Inter Miami have officially confirmed the appointment of Javier Mascherano as their new head coach.

The Barcelona icon, who has previously managed Argentina’s U20 and Olympic teams, is set to take charge of Lionel Messi until the 2027 MLS season. Mascherano steps in following Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino’s exit from the Florida-based club.Martino left behind a legacy with a 38-16-13 record, having steered Inter Miami to glory with the 2023 Leagues Cup title and the 2024 Supporter’s Shield. Club bigwigs have been vocal in their excitement about Mascherano’s arrival, anticipating a fresh chapter in football under his guidance.

Co-owner David Beckham highlighted Mascherano’s vast experience at the pinnacle of the sport and his coaching prowess. “Throughout his career as one of the world’s best players and as an experienced coach, Javier has always demonstrated what makes him great – relentless determination with the knowledge, instincts and understanding to back it up,” Beckham said in a statement. “We’re very excited to welcome him to lead our team.”

Inter Miami’s managing owner Jorge Mas has been singing the praises of Mascherano, bigging up his achievements across every level of the beautiful game and hinting that the club’s fortunes are set to be shaped by his top-drawer experience.

“This job requires somebody with the experience to be able to maximise our unique collection of talent – from our global superstars, to our burgeoning Homegrown players, to our young international prospects, and everything in between,” Mas’ statement began.

“Javier has amassed unmatched experience in his career, from playing on the world’s biggest stages, to coaching at the youth international level; he has the blend of skills and experience we were looking for, and even has had direct coaching experience with Tomas Aviles, Facundo Farias, Federico Redondo, and Benjamin Cremaschi. We believe Javier is an important addition to our Club as we continue on our quest to be among the world’s elite, setting a new standard for futbol in North America.”

Mascherano himself shared how chuffed he is to get stuck into the action at Beckham’s side, also mentioning his rapport with titans like Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez from his Camp Nou days, as well as his tight bond with some of Miami’s shining

“To be able to lead a Club like Inter Miami is an honour for me, and a privilege I will strive to make the most of,” Mascherano’s statement began.” I was drawn to the organization’s undeniable ambition, and the infrastructure it has to support it. I’m looking forward to working with the people at Inter Miami to help the Club reach new heights, and to give the fans more unforgettable moments.”

Raul Sanllehi, Miami’s president of football operations, expressed his delight at having Mascherano as the head coach for the foreseeable future. “As we continue to aim high as an organisation, I am excited to welcome Javier and his family to our team so that we can build on this ambitious project together,” read Sanllehi’s statement.

Before hiring Mascherano, Mas explained how he sought Messi’s opinion regarding the coaching search. “I asked him, ‘What is important to you? And what do you think is important to get the best out of our roster and out of our 11 and how do we improve?’ Mas said, per The Associated Press.

“And Leo shared with me his thoughts… Without a doubt, a familiarity with Leo and the other stars is an advantage in every aspect. Obviously, I want Leo to feel comfortable with the new trainer, with the new coach coming in.”

Mascherano is set to take charge of a club that posted the best regular season record in MLS history, winning 22 games and also setting the record for points (74). The Herons were defeated by Atlanta United in the first round of the playoffs.