Paraguay national team Martino was assigned as head coach of the Paraguay national football team in February 2007, replacing
Uruguayan Anibal "Maño" Ruiz. His knowledge and success while coaching
Paraguayan clubs were the parameters that positioned him as the best option for the job (other candidates were
Nery Pumpido and
Miguel Ángel Russo). Previously, Martino had won the Paraguayan league four times from 2002 to 2006. In 2008, Martino was linked for vacant managerial position of
Iran Pro League side
Steel Azin, but the deal was cancelled for personal reasons. On 5 July 2010, Martino announced that he would be stepping down as Paraguay coach on their return from the
2010 FIFA World Cup, in which he led Paraguay to quarter-finals. Martino confirmed that with his four-year contract expiring, he would not be extending his spell in charge of the national side. However, on 10 July 2010, Martino agreed to stay on as Paraguay coach until after the
2011 Copa America, in which Paraguay were runners-up after losing to Uruguay in the final.
Newell's Old Boys After
Hernán Darío Gómez's departure from the
Colombia national team, Martino received a proposition to coach the team but turned it down, opting instead to coach
Newell's Old Boys, one of his former clubs as a player, and a club which at the time was dangerously close to relegation to the
Primera B Nacional, the second tier of Argentine football. However, a series of impressive results under Martino secured top-flight status for Newell's, and Martino's reputation as a coach increased quite significantly. Following his first season at Newell's, Martino won the
2013 Torneo Final, the second and final stage of the
Argentine Primera División season, and reached the semi-finals of the
2013 Copa Libertadores. As a result, Martino won further plaudits as a coach, having transformed Newell's from a team facing relegation on his arrival to a title-winning side, in addition to reaching the
2013 Copa Libertadores semi-final, the pinnacle club competition organized by
CONMEBOL. This turnaround increased Martino's stock as a coach, and his achievements at Newell's soon caught the attention of various clubs in Europe, including
Barcelona.
Barcelona On 7 July 2013, Martino was confirmed as head coach of Spanish club Barcelona to replace
Tito Vilanova, who resigned three days earlier due to health issues. He signed a two-year deal at Barcelona. His first competitive game in charge of Barça was on 18 August 2013 against
Levante, a game which Barcelona won 7–0 on the opening weekend of the
2013–14 La Liga season. On 26 October 2013, Martino won 2–1 against rivals Real Madrid at the
Camp Nou, winning his first
Clásico as a Barcelona coach. Three days later, Barcelona went on to win 0–3 at
Celta Vigo, and Martino became the first coach in Barcelona history to not lose a game in his first 16 matches. On 20 November, Martino's unbeaten start as Barcelona coach came to an end after his 21st game in charge, as Barcelona lost 2–1 away at
Ajax in the
2013–14 UEFA Champions League. After conceding the
2013–14 La Liga title on the last day of the season to
Atlético Madrid, Martino announced he was to leave his role after just one year in charge, during which he did not manage to win any major trophy except the Spanish Super Cup.
Argentina national team On 12 August 2014, Martino was introduced as the new head coach for the
Argentina national team, succeeding
Alejandro Sabella, who took the side into the final against Germany at the World Cup in Brazil. In the
2015 Copa América, he reached the
final, in which Argentina were runners-up after losing to hosts
Chile on penalties. They also finished as runners-up in the
Copa América Centenario Final on 26 June 2016 against Chile, again losing on penalties. On 23 October 2018, Martino announced that he would not renew his contract with Atlanta United following the conclusion of the
2018 MLS season, citing personal reasons. He was expected to sign with the
Mexico national team. Atlanta defeated the
Portland Timbers in the
MLS Cup, winning their first league title in Martino's last match with the club.
Mexico national team On 7 January 2019, Martino was announced as head coach of the
Mexico national team in his return to international management since leaving Argentina in May 2016. On 22 March, Martino won his first match with Mexico with a 3–1 win over Chile in a friendly. Later in the same year, Martino and Mexico won the
CONCACAF Gold Cup over rivals the
United States in a
1–0 victory, his first national title. But in 2021, Martino saw a steep drop in form, losing both the inaugural
CONCACAF Nations League final and
CONCACAF Gold Cup to the United States. This was further compounded with a 2–0 loss to the United States in
World Cup qualifying in November, marking the first time in the
rivalry since 1934 that one side had swept three matches against the other in a calendar year. In the
2022 FIFA World Cup, Martino led Mexico to their biggest failure in 44 years, since Mexico finished third in their group behind
Poland on goal difference, resulting in their first exit from the group stage since 1978. Following their last group match against
Saudi Arabia, Martino fulfilled his contract as head coach of Mexico, as reports were coming out that he would be let go even if Mexico made a deep run in the World Cup, due to his unpopularity and combative persona.
Inter Miami On 28 June 2023, Martino was announced as head coach of
Inter Miami, marking his return to MLS after leaving Atlanta United in 2018. Right away, Martino's team won the
Leagues Cup, Inter Miami's first trophy, behind the heroics of summer signing
Lionel Messi. Miami also made the
2023 U.S. Open Cup final, losing to
Houston Dynamo. Martino led Inter Miami's strong turnaround in the
2024 MLS season, taking a team that had finished 27th in the
Supporters' Shield standings in
2023 to 1st, winning the Supporters' Shield and setting a league record for points in a season. On 22 November 2024, after losing to Atlanta United in round one of the
2024 MLS Cup playoffs, Martino announced that he was stepping down from his role with Inter Miami "due to personal reasons".
Return to Atlanta United On 6 November 2025, Martino returned to Atlanta United as head coach, signing a two-year contract through 2027. ==Managerial style==