Gerardo Martino Explained

Gerardo Martino
Full Name:Gerardo Daniel Martino
Birth Date:20 November 1962[1]
Birth Place:Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
Height:1.70 m
Position:Attacking midfielder
Currentclub:Inter Miami (head coach)
Youthyears1:1972–1980
Youthclubs1:Newell's Old Boys
Years1:1980–1990
Years2:1991
Years3:1991–1994
Years4:1994–1995
Years5:1995
Years7:1996
Years6:1996
Clubs1:Newell's Old Boys
Clubs2:Tenerife
Clubs3:Newell's Old Boys
Clubs4:Lanús
Clubs5:Newell's Old Boys
Clubs7:Barcelona SC
Clubs6:O'Higgins
Caps1:392
Caps2:15
Caps3:81
Caps4:30
Caps5:15
Caps7:5
Caps6:11
Goals1:35
Goals2:1
Goals3:2
Goals4:3
Goals5:0
Goals7:0
Goals6:1
Totalcaps:551
Totalgoals:42
Nationalyears1:1981
Nationalteam1:Argentina U20
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1991
Nationalteam2:Argentina
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Medaltemplates: (as manager) (as manager) (as manager)
Manageryears1:1998
Manageryears2:1999
Manageryears3:2000
Manageryears4:2002–2003
Manageryears5:2003–2004
Manageryears6:2005
Manageryears7:2005–2006
Manageryears8:2007–2011
Manageryears9:2012–2013
Manageryears10:2013–2014
Manageryears11:2014–2016
Manageryears12:2016–2018
Manageryears13:2019–2022
Manageryears14:2023–
Managerclubs1:Brown de Arrecifes
Managerclubs2:Platense
Managerclubs3:Instituto
Managerclubs4:Libertad
Managerclubs5:Cerro Porteño
Managerclubs6:Colón
Managerclubs7:Libertad
Managerclubs8:Paraguay
Managerclubs9:Newell's Old Boys
Managerclubs10:Barcelona
Managerclubs11:Argentina
Managerclubs12:Atlanta United
Managerclubs13:Mexico
Managerclubs14:Inter Miami

Gerardo Daniel "Tata" Martino (born 20 November 1962) is an Argentine professional football coach and former player who is currently the head coach of Major League Soccer club Inter Miami.

Martino played mostly for Newell's Old Boys in his native Rosario. He holds the record of appearances with the team playing a total of 505 matches in all official competitions. He was also selected in a fan's poll as Newell's best player throughout the club's history.[2]

Martino was chosen to replace Tito Vilanova as head coach of Barcelona at the start of the 2013–14 season, but announced his resignation on 17 May 2014, though his side finished runner-up in both the Copa del Rey and La Liga that season. In 2015, he led Argentina to the Copa América Final, only to be defeated by hosts Chile on penalties. His team also finished as runners-up in the Copa América Centenario, again losing to the defending champion Chile on penalties.[3] On 5 July 2016, Martino resigned from the Argentina national team.[4]

He was named the head coach of Atlanta United, a MLS expansion team that began play in 2017. Martino led the team to an MLS Cup victory in their second season and was named the MLS Coach of the Year before departing for the Mexico national team. He spent three years leading the side and left Mexico after being knocked out in the group stage in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

In 2023, Martino returned to MLS, being appointed as head coach of Inter Miami, where he joined former Barcelona players Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, as well as former Atlanta United player Josef Martínez.

Coaching career

Paraguay national team

Martino was assigned as head coach of the Paraguay national football team in February 2007, replacing Uruguayan Anibal "Maño" Ruiz. His knowledge and success while coaching Paraguayan clubs were the parameters that positioned him as the best option for the job (other candidates were Nery Pumpido and Miguel Ángel Russo). Previously, Martino had won the Paraguayan league four times from 2002 till 2006.

