Inter Miami head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino has resigned due to personal reasons, according to multiple sources.
The 61-year-old led Miami to a record-setting 74-point regular season and a Supporters’ Shield title.
However, Lionel Messi and Miami were eliminated from the post-season by Atlanta United in the quarterfinals of the MLS playoffs.
Martino joined Miami in the summer of 2023 after a nearly four-year spell with the Mexican national team. It was his return to MLS after guiding Atlanta to an MLS Cup title in 2018.
At the time of his hire, Martino was viewed as the ideal candidate to lead Messi and his former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba in America. Luis Suarez joined this summer and helped propel Miami to the top of the league standings.
Despite crashing out in the first round of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with Mexico, Martino’s equity in MLS had remained intact. He remains one of the league’s most influential hires.
“MLS is my weakness,” Martino told The Athletic in April of 2023. “I was part of an extraordinary project with Atlanta United that had a clear direction, a lot of communication and similar objectives that were established very quickly and executed.
“After coaching in MLS, I became attracted to it. I like the league. The possibility of returning to MLS is always there.”
Miami’s shocking loss to Atlanta on November 9 fueled speculation that Martino’s job may be less than secure.
He seemed to cool that conjecture after Miami’s exit, telling reporters that despite the humbling loss, what Miami had accomplished in 2024 was “better than anything that has taken place during the club’s existence.”
Now, Miami and Messi will search for a new manager. Former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez is an obvious choice here, considering the club’s pro-Barça set up.
Messi’s ex-national team captain Javier Mascherano could also come into play. Mascherano and Messi continue to have a close personal relationship.
(Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
