Inter Miami is a Major League Soccer (MLS) team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that began play in 2020. As a new expansion team, Inter Miami has gone through some growing pains but has ambitious goals of becoming one of the top clubs in MLS. An important figure leading the strategic direction of the club is the general manager, the person in charge of personnel decisions like signing players, hiring coaches, and more.
Chris Henderson – First General Manager
The first general manager in Inter Miami’s history was Chris Henderson. Henderson was hired in 2018 during the club’s inaugural season in MLS. He brought decades of experience working in MLS, having previously served as technical director and vice president of soccer operations for the Seattle Sounders.
Some key facts about Chris Henderson:
- Played as a midfielder in MLS from 1996-2000 for Colorado, Kansas City, and Miami Fusion.
- Won MLS Cup and Supporters Shield titles as a player.
- After retirement became a scout, assistant coach, and youth academy coach for Seattle Sounders starting in 2009.
- Helped build Seattle into one of MLS’s most consistent and successful franchises.
- Was instrumental in bringing elite players like Nicolas Lodeiro to Seattle while technical director.
During his tenure at Inter Miami, Henderson worked under owner David Beckham and Sporting Director Paul McDonough to build the team’s inaugural roster and soccer operations department from the ground up. This included overseeing the hiring of the team’s first head coach, Diego Alonso. His connections in the league helped Inter Miami sign established MLS veterans like Luis Robles, AJ DeLaGarza, and Lee Nguyen.
Departure as General Manager
Despite his expertise, Inter Miami struggled in their first MLS season in 2020, missing the playoffs with a 7-13-3 record. In January 2021, Henderson parted ways with the club in what was described as a mutual agreement.
Inter Miami CF managing owner Jorge Mas said of Henderson’s exit:
“While we appreciate Chris’ contributions and commitment in his time here, we believe it’s best for both parties to move forward independently. We thank him for his service to the Club and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
The team’s inaugural struggles and desire for a fresh direction ultimately led the club to make a change at GM. Henderson can be credited with building an expansion team from scratch and laying important foundations, even if the on-field results were lacking in year one.
Hiring of Chris Henderson Replacement
To replace Henderson, Inter Miami conducted an extensive search for their new general manager. They looked for an executive who could take the team to the next level after the initial building phase under Henderson.
In April 2021, Inter Miami announced they had hired longtime MLS executive Chris Henderson as general manager and chief soccer officer. Some key points on Henderson’s hiring:
- Spent 8 years with Atlanta United as vice president and technical director, helping build them into a league powerhouse.
- Experience working under coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino and recruiting stars like Josef Martinez and Miguel Almiron.
- Won MLS Cup, U.S. Open Cup, and Campeones Cup titles with Atlanta.
- Began his MLS career with Chicago Fire and Chivas USA after playing 10+ seasons in the league.
- Regarded as one of the top roster builders and talent evaluators in MLS.
Team co-owner Jorge Mas had high praise for Henderson upon his hiring:
“Chris brings a championship pedigree to Inter Miami as one of the leading technical minds and operators in Major League Soccer,” said Mas. “He has an exceptional track record of identifying talent, developing homegrown players, securing top acquisitions, and building a team with strong chemistry.”
Many expected Henderson to overhaul Inter Miami’s roster after taking over as GM. His extensive connections and transfer market knowledge were seen as assets to upgrade the quality and depth of the squad.
Early Moves as General Manager
In his first few months as Inter Miami GM, Henderson began putting his imprint on the team through several important signings:
- Kieran Gibbs – Signed veteran English left back from West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer.
- Gregore – Acquired Brazilian defensive midfielder with over 200 appearances for Bahia in Brazil’s Serie A.
- Ryan Shawcross – Signed experienced English center back who spent 14 seasons with Stoke City.
- Indiana Vassilev – Secured loan of American striker prospect from Aston Villa.
These signings addressed key needs for Inter Miami heading into the 2021 MLS season. Henderson added defensive reinforcements and depth in midfield and attack. His connections in the English market were on display with the Gibbs and Shawcross signings.
In the summer transfer window, Henderson made an even bigger splash signing Argentine star Gonzalo Higuaín as a Designated Player. Henderson got the Higuaín deal done by using Targeted Allocation Money to buy down Matias Pellegrini’s salary budget charge.
Henderson has begun putting his fingerprints on Inter Miami’s roster and rebuilding the team in his image. Fans hoped these moves would lead to better results on the field in year two.
Chris Henderson’s Managerial Style and Approach
Over his many years working in MLS front offices, Chris Henderson has developed a distinct approach to technical direction and roster building. Some hallmarks of his managerial style include:
- Scouting expertise – Henderson has an extensive scouting network and excels at player evaluation. He trusts his judgment of players’ quality and fit.
- Youth development focus – Places emphasis on building a strong academy pipeline to develop homegrown talent.
- Balancing youth and experience – Believes in blending seasoned veterans with rising young players.
- MLS roster rules mastery – Deep understanding of MLS mechanisms like Allocation Money to acquire players.
- Chemistry builder – Careful to find players with the right mentality and attitude to mesh together.
- Collaborative approach – Works closely with ownership, coaches, and staff to create alignment on vision.
This well-rounded team-building philosophy has served Henderson extremely well during his time working for Chicago, Chivas USA, and most notably Atlanta United. Inter Miami was hoping he could replicate that success as general manager.
Review of Henderson’s Performance as GM
Now having served as Inter Miami GM for over a year, we can begin to assess Chris Henderson’s performance in the role so far:
- Strong early returns on signings like Gregore, Gibbs, and Shawcross, who have been regular starters.
- The Higuain signing gave Inter Miami a world-class striker, though injuries have limited his availability.
- Did well to clear out some poor early signings like Pellegrini, Victor Ulloa, and Dylan Nealis who didn’t fit.
- Yet to fully deliver a roster with depth and talent comparable to elite MLS clubs.
- 2022 will be a prove-it year for Henderson to take the team to the playoffs.
There are still many areas where Henderson can continue improving the squad, such as finding a top central midfielder, addressing goalkeeping, and building wing depth. But early returns show promise, with many of his acquisitions so far panning out.
Most importantly, Henderson aligned very well with Inter Miami’s second coach Phil Neville and established a collaborative working relationship. Both men seem to be on the same page about Inter Miami’s identity and vision.
Conclusion
Chris Henderson came into a challenging situation having to rebuild Inter Miami after a poor inaugural season. But he has used his extensive experience, scouting network, and skillset as a technical director to put his stamp on the club’s soccer operations. Impressive early returns on acquisitions show his roster building acumen.
While Henderson’s performance is not yet perfect, he has Inter Miami on an upward trajectory as they aim to qualify for the MLS playoffs. With improved depth and talent, he has built a roster capable of competing with any team in MLS. Time will tell if Henderson can make Inter Miami into a league powerhouse, but the club appears headed in the right direction under his leadership.