Javier Mascherano is the brand new head coach of Inter Miami, the staff introduced Tuesday.
Mascherano, whose contract runs by way of the 2027 season, replaces Tata Martino, who stepped down final week because of private causes.
The 40-year-old Mascherano involves MLS after teaching Argentina’s U-20 and U-23 males’s groups since 2021. Most just lately, he guided Argentina to the knockout stage of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“This job requires someone with the expertise to have the ability to maximize our distinctive assortment of expertise – from our world superstars, to our burgeoning homegrown gamers, to our younger worldwide prospects, and every thing in between,” mentioned Inter Miami managing proprietor Jorge Mas in a press release.
“Javier has amassed unmatched expertise in his profession, from enjoying on the world’s greatest levels, to teaching on the youth worldwide stage; he has the mix of abilities and expertise we have been on the lookout for, and even has had direct teaching expertise with Tomás Avilés, Facundo Farías, Federico Redondo, and Benjamin Cremaschi. We imagine Javier is a crucial addition to our membership as we proceed on our quest to be among the many world’s elite, setting a brand new normal for fútbol in North America.”
Earlier than he entered administration, Mascherano had an extended enjoying profession that includes for such golf equipment as River Plate, Corinthians, West Ham United, Liverpool and Barcelona, the place he received 5 La Liga titles, in addition to the Champions League, UEFA Cup and FIFA Membership World Cup championship twice.
Throughout his eight seasons with Barcelona, Mascherano was a part of a Barça facet that additionally featured present Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suárez. He additionally represented Argentina 147 instances on the worldwide stage, enjoying in 4 World Cups and 5 Copa América tournaments alongside Messi. In addition they each featured on La Albiceleste’s gold medal-winning staff on the 2008 Olympics.
Mascherano joins an Inter Miami staff coming off a disappointing 2024 season. After incomes 74 factors and the MLS Supporters’ Protect in the course of the common season, the facet crashed out within the first spherical of the playoffs to Atlanta United.
Will there be modifications to the roster for 2025? The contracts of Alba and Suárez expired after the season and Inter Miami is reportedly negotiating to convey them each again. Busquets and Messi have one yr left on their offers and Mas mentioned final week that he expects Messi will keep past 2025 because the membership strikes into its new stadium forward of the 2026 MLS season.
