2023-06-28 21:28:55
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami confirmed Gerardo “Tata” Martino as its new head coach on Wednesday, and Lionel Messi will be back in charge starting next month.
Martino was Messi’s coach with both Barcelona and the Argentina national team.
Messi announced at the beginning of the month his intention to sign with Inter Miami of the MLS once his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, his club for the last two years, expires.
Quoted in a club statement, the 60-year-old strategist stated that “I am very excited to join a great club… and I know that together we can achieve important things,” Martino said.
“The club has the necessary infrastructure to compete in the region and I think that with everyone’s work and commitment, we can achieve it,” added Martino.
Messi is expected to make his Inter Miami debut on July 21 in a match once morest Cruz Azul from Mexico for the Leagues Cup.
Messi and Martino met last Saturday in Rosario, the Argentine star’s hometown, when they participated in the farewell to Maximiliano Rodríguez.
Martino has been out of work since he parted ways as coach of the Mexico team, a relationship that ended poorly last year with the elimination in the group stage of the World Cup in Qatar.
“We are very happy to welcome Tata to Inter Miami. We feel that he is a coach who lives up to the club’s aspirations and we are optimistic regarding what we can achieve together,” said the club’s managing owner Jorge Mas. “He has coached at the highest level and we believe that experience will be of great benefit to us as we compete to win titles.”
Martino’s hiring was widely expected.
His story includes a successful tenure at the helm of Atlanta United, leading them to the MLS title in 2018.
Martino replaces Phil Neville, who was fired four weeks ago. Argentine Javier Morales was left in command on an interim basis.
Inter Miami is sunk in last place in the Eastern Conference following a campaign of five wins and 13 losses.
David Beckham, the retired English soccer player who owns Inter Miami, praised the figure of Martino and expressed his certainty that he will be able to reverse the club’s bad moment.
“We are confident that his achievements and coaching experience will inspire our team and excite the fans, and we are excited to see the impact he will have on and off the pitch,” Beckham said.
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