Inter Miami’s 2024 season came to a shock end at the hands of Atlanta United, with Tata Martino’s position as manager under threat.
The former FC Barcelona and Mexico head coach was brought in the same time Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba were signed last summer, with Martino seemingly the perfect manager for Inter Miami and their project.
Although the Argentine coach guided the Herons to the Supporters’ Shield and a regular-season record points total, there is a chance that Martino could be axed as manager of Inter Miami this off-season after their early play-off exit.
And here are three managers who could replace Martino this winter.
Xavi Hernandez
With Inter Miami’s Barcelona links as strong as they are, it’s perhaps no real surprise that someone like Xavi Hernandez has ended up on a list of potential replacements for Martino, especially with how close the former midfielder is to Messi and company.
Xavi has already been linked with the Inter Miami job in the days following their shock play-off exit against Atlanta United, with the 44-year-old manager a free-agent after leaving Barcelona in the summer for Hansi Flick.
And although MLS would be an unusual move for a coach as highly rated as Xavi, the former Barcelona maestro could be tempted with the prospect of coaching his former teammates in Messi, Luis Suarez and Busquets.
Patrick Vieira
Managing in MLS takes a specific set of skills that few coaches possess, yet Patrick Vieira is one such figure who has shown he has what it takes to lead an exciting team in the division whilst playing some excellent soccer.
Vieira’s first job in senior management was back in 2016 with New York City FC, where the legendary Frenchman taking the Pigeons to the play-offs for the first time in their history and implemented a brand of soccer that won the former Arsenal captain a European move to OGC Nice.
Since then, Vieira has coached in the Premier League with Crystal Palace and recently left his position with Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, with a return to MLS with Inter Miami a possibility if Maritno was to face the chop as manager.
Jim Curtin
The end of the MLS regular-season is bound to bring some managerial changes, and one big one has already happened with Jim Curtin ending his ten-year stint with the Philadelphia Union having failed to make the play-offs for the first time since 2017.
A Supporters’ Shield winner and MLS Cup runner-up, Curtin is rightfully regarded as one of the best MLS managers of all-time having transformed the Union into one of the most efficiently run franchises in the entire league.
And if Inter Miami were to target a manager with the sole focus of winning of MLS Cup, no candidate out there is better-equipped for the task than Curtin, who could jump at the chance to take over the reigning Supporters’ Shield holders.