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Messi gets a new Argentine coach
28th August, 2026 12:21 PM
Inter Miami has appointed Cristian ‘Kily’ Gonzalez as manager but will only start his job once he secures the necessary U.S. work permits, the Major League Soccer (MLS) club has announced.
Hoyos, who was previously overseeing Miami’s professional development structure, stepped into the role on a temporary basis after Javier Mascherano stepped down in April.
New first-team head coach
“Inter Miami has announced today that it has reached an agreement with Cristian Alberto ‘Kily’ González to become the club’s new first-team head coach. González will officially assume his duties once he receives the corresponding work permits,” a statement from the club read on Friday, August 28, 2026.
Miami bolstered their squad with the signing of Brazil midfielder Casemiro last month, but despite the presence of Lionel Messi and a host of established players, results have continued to disappoint.
The reigning MLS Cup champions have lost four of their last five matches and are second in the Eastern Conference, 10 points behind Nashville.
“Inter Miami would like to especially highlight and thank Hoyos for his commitment and full dedication to the club, demonstrated by his willingness to assume the role during this period, which began last April,” Miami said in a statement.
Suspension
Gonzalez earned 56 caps for Argentina from 1995 to 2005, and his playing career included spells with Inter Milan, Valencia, and Rosario Central. The 52-year-old moved into coaching in 2020 and has since managed several clubs in Argentina.
Hoyos will not be on the sidelines for Saturday’s game against CF Montreal after MLS handed him a one-match suspension.
Replacing Guillermo Hoyos, González will now take charge of the Lionel Messi-led side. His biggest challenge will be to turn around Miami’s recent poor form. The team is currently winless in their last five matches, with 4 defeats and 1 draw.
His first objective will be to end this disappointing run and get Inter Miami back to winning ways, an objective Hoyos had also committed to prior to his sacking.
Kily’s profile
Born on 4 August 1974, Kily is a former professional player who played mainly as a left winger before turning coach after his retirement.
Unlike Hoyos, González does not have nearly the same level of direct history with Messi, but he does hail from Rosario, Messi’s home town. He earned his final caps for Argentina in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Peru in 2005 in fixtures that Messi also played, earning his third and fourth caps.
