The Inter Miami coaching search is quickly heating up, with reports from multiple continents on Wednesday and Thursday shedding some light on who might lead the ambitious expansion side in 2020.
On Wednesday evening, UK publication The Telegraph reported that Miami are targeting Patrick Vieira to become the team's first head coach. On the other side of the Atlantic on Thursday morning, ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman reported that Vieira is "the top candidate" for the job:
Vieira, a legend as a player with Arsenal and the French national team, is currently in charge of Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice. The club is currently struggling in 15th place, though finished seventh under Vieira in the 2018-19 season. The Telegraph reports that Miami would be prepared to compensate Nice for Vieira's services, and that Vieira has held talks this week with the Nice board.
Prior to his joining Nice in summer 2018, Vieira was in charge of New York City FC for two-and-a-half largely successful seasons. The Frenchman led the club to its first playoff appearances in 2016 and 2017 and won acclaim for his team's free-flowing, attacking style of play. He departed to work in his home country with a 39-22-22 record in MLS play.
Another report emerged Wednesday regarding one of the most heavily-rumored candidates for the job, with Argentina-based outlet Doble Amarilla claiming that although there had been talks, Marcelo Gallardo was no longer in the running. The River Plate coach reportedly did not want to start negotiations over a move until after River's calendar year of competitive play ends — which is the Copa Argentina final on Dec. 13 — while Miami were reportedly looking to close a deal "in the first days of December."
Whoever the Inter Miami coach is, fans may not have long to wait. Owner Jorge Mas said during the Expansion Draft on Nov. 19 that a final call had been made on the hire.
