David Beckham is poised to take a more active role in soccer-related decisions for Inter Miami CF ahead of the 2021 season, according to a story from Michelle Kaufman in The Miami Herald.
Beckham is co-owner of the club and also serves as their president of soccer operations. Miami launched as an expansion club in 2020, narrowly qualifying for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs as the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference before a Play-In Round exit against Nashville SC. In the weeks since, chief operating officer and sporting director Paul McDonough stepped down after shaping much of the club’s roster and on-field vision.
But the club’s inaugural season didn’t quite meet expectations, especially after a prolonged buildup as Beckham and his fellow owners angled to bring a MLS team back to South Florida. Beckham, who originally came to MLS in 2007 as a midfielder for the LA Galaxy, encountered numerous hurdles before Inter Miami launched.
With McDonough’s departure vacating the sporting director role, it opens the door for key roster decisions as Miami look to improve upon their 7W-13L-3D record. Their roster currently stands at 18 players, so there’s plenty of room to make additions.
In 2020, Miami opted for a blend of MLS experience, Latin American prospects and European veterans. The second bucket was led by Rodolfo Pizarro, while the third was headlined by Blaise Matuidi and Gonzalo Higuain. The team’s best player, however, was 24-year-old Scottish winger Lewis Morgan.
