Inter Miami appoints coach close to Messi

MLS club Inter Miami have reached an agreement with Gerardo Martino, the coach who coached star Lionel Messi at both Barca and the Argentina national team.

Phil Neville was appointed as Inter Miami's head coach in January 2021, and was fired earlier this month. Over the past two years, the former Manchester United player led Inter Miami in 90 games, drawing 13, losing 42, winning 35 for a 38.89% win rate, and never helping the club finish higher than 10th in the MLS Eastern Conference. After Neville left, Javier Morales took over as Inter Miami's interim coach.

According to Argentine media, Inter Miami has reached an agreement with Martino. The 60-year-old Argentine coach is expected to start his new job in early July, if his work visa is granted in time.

Once the deal is approved, Martino will be coaching Messi for the third time. The two first worked together at Barca in the 2013-14 season, when Martino was appointed to replace Tito Vilanova on a two-year contract.

Martino (right) when he was still coaching Messi at Barca. Photo: EFE — Martino (right) when he was still coaching Messi at Barca. Photo: *EFE*

Martino had a successful debut with Barca, defeating Atletico on away goals to win the Spanish Super Cup. But Barca's performance in the remaining competitions was disappointing. In La Liga, they lost the championship to Atletico. In the Champions League, Martino's team lost 1-2 on aggregate to Atletico in the quarter-finals, thereby failing to reach the semi-finals for the first time in seven years. Barca also lost 1-2 to Real in the Copa del Rey final, with Gareth Bale scoring a classic goal.

Messi's form, then 26, has also declined. In the previous two seasons, the Argentine star scored 60 and 73 goals, averaging more than a goal a game. But under Martino, he has only managed 41 goals in 46 games, including 28 in La Liga.

Immediately after losing the La Liga title to Atletico, Martino submitted his resignation and it was accepted by the Barca board. Later, in the Argentine newspaper Clarin , Martino admitted that he could not help Messi and did not leave any mark in Spain.

But after only a few months, the coach born in 1962 reunited with Messi when he was appointed as coach of the Argentina national team to replace Alejandro Sabella. Martino helped Argentina reach the Copa America final twice in a row in 2015 and 2016, but lost to Chile on penalty shootouts. On July 5, 2017, Martino resigned.

In the two finals against Chile, Messi missed a penalty in 2016 and announced his retirement from international football at the age of 29. About two months later, with the persuasion of many teammates and fans, the Argentine star changed his mind.

According to Argentine media, Martino, from the same hometown as Rosario, is very popular with Messi, and that is the reason why this coach was appointed by Barca and then the Argentine national team before.

Messi and Martino have twice been in the Copa America final with Argentina, but lost both times. Photo: EFE — Messi and Martino have twice been in the Copa America final with Argentina, but lost both times. Photo: *EFE*

Martino also has experience working in MLS when he led Atlanta United from 2016-2018, winning the 2018 MLS Cup. He is free after leaving Mexico after the 2022 World Cup, and has admitted that he really wants to return to work in the US.

In addition to Martino, Messi could be reunited with two former Barca teammates, defender Jordi Alba and midfielder Sergio Busquets. On June 19, Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas hinted at the possibility of announcing these two deals soon, posting on Twitter an image of three pink shirts of the club, along with the message "coming soon" and the hashtag "no caption needed".

Hong Duy

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