About Inter Miami: Everything You Need to Know
If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’ve heard that Messi is joining Inter Miami CF. It’s an incredible move by a team currently near the bottom of the table. I think it’s more remarkable for the culture of American soccer.
Key Takeaways From This Article:
- Inter Miami CF was established in 2018 but didn’t join the MLS until 2020. Since then, the team has exploded thanks to the signing of Messi and other European players.
- Beckham is a co-owner and currently serves as the team’s President of Soccer Operations. He has done a terrific job in his role.
- Inter Miami currently plays at DRV PNK Stadium but is going to be moving to a new state-of-the-art stadium.
In this article, we’ll deep dive into Inter Miami as a professional organization. Let’s get into it…
History of Inter Miami
Inter Miami CF is a relatively new club that began to play in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the 2020 season.
The club is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and currently plays its home MLS matches at DRV PNK Stadium, the site of the former Lockhart Stadium.
Founding of Inter Miami
Inter Miami CF was officially launched on January 29, 2018, as Major League Soccer’s 25th club. For context, MLS was born in 1993.
The team’s founding members include David Beckham, Jorge Mas, Marcelo Claure, and Masayoshi Son.
Beckham, a former English footballer, had been working on bringing a soccer team to Miami since 2014. And, he played a very important part in bringing Messi over to the States.
Inter Miami Ownership
Inter Miami CF is owned by a group of investors led by Jorge Mas, a Miami-based businessman and entrepreneur.
Mas serves as the team’s Managing Owner and CEO, while Beckham is a co-owner and serves as the team’s President of Soccer Operations.
The team’s ownership group has a global vision for the club, but they have made it clear that their fans in South Florida will always be their first priority. They are committed to creating a team that reflects the best of the local community and that brings people together around the sport of soccer.
Inter Miami CF is a young team with a lot of potential. They have a strong ownership group, a dedicated fan base, and a commitment to building a team that reflects the best of their community.
They also have a strong MLS NEXT program which will hopefully breed homegrown talent up the system.
What is Inter Miami’s Stadium?
Inter Miami CF’s home stadium is DRV PNK Stadium, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The stadium was built on the site of the former Lockhart Stadium and has a capacity of 18,000 seats.
Inter Miami Location
DRV PNK Stadium is located in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, making it easily accessible to fans from all over South Florida.
The stadium is just a short drive from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and is located near major highways, making it easy to get to by car.
Capacity of Inter Miami
DRV PNK Stadium has only a seating capacity of 18,000, making it one of the smaller stadiums in the MLS.
The stadium features 33 luxury suites and a premium seating section, which provides an elevated view of the field.
The stadium is also home to Inter Miami CF II, the reserve team for Inter Miami CF, which competes in MLS Next Pro.
The smaller size of the stadium allows for a more intimate experience for fans, with great views of the field from every seat. But, as popularity grows so will the need to fit more fans into the arena. Enter the proposed stadium…
New Inter Miami Stadium
The Miami City Commission received approval for a redevelopment project which includes a new stadium for Inter Miami. The new stadium will be completed in late 2024 or early 2025 and will feature 25,000 seat stadium, at least 750 hotel rooms, 31.4-acre retail area, an office park with hundreds of thousands of square feet of space, and a 58-acre public park.
This is another win for Inter Miami as they can adjust to the demand of more ticket sales and a strong soccer culture. Although it’s adapting to the Messi effect, the proposal had been in motion prior.
Inter Miami Team
Inter Miami Roster
Inter Miami’s most high-profile player is Lionel Messi, who joined the team in 2023. Messi is widely considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, having won numerous awards and accolades throughout his career.
Other notable players on the Inter Miami roster include Josef Martinez, a talented striker who won the MLS Golden Boot in 2018. Nicolas Stefanelli, who played for Argentinian clubs Club Social y Deportivo Defensa y Justicia and Villa Dalmin. Leonarda Campana, who made an immediate impact after coming to the MLS on a loan from Wolverhampton.
Coaching Staff of Inter Miami
Inter Miami’s head coach is Phil Neville, a former player for Manchester United and the England national team. Neville was appointed as head coach in 2021 and has since led the team to several notable victories.
Neville’s coaching staff includes several other experienced soccer professionals, including assistant coaches Javier Morales and Darren Powell, and goalkeeper coach Sebastian Saja. Together, the coaching staff works to develop the team’s strategy and tactics, as well as to train and motivate the players.
Keep in mind that this is the pre-Messi coaching staff. It’s rumored that Gerardo Martino is considered to be the new manager of Inter Miami.
Achievements
Season Records
In their inaugural 2020 season, they finished in 10th place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 7 wins, 3 draws, and 13 losses.
In the 2021 season, they improved their record to 11 wins, 9 draws, and 14 losses, finishing in 11th place in the Eastern Conference.
In the 2022 season, they continued to improve, placing them 6th in the east. They finished a respectable 14 wins, 6 draws, and 14 losses.
So far in 2023 (as of June 9, 2023), they are 15th in the east with a record of 5 wins and 11 losses.
Trophies
Inter Miami CF has yet to win a trophy in their short history.
However, they have made some notable achievements in their first few years of existence. In 2023, they advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup, a major American soccer tournament, with a win over the Birmingham Legion.
The future is yet unwritten so it will be interesting to see what happens after Messi comes over. Just by his play and leadership alone, I think they will start creeping up the standings. Couple this with the players he may entice to join Inter Miami, this team is poised to do big things in the next 2-3 years.
Messi’s Offer with Inter Miami
Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami has been the talk of the town since the announcement was made.
The Argentine football star is leaving Paris St-Germain to join the Major League Soccer (MLS) team, and the details of his contract with Inter Miami have been revealed.
After rejecting Saudi Arabia’s billion-dollar deal, Messi accepted Inter Miami’s contract which includes a lucrative salary between $125M and $150M over the life of the 2 ½ year contract. This is in addition to the profit share from Apple and Adidas.
Messi’s move to Inter Miami is seen as a major coup for the MLS, as it brings one of the world’s best players to the league. It is also a significant move for Inter Miami, as Messi’s presence is expected to boost the team’s profile and attract more fans to the stadium.
The offer made to Messi by Inter Miami is unprecedented in the MLS, and it shows the ambition of the team’s owners to build a winning team.
My Thoughts on Inter Miami
With Messi coming over from Paris and a new stadium being built, the future is looking very bright for Inter Miami.
I also think we’ll see more homegrown players like Benjamin Cremaschi coming through their system MLS NEXT pathway.
Additionally, they have done a great job with their branding. I love what they have done with their behind-the-scenes videos on social. I think we’ll be seeing a lot of black and pink in the coming years.
What is more exciting to see is the potential of MLS because of Messi. Do the best American players stay in the U.S. rather than going overseas? Do some of the best Premier League players take their shot at playing in the MLS? Does revenue go up for every MLS team where they can reinvest it into building something bigger? We shall stay patient and see what’s ahead!