In 2008, Martino was linked for vacant managerial position of Iran Pro League side Steel Azin, but the deal was cancelled for personal reasons.[5] On 5 July 2010, Martino announced that he would be stepping down as Paraguay coach on their return from the 2010 FIFA World Cup, in which he led Paraguay to quarter-finals. Martino confirmed that with his four-year contract expiring, he would not be extending his spell in charge of the national side.[6] However, on 10 July 2010, Martino agreed to stay on as Paraguay coach until after the 2011 Copa America, in which Paraguay were runners-up after losing to Uruguay in the final.[7]

Newell's Old Boys

After Hernán Darío Gómez's departure from the Colombia national team, Martino received a proposition to coach the team but turned it down, opting instead to coach Newell's Old Boys, one of his former clubs as a player,[8] [9] and a club which at the time was dangerously close to relegation to the Primera B Nacional, the second tier of Argentine football. However, a series of impressive results under Martino secured top-flight status for Newell's, and Martino's reputation as a coach increased quite significantly.

Following his excellent first season at Newell's, Martino won the 2013 Torneo Final, the second and final stage of the Argentine Primera División season and reached the semi-finals of the 2013 Copa Libertadores. As a result, Martino won further plaudits as a coach, having transformed Newell's from a team facing relegation on his arrival to a title-winning side, in addition to the arguably more impressive feat of reaching the 2013 Copa Libertadores semi-final, the pinnacle club competition organized by CONMEBOL. It was this startling turnaround that further increased Martino's stock as a coach, and his achievements at Newell's soon caught the attention of various clubs in Europe, including Barcelona.

Barcelona

thumb|upright|Martino with Barcelona in 2014On 7 July 2013, Martino was confirmed as head coach of Spanish club Barcelona to replace Tito Vilanova, who resigned three days earlier due to health issues.[10] He signed a two-year deal at Barcelona.[11] [12] His first competitive game in charge of Barça was on 18 August 2013 against Levante, a game which Barcelona won 7–0 on the opening weekend of the 2013–14 La Liga season.[13] On 26 October 2013, Martino won 2–1 against rivals Real Madrid at the Camp Nou, winning his first Clásico as a Barcelona coach. Three days later, Barcelona went on to win 0–3 at Celta Vigo, and Martino became the first coach in Barcelona history to not lose a game in his first 16 matches. On 20 November, Martino's unbeaten start as Barcelona coach came to an end after his 21st game in charge, as Barcelona lost 2–1 away at Ajax in the 2013–14 UEFA Champions League. After conceding the 2013–14 La Liga title on the last day of the season to Atlético Madrid, Martino announced he was to leave his role after just one year in charge, during which he did not manage to win any major trophy except the Spanish Super Cup.[14]

Argentina national team

On 12 August 2014, Martino was introduced as the new head coach for the Argentina national team, succeeding Alejandro Sabella who took the side into the final against Germany at the World Cup in Brazil.[15] [16] In the 2015 Copa América, he reached the final, in which Argentina were runners-up after losing to hosts Chile on penalties. They also finished as runners-up in the Copa América Centenario Final on 26 June 2016 against Chile, again losing on penalties.[3] On 5 July 2016, Martino resigned.[3]

Atlanta United

thumb|upright|Martino with Atlanta United in 2017After departing from Argentina, Martino was announced as Major League Soccer expansion team Atlanta United's inaugural season head coach on 27 September 2016.[17] On 23 October 2018, Martino announced that he would not renew his contract with Atlanta United following the conclusion of the 2018 MLS season, citing personal reasons.[18] He was expected to sign with the Mexico national team.[19] Atlanta defeated the Portland Timbers in the MLS Cup, winning their first league title in Martino's last match with the club.[20]

Mexico national team

On 7 January 2019, Martino was announced as head coach of the Mexico national team in his return to international management since leaving Argentina in May 2016.[21] [22] On 22 March, Martino won his first match with Mexico with a 3–1 win over Chile in a friendly.[23] Later in the same year, Martino and Mexico won the CONCACAF Gold Cup over rivals the United States in a 1–0 victory, his first national title.[24]

But in 2021, Martino saw a steep drop in form, losing both the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League final and CONCACAF Gold Cup to the United States. This was further compounded with a 2–0 loss to the United States in World Cup qualifying in November, marking the first time in the rivalry since 1934 that one side had swept three matches against the other in a calendar year.

