Sun Sentinel Broward Edition

Is Ellis in future for Inter Miami?

- By Safid Deen

U.S. women’s soccer national team coach Jill Ellis lives in South Florida, just won her second World Cup title and has four games remaining in her role during the team’s World Cup victory tour this year.

But what does the future hold for Ellis, especially with Jorge Mas and David Beckham’s Inter Miami team taking root in the area?

“Right now, I’m just coming up for air,” Ellis said Tuesday with a laugh when asked if she had interest in coaching the MLS expansion team.

“Right now, I’m just literally enjoying my time and getting through my last games here with the team. Then, I’m open to everything.”

Ellis, who lives in Palmetto Bay, was a guest of the Miami Dolphins during training camp on Tuesday.

She watched the players train and had conversati­ons with Dolphins general manager Chris Grier, coach Brian Flores, legendary quarterbac­k Dan Marino and several players after speaking to the team following practice.

“I just said to them, ‘Play hard against each other in training because every day our players pushed each other and it helps you because iron sharpens iron,’ ” Ellis said.

She also told Dolphins players, “We were the most prepared team at the World Cup, and the details and preparatio­n are key to get it done. And the final thing is heart — and that’s always the intangible thinking.”

Ellis said she’s been to a few Dolphins games and has been a big NFL fan while living in South Florida. She said watching the Dolphins train hard in practice was encouragin­g.

“It’s a well-oiled machine,” Ellis said. “I’m excited to see this season.”

Inter Miami may be close to hiring its new coach. Italian publicatio­n La Gazzetta dello Sport reported earlier this week that Beckham’s former AC Milan teammate Gennaro Gattuso could earn the job.

But Ellis still has her hands full after the United States’ win in the World Cup earlier this summer. Her run as the national coach will continue for four more games during the victory tour. The U.S. team will face Portugal on Aug. 29 in Philadelph­ia and Sept. 3 in St. Paul, Minnesota before playing Korea on Oct. 3 in Charlotte and Oct. 6 in Chicago.

“It’s been a little crazy,” Ellis said. “Overall the response has been amazing, just to feel the love that this team had and generate has been fantastic.”

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