Former manager of FC Barcelona, Gerardo Martino, been named the new head coach of Inter Miami, a team in Major League Soccer (MLS).
Known by the nickname ‘Tata,’ Martino takes over from Phil Neville, a former Manchester United defender, and will have the opportunity to work alongside Lionel Messi, who recently joined Inter Miami as a marquee signing.
This will be the third time that Martino and Messi collaborate, having previously worked together at Barcelona and as part of the Argentine national team, according to Al Jazeera.
Who is Gerardo Martino?
Gerardo Martino is a revered football tactician known for his astute understanding of the game. His impressive career has predominantly taken place in Latin America, as well as coaching the prestigious Spanish La Liga club, Barcelona.
With a managerial career spanning over two decades, Martino brings a wealth of experience and success to the club, having overseen more than 400 games across various leagues, including MLS and on the global stage.
Among his accomplishments, the 60-year-old led Atlanta United to MLS Cup success and won multiple league titles in Paraguay while guiding the Catalan giants to Spanish Super Cup glory.
What did the club say?
Following the announcement of the 60-year-old as the new coach of the club, managing owner Jorge Mas said in a statement via Inter Miami’s website:
“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,”
“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.”
Martino, who has a wealth of experience in coaching, having previously coached the Mexican, Paraguay and Argentina national teams, is expected to turn the dwindling fortunes of the club around.
“Tata is a highly respected figure in our sport whose track record speaks for itself,” said Co-Owner David Beckham. “We are confident that his achievements in the game and experience as a head coach will inspire our team, excite our fans, and look forward to seeing the impact he will have on and off the field.”
Messi happy with Miami move
Sports Brief also reported that Lionel Messi has revealed he is excited to start a new phase of his career after ending his stint in Europe to move to the MLS with Inter Miami.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was present in his home country to honour Argentine legend Juan Roman Riquelme, who had his farewell game as Argentina XI took on Boca Juniors XI.