If the Miami job is about keeping stars happy, Mascherano may be a fit – yet his tactical limitations could be costly
Well, that was quick. It was widely reported a week ago that Inter Miami manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino would leave the club with immediate effect. Within three days, he had officially left. And now, a week on from Martino leaving, Miami officially has a new manager in Javier Mascherano.
"This job requires somebody with the experience to be able to maximize our unique collection of talent – from our global superstars, to our burgeoning Homegrown players, to our young international prospects, and everything in between. Javier has amassed unmatched experience in his career, from playing on the world’s biggest stages, to coaching at the youth international level," owner Jorge Mas said in a statement Tuesday.
Needless to say, it's an interesting choice.
Mascherano's managerial CV is hardly glittering – although he was immensely successful as a player. He has shared the pitch with Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez. If the majority of this Miami job is about man management and keeping the stars happy – and it most certainly is – then he's a shrewd appointment. Mas admitted that there's a lot of work to do, with roster changes on the way in the coming months. Miami, he promised Friday, will be competing for MLS Cup next season.
But have they got the right manager to do it all? While Inter Miami is hopeful to extend Messi's contract beyond 2025, that is no guarantee. And if this Messi's last MLS go-around, is Mascherano the man to ensure that he departs on a high?
GOAL looks at Mascherano, why he could be the manager Miami needs, and where it could also all go wrong.
(C)Getty ImagesWho is Javier Mascherano?
Soccer fans will know the name. A stout defensive midfielder-turned solid center back, Mascherano is one of the greats for both Argentina and Barcelona. He was a serial winner for the Blaugrana, with five La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues to his name. The only forum in which he never had title success was at the national team level. Only Messi has more caps for Argentina, and Mascherano was named to the Copa America Team of the Tournament four times.
Coaching always seemed likely to be in his future – especially given the glittering list of his mentors at the top level. Mascherano has played under some of the game's most acclaimed managers: Rafa Benitez, Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.
But his managerial success has been admittedly limited. Mascherano took over the Argentina U20 team in January 2022, and oversaw a mixed record – especially at major tournaments. He failed to carry La Albiceleste past the Group Stage of the 2023 U20 South American Championship, and lost in the last 16 of the 2023 U20 World Cup. His Argentina side also lost in the last eight of the 2024 Olympics.
AdvertisementIMAGNThe challenge in Miami
The remit for any Miami coach – or for anyone who works with Messi – is to win. No matter which way you spin it, Mascherano is expected to end the season hoisting MLS Cup (a Leagues Cup title or CONCACAF Champions League trophy wouldn't go amiss, either.) Controlling that expectation, navigating the season, and having to deal with the circus around this brand will be a struggle.
There is also the management aspect of this all – the actual soccer played out on the pitch. Mascherano has neither played nor coached in MLS, and as Martino discovered in the playoffs, this is a very unique league. Inter Miami, as an organization, cannot set up as "Messi plus 10 others." And neither can Mascherano.
He will have to build a cohesive system, concede that his older heads might need the occasional game off, and piece together a team that can win in both the regular season and playoffs. Miami made the former look easy, but fell apart when it came to the bits that really counted.
GettyWhy this makes sense
Like most things for Miami, it starts and ends with Messi. Mascherano and Messi are friends, and former teammates. They lined up 298 times together for Barcelona, 111 for Argentina, and have retained a good relationship. The new manager was always going to be someone who had a connection to the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner – and Mascherano checks that box emphatically.
A cynic might argue that this needs to be someone with MLS experience. But this is a big club, a big brand, controlled by a star player. No one is bigger than Messi, so the best Miami can do is hire someone he both likes and trusts. This is, in effect, about keeping their star man happy so he can see out his days in full.
There are also other recognizable touchpoints. Mascherano's extensive experience coaching at youth levels could help some of Miami's younger prospects such as federico Redondo and Benja Cremaschi – something Mas highlighted in his statement. He will also certainly have the respect of Busquets, Alba and Suarez. If the goal here is to create a harmonious environment – and hope that everything else falls into place – then it's a job very well done.
Getty Images SportWhy it doesn't work
Tactics, tactics and more tactics. Miami showed expertly how to not construct and MLS roster against Atlanta United in their round one playoff loss. It was all a bit of a mess, top to bottom. The ownership and management spent too much on too many big names, and forgot to account for the kind of role players needed to win in this league. Martino, usually a shrewd tactician, set up his team in the wrong way. There was, for all three games against Atlanta, a massive gaping hole in Miami's midfield.
That can be attributed to a number of things. Injuries played their part, for sure. But it is also the job of a head coach to tweak, adjust and respond. Mascherano has to be able to do that. The harsh reality is that having Messi alone isn't enough to win matches. He will have to adapt to this league, and do so quickly. The finesse and "Pausa" of Spain or South American football won't work here. MLS is about power, pace and athleticism. Messi, then, needs to be the cutting edge of a well-balanced side.
Mascherano has not shown, to date, that he has that kind of tactical nous. His Argentina record in the big games is patchy at best, while his preference for a more standard attacking 4-3-3 system – used in over half of his Albiceleste games – might not be the kind of thing that works with Miami's roster. He would have to reinvent himself, and fast.