In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Martino led Mexico to their biggest failure in 44 years, since Mexico finished third in their group behind Poland on goal difference, resulting in their first exit from the group stage since 1978.[25] Following their last group match against Saudi Arabia, Martino fulfilled his contract as head coach of Mexico, as reports were coming out that he would be let go even if Mexico made a deep run in the World Cup, due to his unpopularity and combative persona.[26]

Inter Miami

On 28 June 2023, Martino was announced as head coach of Inter Miami, marking his return to the MLS after leaving Atlanta United in 2018.[27] Right away, Martino's team won the Leagues Cup, Inter Miami's first trophy, behind the heroics of summer signing Lionel Messi.

Managerial style

Gerardo Martino prefers to play a very high pressing and an attacking style of football. At Barcelona, Martino continued the club's preferred style of play tiki-taka along with his own tactics. All of Martino's teams have the same distinguishable traits: they play attack-minded football, they are creative and the style is based on quick passing. In addition, Martino's teams also pressure high up the pitch, play out from the back and depend on their youth systems.[28]

Managerial statistics

[29] [30] [31] [32]

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNatFromToRecord
1 January 199831 December 1998
1 January 199931 December 1999
1 January 200031 December 2000
Libertad1 January 200230 June 2003
Cerro Porteño1 July 200331 December 2004
1 January 200530 June 2005
Libertad1 July 200530 June 2006
Paraguay1 July 200729 July 2011
Newell's Old Boys1 January 201222 July 2013
Barcelona23 July 201317 May 2014
Argentina13 August 20145 July 2016
Atlanta United27 September 201618 December 2018
Mexico7 January 201930 November 2022
Inter Miami10 July 2023present
Total

Personal life

Gerardo Martino is of Italian descent. His grandparents are from Ripacandida, Basilicata.[33] Martino is married to fellow Argentine María Angélica.

Honours

Player

Newell's Old Boys

1987–88, 1990–91, 1992 Clausura[34]

Manager

Libertad

2002, 2003, 2006

Cerro Porteño

Newell's Old Boys

2013 Final

Barcelona

2013[35]

Atlanta United

2018

2018

Inter Miami

Paraguay

Argentina

Mexico

2019

Individual

2007[36]

2018[37]

2018[38]

