Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano resigns after four months due to ‘personal reasons’

Inter Miami CF will move forward without head coach Javier Mascherano, who has resigned just four months after guiding the club to its first MLS Cup triumph, citing personal reasons.

Sporting director Guillermo Hoyos will step in as interim manager, with Chief Soccer Officer Alberto Marrero taking over Hoyos’ previous duties. Hoyos brings a deep coaching background across Europe and South America, as well as a long-standing connection to Lionel Messi dating back to their time in Barcelona’s youth system.

Mascherano said in a statement: 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… 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 wherever I am, I will continue to wish the Club all the best moving forward. I have no doubt that the Club will continue to achieve success in the future. Sending you all a big hug, and thank you for everything.”

Mascherano’s exit continues a pattern for the club—he is the second straight Miami manager to step down for personal reasons after Gerardo Martino left in 2024. Across the league, he is also among several early-season coaching changes, alongside moves involving Orlando City SC and CF Montréal. Club leadership expressed appreciation for his impact, noting that Mascherano will “always hold a special place” in team history for both the championship run and his leadership.

Mascherano, who took over in late 2024, leaves after a historic 2025 campaign. Under his leadership, Miami captured the MLS Cup while producing a record-breaking 101 goals across regular season and playoffs—the highest total in league history. The team also made a landmark run to the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup, becoming the first MLS side to reach that phase and even defeating FC Porto along the way.

Despite those achievements, the club has struggled to find rhythm early in 2026. Miami sits third in the Eastern Conference with a 3-1-3 record and has yet to string together consecutive wins. The team opened the season with a 3-0 loss to Los Angeles FC and recently played to back-to-back draws against New York Red Bulls and Austin FC at their new home, Nu Stadium. They have also been shut out three times across competitions.

Roster changes have also played a role in the uneven start. Veterans Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba retired following the title-winning season, while new additions like Germán Berterame, Micael, and goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair are still settling in. Berterame has managed just one goal so far, and St. Clair has conceded 13 times in eight appearances.

Their push for continental success fell short as well. After receiving a first-round bye in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, Miami was eliminated in the Round of 16 by Nashville SC on away goals—a significant disappointment after co-owner Jorge Mas publicly emphasized that trophy as the club’s top target.

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