Tata Martino is an Argentine football coach and former player who is currently the head coach of Inter Miami, a Major League Soccer (MLS) club. Martino is known for his innovative and fast-paced offense, his charismatic personality, and his ability to develop players and staff.

He has coached at the highest levels of the game, including Barcelona, Argentina, and Mexico. He has also won several titles and awards, such as the MLS Cup, the Concacaf Gold Cup, and the MLS Coach of the Year. In 2023, he joined Inter Miami, where he reunited with his compatriot and former pupil, Lionel Messi, who had signed with the club after leaving Paris Saint-Germain. In this article, we will explore Martino’s background, career, achievements, and challenges.

Tata Martino Background

Martino was born on November 20, 1962, in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. He started playing football at a young age and joined the youth academy of Newell’s Old Boys, his hometown club. He made his debut for the senior team in 1980 and became a club legend, playing 505 matches and scoring 42 goals in all competitions. He was also voted by the fans as the best player in the club’s history. He played as an attacking midfielder and was known for his vision, creativity, and leadership. He also represented Argentina at the under-20 and senior levels, earning two and one caps respectively.

Martino had a brief spell in Europe, playing for Tenerife in Spain, before returning to Newell’s Old Boys. He also played for Lanús in Argentina, O’Higgins in Chile, and Barcelona SC in Ecuador, before retiring in 1996. He then started his coaching career, working as a graduate assistant at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he had graduated with a degree in sport management. He then coached several clubs in Argentina and Paraguay, such as Brown de Arrecifes, Platense, Instituto, Libertad, Cerro Porteño, and Colón.

Career

Martino’s breakthrough as a coach came in 2007, when he was appointed as the head coach of the Paraguay national team. He led the team to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup, where they lost to eventual champions Spain by a narrow margin. He also guided the team to the final of the 2011 Copa América, where they lost to Uruguay on penalties. He resigned from his post in 2011, after four years in charge.

In 2012, Martino returned to Newell’s Old Boys, this time as the head coach. He transformed the team into a title contender, winning the 2013 Torneo Final and reaching the semi-finals of the 2013 Copa Libertadores. He also introduced a possession-based and high-pressing style of play, inspired by his mentors, Marcelo Bielsa and Pep Guardiola. He attracted the attention of Barcelona, who hired him as their head coach in 2013, following the resignation of Tito Vilanova due to health issues.

Martino faced high expectations at Barcelona, as he inherited a team that had won multiple trophies under Guardiola and Vilanova. He also had the opportunity to work with some of the best players in the world, such as Messi, Neymar, Andrés Iniesta, and Xavi.

However, he struggled to adapt to the club’s culture and philosophy, and faced criticism from the fans and the media for his tactical decisions. He failed to win any major trophy in his first and only season, finishing second in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, and losing in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. He resigned from his post in 2014, after a mutual agreement with the club.

In 2014, Martino was appointed as the head coach of the Argentina national team, replacing Alejandro Sabella, who had led the team to the final of the 2014 World Cup. Martino had the chance to coach Messi again, as well as other stars, such as Sergio Agüero, Ángel Di María, and Gonzalo Higuaín. He led the team to two consecutive finals of the Copa América, in 2015 and 2016, but lost both times to Chile on penalties. He also qualified the team for the 2018 World Cup, but resigned from his post in 2016, citing the lack of support from the Argentine Football Association.

In 2016, Martino moved to the United States, where he became the head coach of Atlanta United, a new MLS club that began playing in 2017. He built a competitive and exciting team, featuring players such as Josef Martínez, Miguel Almirón, and Héctor Villalba. He led the team to an MLS Cup victory in 2018, in only their second season, and was named the MLS Coach of the Year. He also earned the respect and admiration of the fans, who nicknamed him “El Tata”. He left the club in 2018, after fulfilling his contract.

In 2019, Martino took over the Mexico national team, replacing Juan Carlos Osorio, who had left after the 2018 World Cup. He brought a new identity and mentality to the team, emphasizing an aggressive and proactive approach. He won his first trophy with the team, the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, beating the United States in the final. He also reached the final of the 2021 Concacaf Nations League, but lost to the United States in extra time. He qualified the team for the 2022 World Cup, but left the team after their exit in the group stage.

In 2023, Martino returned to MLS, where he joined Inter Miami, a club co-owned by David Beckham. He replaced Phil Neville, who had been sacked after a poor start to the season. He inherited a squad that included several former Barcelona players, such as Messi, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets, as well as former Atlanta United player Martínez. He also brought in some of his former players from Mexico, such as Hirving Lozano, Raúl Jiménez, and Carlos Vela. He aimed to turn the club into a contender for the MLS Cup and the Concacaf Champions League.

Achievements of Tata Martino

Martino has achieved several accomplishments in his coaching career, both individually and collectively. Some of his notable achievements are:

• Winning 65 games as a head coach, with a 65-45 overall record and a 4-1 bowl record.
• Winning the Sun Belt Conference title in 2017 and the Sun Belt East Division title in 2018 with Troy.
• Finishing the 2017 season ranked No. 22 in the AP Top 25 with Troy, the highest ranking ever for a Sun Belt team.
• Beating LSU in 2017 with Troy, the first win over a ranked SEC opponent in school history and the first loss for LSU to a non-conference opponent at home since 2000.
• Beating Army in 2020 with West Virginia, the first win over a ranked opponent since 2018 and the first bowl win since 2015.
• Being named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year in 2017 and a finalist for the Eddie Robinson, Paul “Bear” Bryant, and George Munger national coach of the year awards.
• Coaching several players who went on to play in the NFL, such as Lynn Bowden Jr., C.J. Conrad, Blace Brown, Damion Willis, Will Grier, and David Sills V.
• Winning the MLS Cup in 2018 and the MLS Coach of the Year in 2018 with Atlanta United.
• Winning the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2019 with Mexico.
• Reaching the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup and the final of the 2011 Copa América with Paraguay.
• Reaching the final of the 2015 and 2016 Copa América with Argentina.
• Reaching the final of the 2021 Concacaf Nations League with Mexico.
• Coaching some of the best players in the world, such as Messi, Neymar, Iniesta, Xavi, Agüero, Di María, Higuaín, Almirón, Martínez, Lozano, Jiménez, and Vela.

Challenges

Martino also faces some challenges in his coaching career, both on and off the field. Some of his current and future challenges are:

• Competing in the MLS, one of the most diverse and unpredictable leagues in the world, against teams like Seattle Sounders, LA Galaxy, and New York City FC.
• Developing a consistent and balanced offense, especially at the forward position, where he has several options to choose from, such as Martínez, Vela, Jiménez, and Lozano.
• Improving the fan support and attendance at home games, which have been low due to the pandemic, the lack of star power, and the poor results.
• Maintaining his staff and players, who may be lured away by other clubs or opportunities, such as the NFL, Europe, or the national teams.
• Dealing with the pressure and expectations of the owners, the media, and the fans, who demand success and trophies.

Conclusion

Tata Martino is an Argentine football coach and former player who is currently the head coach of Inter Miami, a MLS club. Martino is known for his innovative and fast-paced offense, his charismatic personality, and his ability to develop players and staff. He has coached at the highest levels of the game, including Barcelona, Argentina, and Mexico. He has also won several titles and awards, such as the MLS Cup, the Concacaf Gold Cup, and the MLS Coach of