which the club denied.
Messi’s influence on the club’s decisions is evident. His presence has attracted players like Jordi Alba and Suárez to Inter Miami, and he played a role in the decisions of Gonzalo Luján, Tadeo Allende, and Telasco Segovia to sign with the club.
While Mascherano’s relationship with Messi was a key factor in his hiring, Mas emphasized that the decision was based on Mascherano’s qualities and understanding of the current players.
Is Mascherano’s Hiring a Risk for Inter Miami?
Before transitioning to coaching, Mascherano played alongside Messi, Suárez, Alba, and Sergio Busquets at Barcelona, earning the nickname “Jefecito” or “Little Boss.” He led Barcelona to 13 trophies, including five LaLiga titles, two UEFA Champions League titles, and two FIFA Club World Cup titles.
Mascherano’s familiarity with Inter Miami’s stars is seen as an advantage. “We must remember that we are making that change or transition now,” Mascherano said. “A lot of water has passed under the river. I left Barcelona in 2018. Now, a lot of time has passed, we are grown-up people, we know how to differentiate things. I take it as an advantage to be able to know each other, to have had teammates and obviously to have great players like them.”
In 2021, Mascherano transitioned to coaching as the manager of the Argentina under-20 national team, scouting young talent for competitions like the 2022 South American games and the 2023 Under-20 World Cup. He worked with players like Tomás Avilés and Federico Redondo, who are now part of Inter Miami.
Redondo praised Mascherano’s coaching style, saying, “The truth is that he is a person who sees football in a spectacular way, who knows how to exploit and bring out the best version of each player.”
Mascherano’s time with Argentina’s youth teams allowed him to hone his vision of the sport, and he hopes to translate that into shaping Inter Miami’s team.
After Martino’s Exit, Can Mascherano Make Miami His Own?
Martino’s legacy at Inter Miami includes the inaugural Leagues Cup trophy and a single-season points record. He built a squad capable of competing in multiple tournaments, transforming Miami from a bottom-of-the-table team to title contenders.
Martino signed players like Matías Rojas, Diego Gómez, Julian Gressel, and Redondo, who contributed significantly to the team’s success. He also fortified the defense with Avilés, David Martínez, Marcelo Weigandt, and Nicolas Freire.
Whether Mascherano can transform the inherited roster into his own remains to be seen. While his knowledge of MLS may be limited, Mascherano’s understanding of the current players and his unique perspective were key factors in his hiring.
Since taking over on Nov. 26, Mascherano has made several roster moves, including signing MLS veteran Fafà Picault and newcomers Rocco Rios Novo, Maximiliano Falcón, Segovia, Allende, and Lujan.
Mascherano has inherited a roster largely built by Martino and Sanllehi, but he is tasked with delivering results. Mas and the Inter Miami directive remain confident in Mascherano’s ability to lead the team to success.
“There is pressure here to win, and that pressure is going to continue,” Mas said. “We expect it of ourselves, our coaches and players.”
Originally Written by: Lizzy Becherano
