Alonso likely to be named first coach

The long wait for an Inter Miami coach is about to end. Diego Alonso, a former Uruguayan player who most recently coached Monterrey in the Mexican league, is expected to be named Inter Miami’s first coach on Monday.

The news was first reported on ESPN Deportes’ Jorge Ramos y su Banda show, and a league source confirmed that Alonso is, in fact, Inter Miami’s choice for coach. Ramos is a Uruguayan sports commentator.

Inter Miami officials, reached late Friday night, had no comment. The team has signed 20 players and Major League Soccer training camp begins the third week of January. Their first game is March 1 at Los Angeles FC.

Alonso, 44, coached Monterrey in 2018-19 after spending four seasons with Mexican team Pachuca, leading both teams to CONCACAF Champions League titles — Pachuca in 2016-17 and Monterrey in 2019. He also led Pachuca to a third-place finish in the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup and Copa MX runner up in 2017. Pachuca’s success came with a young team, and much of Inter Miami’s roster is young, making him a good candidate.

Despite leading Monterrey’s “Rayados” (The Striped Ones) to the Champions League title in May and beating archrival Tigres in the final, Alonso was fired on Sept. 30. His overall record with the club was 31-12-12, but media critics were getting loud after a September slump, and a 2-0 home league loss to Tigres pushed team officials to let go of Alonso and bring back his predecessor, Antonio Mohamed.

Alonso was 74-53-46 with Pachuca. Before the Mexican league, he coached at Olimpia (Paraguay), Penarol (Uruguay), Guarani (Paraguay) and Bella Vista (Uruguay).

He played five years in Spain for five clubs — Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Racing de Santander, Malaga, and Real Murcia. He also played in Mexico, Uruguay, and China. Alonso also made eight appearances for the Uruguayan national team.

Other coaches who had been linked to the Inter Miami job were Marcelo Gallardo of River Plate, Patrick Vieira of Nice, and Carlo Ancelotti of Napoli, who was just hired by Everton.

Inter Miami still has several roster spots to fill, including two higher-priced Designated Players. David Silva of Manchester City is reportedly one of them. Those signings are expected in the next few weeks, as the European transfer period begins.

FRANCISCO GUASCO/EFE Diego Alonso, a former Uruguayan player who most recently coached Monterrey in the Mexican league, is expected to be named Inter Miami’s first coach.