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Inter Miami will name Javier Mascherano as its next head coach, per Felipe Cardenas and Pablo Maurer of The Athletic.
Mascherano has a long-standing connection with Inter Miami star Lionel Messi.
“The 40-year-old will be reunited with Lionel Messi after the two spent nearly a decade together at Barcelona, winning 19 titles as teammates at the Catalan club,” Cardenas and Maurer wrote. “Messi and Mascherano played on the Argentina national team for 13 years and remain close friends.”
Mascherano replaces Gerardo “Tata” Martino, who left the club for personal reasons.
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas made it clear to reporters Friday that “familiarity with Leo and the other stars is an advantage in every aspect.”
“I spoke to Lionel on Saturday after he and Tata had spoken,” Mas said, per The Athletic. “I asked him, ‘What is important to you and what is important to get the best out of our roster and starting XI. How do we improve?’ Leo shared his thoughts with me. This is a very attractive position for a coach. We got it down to three final candidates by Tuesday. Familiarity with Leo and the other stars is an advantage in every aspect.”
Mascherano most recently coached Argentina in the Summer Olympics, where they fell in the quarterfinals to eventual silver medalist France. Argentina won two matches and lost one in group play before falling 1-0 to France in the knockout round.
He had also led Argentina’s Under-20 and Under-23 teams since 2021, winning 28 matches, losing 12 and drawing 10.
Inter Miami just had the best regular season (by winning percentage) in MLS history, winning 22 matches, losing four and drawing eight for 74 points in 34 matches.
However, ninth-place Atlanta United stunned Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, winning two games to one.
The table is certainly set for Inter Miami to find success, especially with Messi still around. His chemistry with Mascherano can certainly help matters as well as the club looks for its first-ever MLS Cup.