Gerardo Martino, commonly known as Tata, has been announced as the head coach of Inter Miami, which immediately sparked discussions about his Argentine nationality and his previous collaborations with Lionel Messi. Martino and Messi share a common bond as both hail from the city of Rosario, Argentina, where Messi was born. Some speculated that Martino's compatriot status played a role in his appointments at Barcelona and as the Argentina national team coach.
However, their previous collaborations did not result in the desired success.
The questions surrounding Martino's appointment at Barcelona were brought up when he glared at a reporter who inquired about Messi's influence on his hiring. In July 2013, Martino was announced as Barcelona's new coach, and rumors had circulated that Messi and his father had a say in the decision. When asked about it, Martino replied, "Is your goal to make Messi happy?" He acknowledged that Messi and his father likely expressed their opinions to the Barcelona board, but Messi later denied any personal involvement in Martino's appointment, stating that he had never met him.
Despite the initial controversy, Messi went on to acknowledge Martino's achievements, highlighting the titles he won with Newell's Old Boys (where Messi played in his youth) and his successful stint with Paraguay, leading them to the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup. Martino earned a hero status in Paraguay for his accomplishments in the tournament held in South Africa.
The second collaboration between Martino and Messi came during Martino's tenure as the coach of the Argentina national team. However, this partnership also fell short of expectations. Despite reaching the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the Copa America in 2015 and 2016, Argentina failed to secure a major trophy under Martino's leadership.
While the relationship between Martino and Messi may have raised hopes for success based on their shared heritage and previous achievements, their collaborations ultimately did not yield the desired outcomes. As Martino embarks on his new coaching role at Inter Miami, both he and Messi will look to find success in their respective endeavors.
