Inter Miami are only just starting to write their history after the club entered Major League Soccer in 2020. But the franchise co-owned by David Beckham already have highs and lows.
Club name
The Inter Miami owners agreed to officially name their team as Club Internacional de Futbol Miami after securing an MLS expansion entry. It was decided to embrace the ‘Inter’ moniker to reflect the team’s international and multicultural perspective, plus the diversity of Miami.
It is also from the history and reputation of the city that Inter Miami adopted the nickname, Vice City. The city earned the tag in the 1980s but it is now a reflection of the fast-paced and high-class nature of the region. Inter Miami also adopted the Herons as another nickname.
Inter Miami badge
Inter Miami also embraced the Herons as a nickname with two Great White Heron used for the club’s badge. The herons are typical long-legged and long-necked coastal birds around South Florida. Inter Miami have herons with interlocked legs to create an ‘M’ on their badge.
The heron is now a symbol for what Inter Miami aspire to be with the large, wading bird also a sign of power and protection. So, as well as using the bird for the club’s badge, Inter Miami adopted the heron as their mascot. The heron also inspired the team’s maiden home jersey.
Kit history
Inter Miami have adopted pink as the club’s primary color since 2022, having initially started out wearing white jerseys. Vice City took inspiration from the heron when creating their first strip, as well. It was a white shirt with pink accents to symbolize the vibrant soul of the area.
Changes were made for the 2022 MLS season as Inter Miami welcomed fans to design their first pink home kit. It was dubbed ‘The Heartbeat Kit’ as Vice City sought to honor their fans with an M-shaped EKG line in the fabric. Inter Miami only made marginal alterations in 2023.
Black away shirts have also been the main choice for Inter Miami throughout the club’s brief history so far. They provide the Chase Stadium natives a contrasting jersey when needed.
League history
Inter Miami joined Major League Soccer in the 2020 season and nearly reached the play-offs straight away. But a debut appearance in the knockout stages only arrived in 2022. Nashville SC ended the Herons’ dream start during their inaugural campaign during the play-in round.
Phil Neville ultimately led Inter Miami into the post-season for the first time in 2022. But the club fell to New York City FC in the first round after finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference. While Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino led Vice City to their first Leagues Cup during the 2023 season.
Inter Miami trophies
Martino only replaced Neville in charge of the Herons in June 2023. But he oversaw the first piece of silverware in Inter Miami’s trophy cabinet that August when Vice City beat Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup final. The Chase Stadium side just edged the tie 10-9 on penalties.
Argentina icon Lionel Messi scored to edge Inter Miami ahead in regular time at Geodis Park in Nashville. He also converted the Herons’ first penalty after Fafa Picault equalized. Drake Callender scored Vice City’s winning attempt from 12 yards out for the trophy in Tennessee.
In 2024, Inter Miami added to their trophy haul – picking up the Supporters’ Shield for winning the most MLS points that season. The Herons notched a record-breaking 74 points – the highest-ever total from an MLS side.
Players and managers
Rodolfo Pizarro wrote his name in the pages of Inter Miami’s history books forever on March 7, 2020. The midfielder had joined the expansion side that February from CF Monterrey and scored Vice City’s first-ever MLS goal. Pizarro fired two minutes into a 2-1 loss at DC United.
Yet Pizarro wrote even better headlines on August 22, 2020. His goal gave Inter Miami their first-ever MLS win with a 3-2 result against rivals Orlando City. The Mexican hit home in the 49th minute after a brace from Julian Carranza. Daryl Dike and Nani scored for the visitors.
Inter Miami made further headlines on September 18, 2020 as they signed Gonzalo Higuain as a Designated Player. The Argentine arrived in the USA as a three-time La Liga title winner at Real Madrid, three-time Serie A winner at Juventus and Europa League winner at Chelsea.
December 2020 also saw Felipe Valencia become Inter Miami’s first Homegrown Player at 15 years old. The winger was the first player to sign for Vice City’s first-team from Inter Miami’s Academy. But Edison Azcona took the honor of being the first Homegrown Player to feature.
Azcona was the Herons’ second Homegrown Player and made his Vice City debut on May 2, 2021 against Nashville SC. While Messi made his Inter Miami debut in iconic fashion against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup on July 22, 2023 when his last-minute free-kick won their tie.
Diego Alonso, meanwhile, had the honour of becoming the first head coach in Inter Miami’s history as a club. The Uruguayan took charge at Chase Stadium in December 2019 ahead of Vice City’s expansion season. He lasted just over a year in charge before Neville took over.