Beckham’s Inter Miami hires coach

MIAMI, Florida (AP):

David Beckham’s new Major League Soccer (MLS) team finally has its first coach, with Inter Miami hiring Diego Alonso.

The Uruguayan, who has coached two different teams to Concacaf Champions League titles, officially took over yesterday as the inaugural manager of Beckham’s club. He was an attacker as a player and prefers the same scoring-minded style as a coach.

“We knew we would find a coach that matches our aspirations of trying to be successful right out of the gate,” Inter Miami Sporting Director Paul McDonough said. “What we really like about him is he’s coached at big clubs and he’s won at big tournaments. He’s won at all different levels throughout South America.”

RIGHT FIT

Alonso said after he went through his first interview with Inter Miami officials, he knew the job was right for him.

“It’s an ambitious and a winning project,” Alonso told the AP. “That’s what I’m all about.”

Alonso won’t have long to get settled. Inter Miami – with Beckham a leading part of the ownership and front office – will gather for their first practices in January, have preseason matches in February and make their MLS debut on March 1 at Los Angeles FC. The home opener at the team’s newly constructed home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is March 14 against the LA Galaxy.

“I’m very excited,” Alonso said. “I know this league very well. I know the challenge.”

Alonso was most recently coach of the Mexican club Monterrey, which had success against MLS sides during their run to the 2019 Concacaf Champions League title. They beat Atlanta United by a 3-1 two-game aggregate in the quarter-finals, then rolled past Sporting Kansas City by a 10-2 aggregate in the semi-finals.

He’s the only coach to win that Concacaf tournament with two different clubs.