Javier Mascherano stepped down as manager of Inter Miami on Tuesday, the club announced, in a striking development for the reigning MLS Cup champions. Guillermo Hoyos is expected to serve as interim head coach, with two sources telling The Athletic he led training on Monday.

Mascherano, one of Lionel Messi's closest friends from their time together with Argentina and Barcelona, was appointed Miami head coach in November 2024 following the club's playoff elimination. In his only full season, he guided Miami to its first MLS Cup title and was credited with a bold tactical shift that proved decisive. Moving Luis Suarez out of the starting lineup in the postseason, initially due to suspension but maintained thereafter, Mascherano flanked Messi with Tadeo Allende and Mateo Silvetti to unlock the attack. Miami scored 20 goals in that postseason run, the most in a single MLS playoff in league history.

The 2026 campaign has told a different story. Miami was eliminated from the Concacaf Champions Cup by Nashville SC in the round of 16 and has drawn both matches at Nu Stadium, the club's new arena that opened April 4. The club sits third in the Eastern Conference at 3-1-3 with a +1 goal differential through seven matches.

The underperformance is notable given the investment made this winter. With Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba both retiring, Miami responded by signing Mexico international forward German Berterame for a club-record $15 million transfer, adding reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair and former Houston center back Micael to bolster the defense.

Mascherano's exit marks the third MLS coaching change of the young 2026 season, following Orlando City's dismissal of Oscar Pareja and CF Montreal's removal of Marco Donadel.