Only four months removed from leading Inter Miami to its inaugural MLS Cup championship, head coach Javier Mascherano has announced his departure from the club for personal reasons. During his brief tenure, Mascherano’s management saw the team score a historic 101 goals in MLS play, the highest in league history, and advance to the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup, defeating Porto and making history as the first Concacaf team to beat a club from one of Europe’s top five leagues.
His coaching staff will also exit alongside him, as Guillermo Hoyos is appointed as interim manager. Hoyos comes with a wealth of experience from South America and Europe, having worked with FC Barcelona in youth development and served as the Sporting Director for Inter Miami up until this point.
Mascherano stated, “I want to let everyone know that, for personal reasons, I have decided to end my tenure as head coach of Inter Miami CF. First and foremost, I would like to thank the Club for the trust they placed in me, every employee who is part of the organization for the collective effort, but especially the players, who made it possible for us to experience unforgettable moments. I also want to thank the fans and La Familia, because none of this would have been possible without them. I will always carry with me the memory of our first star and will root for the Club’s future success.”
After the retirements of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, Inter Miami has faced difficulties on the field, highlighted by their exit from the Concacaf Champions Cup, which Jorge Mas had identified as the team’s primary focus this season. Currently, the team is struggling with only one win in their last five matches, with two draws at their new stadium, which opened on April 4.
As the team moves towards regaining their form, Hoyos faces high expectations. This marks the third successive season that Inter Miami changes coaches, struggling to create a consistent identity around Lionel Messi. Miami is now one of three MLS teams to alter their coaching staff this season, joining Orlando City SC and CF Montreal.
Next for Hoyos and Inter Miami is an upcoming match against the Colorado Rapids at Empower Field on April 18.
