Inter Miami hires ex-Barcelona coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino as new head coach

Lionel Messi will be reuniting with an old friend in Miami.

Inter Miami CF announced Wednesday that former MLS Cup winner Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino will be named the club’s new head coach.

“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,” Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas said. “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.”

“Tata is a highly respected figure in our sport whose track record speaks for itself,” co-owner David Beckham said. “We are confident that his achievements in the game and experience as a head coach will inspire our team and excite our fans and look forward to seeing the impact he will have on and off the field.”

Martino’s hiring comes only a few weeks after fellow Argentine Lionel Messi announced that he would be signing with Inter Miami.

The new Inter Miami head coach is very familiar with Messi as he has coached him both with Barcelona in 2013-14 and the Argentina National team from 2014-16.

Martino previously spent three years coaching the Mexico National team from 2019-2022.

He also spent two years coaching Atlanta United, where he won MLS Cup and the Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year award in 2018.

“I’m very excited to join a big club like Inter Miami and I know together we can accomplish many great things,” Martino said. “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, who has coached more than 400 games and has two decades of experience, likely will help improve an Inter Miami squad that was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last year and currently has the worst record in the league.