Report: Kurt Schmid, Niki Budalic to join Inter Miami CF staff

Niki Budalic

Two men with recent MLS experience are reportedly joining the staff at MLS expansion club Inter Miami CF.


The Athletic's Paul Tenorio reported on Wednesday that Kurt Schmid and Niki Budalic will be joining the front office at the club, which will begin play in MLS in 2020.


Schmid is currently the director of player personnel and scouting for the LA Galaxy having been hired for that position in Nov. 2017. Prior to that, he served as assistant coach, head scout and director of player personnel at the Seattle Sounders from 2009-16. Schmid has also been an assistant coach at Saint Mary's College and UC Irvine.


He is the son of MLS all-time coaching wins leader, Sigi Schmid, who died on Dec. 25.


Budalic most recently worked as general manager at Orlando City. Joining the staff there in the summer of 2016, he was promoted to GM at the end of that year, and served in that role until his dismissal in November. The Canadian played professional soccer in his native country and in Scandinavia prior to entering the front office ranks.


Inter Miami's front office currently consists of sporting director Paul McDonough, hired in Aug. 2018, who helped launch both Orlando City and Atlanta United in their respective MLS debuts in recent years.