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20190221054658/http://static.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=192445/index.html FIFA.com
  2. Web site: Gerardo Martino, el más paraguayo de los argentinos comandará al equipo 'guaraní'. 27 May 2010. UnivisiónFútbol.com. es. 3 June 2010.
  3. News: Gerardo Martino quits Argentina and blames 'serious problems' at AFA . 6 September 2020 . The Guardian . 5 July 2016.
  4. Web site: Gerardo Martino resigns as Argentina manager as team's chaos continues - FOX Sports. 5 July 2016.
  5. Web site: Latest Football News, Transfer Rumours & More. Goal.com.
  6. News: Gerardo Martino quits Paraguay post . 4 July 2010 . . . 5 July 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100709183917/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/806168/ce/uk/?cc=5739&ver=global . 9 July 2010.
  7. News: Martino to stay as Paraguay coach. 9 July 2010. BBC Sport. BBC. 11 July 2010.
  8. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20090614120207/https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/club=204/index.html. 14 June 2009. Newell's Old Boys. FIFA. 26 July 2012. 16 June 2018.
  9. Web site: Esquadrão Imortal – Newell's Old Boys 1987–1992. Immortal Squad – Newell's Old Boys 1987–1992. Imortais do Futebol. pt. 11 November 2014. 16 June 2018.
  10. News: Tata Martino ya es entrenador del FC Barcelona. 22 July 2013. Marca. 22 July 2013.
  11. Web site: Barcelona appoint Gerardo Martino as successor to Tito Vilanova. 22 July 2013. The Guardian. 23 July 2013 .
  12. Web site: Gerardo Martino, new coach of FC Barcelona. 22 July 2013. FC Barcelona official website. 23 July 2013 .
  13. Web site: Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino says there is plenty to come from his new side after 7-0 win. 19 August 2013. The Daily Telegraph. 22 August 2013 .
  14. Web site: Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino leaves in wake of Atlético title triumph. 17 May 2014. The Guardian. 21 May 2014.
  15. Web site: La Era Martino. 12 August 2014. Olé. 12 August 2014. 21 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140821032849/http://www.ole.com.ar/seleccion/Tata-listo_0_1192081112.html. dead.
  16. Web site: Martino to lead Argentina into the unknown. 13 August 2014. ESPN. 24 September 2014.
  17. Web site: Rodriguez. Alicia. Gerardo 'Tata' Martino named first-ever head coach of Atlanta United FC. MLSSoccer. 28 January 2017.
  18. News: Roberson . Doug . Manager Gerardo Martino leaving Atlanta United . 4 November 2018 . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . 23 October 2018.
  19. Web site: Martino returning to Atlanta with Mexico - sources. 18 December 2018. ESPN.com.
  20. Web site: MLS Cup: Atlanta United beat Portland Timbers to win title. 9 December 2018. BBC Sport.
  21. Web site: Tata Martino named Mexico national team manager. 7 January 2019.
  22. Web site: Former Barcelona boss becomes Mexico coach. 7 January 2019. The 42. 8 January 2019.
  23. Web site: Mexico triumph over Chile in Gerardo "Tata" Martino's debut. 22 March 2019.
  24. Web site: Ricardo Otero. Gerardo Martino gana su primer título de selecciones. tudn.com. es. 7 July 2019.
  25. Web site: Mexico coach Martino rues 'huge failure' at World Cup . Radio France Internationale . 30 November 2022 .
  26. Web site: Explained: Why Mexico got rid of Gerardo 'Tata' Martino immediately after World Cup elimination . Goal.com . 1 December 2022 .
  27. Web site: 2023-06-28 . Inter Miami hire ex-Barca coach 'Tata' Martino . 2023-06-28 . ESPN.com . en.
  28. Web site: Gerardo 'Tata' Martino (2013-14). FC Barcelona.
  29. Web site: Argentina (2014) . National Football Teams . 27 June 2016.
  30. Web site: Argentina (2015) . National Football Teams . 27 June 2016.
  31. Web site: Argentina (2016) . National Football Teams . 27 June 2016.
  32. News: Gerardo 'Tata' Martino (2013–14) . FC Barcelona official website . 27 June 2016.
  33. Web site: Un lucano sulla panchina del Barça - Sport Basilicata .
  34. Web site: La AFA > Campeones de Primera División . . 11 June 2018 . es . https://web.archive.org/web/20150617061659/http://www.afa.com.ar/institucional/campeones-primera-division.php . 17 June 2015 . dead .
  35. Web site: Farley . Richard . Stalemate at Nou Camp gives Barcelona Spanish Super Cup over Atlético Madrid . . 11 June 2018 . 28 August 2013 . After four games, it’s unclear Gerardo Martino’s team won’t be susceptible to the same failings that undid Tito Vilanova’s..
  36. Web site: South American Coach and Player of the Year . . 10 January 2018 . 11 June 2018 . José Luis . Pierrend .
  37. Web site: Tata Martino announces full 2018 MLS All-Star Game roster. 29 June 2018.
  38. Web site: Atlanta United's Gerardo "Tata" Martino named 2018 MLS Coach of the Year . . 13 November 2018 . 13 November 2018.