Inter Miami don officially present Cristian ‘Kily‘ González as dia new head coach. Di club confirm say di deal go run go reach June 2028. González na Rosario native, and e arrive to take charge of first team wey get Lionel Messi as im biggest star.
Di arrival reopen one old story. Na two footballers wey born for same city, grow for rival clubs, and now dia paths cross again for different roles inside soccer field.
Inter Miami talk for official statement say González land South Florida and e set to officially take charge. After e complete di necessary procedures, di Argentine coach go begin work as head coach of di first team under contract wey run until June 2028.
Di coach take over first-team duties after e finish all di required employment procedures following one long process to get di employment documentation.
For im first press conference as Inter Miami coach, González yarn about di relationship e get with Messi and highlight di support of di Argentine captain. ‘I dey excited say he want make I coach am,’ na wetin di coach explain. E also talk about personal bond wey still dey between dem. ‘I feel like privileged and blessed person to get dis opportunity and because of di relationship I get with Leo, which is fantastic,’ e add.
Di relationship between di two start back for 2005. On August 17 of dat year, Messi make im debut for senior national team against Hungary. But di debut end unexpectedly: e come on for Lisandro López and dem send am off just few seconds later.
Dat episode stick for Messi memory. Years later, Messi talk say e been be especially hard moment because of wetin im debut mean, and e recall say e enter dressing room dey cry. Na dere González step in. Di experienced midfielder waka meet young Messi to calm am down and tell am say something similar happen to am too. ‘Kily used to tell me: Take e easy, same thing happen to me and then I keep playing for National Team,’ Messi recall.
Weeks later, di forward make im official debut for Argentina against Paraguay. From there, e begin international career wey make am di player with most appearances and goals for di national team history.
More than two decades after dat first meeting, González go share locker room with Messi again. Dis time, na him go dey make decisions from bench.
Kily arrive Inter Miami as replacement for Guillermo Hoyos, wey take over on interim basis after Javier Mascherano departure. With im arrival, González become di team third coach dis season.
Di new coach no go get plenty time before im debut. After e complete im first training session, e go prepare di team to face Cruz Azul dis Wednesday for di Campeones Cup. Di match go play for Nu Stadium and e go put title on line between di MLS Cup champion and di reigning Liga MX champion. So e go be debut with trophy at stake for di Argentine coach.
González already get im first contact with squad wey include Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, Luis Suárez, Casemiro, and Germán Berterame. During training, e also share some moments with David Beckham, one of di club owners.
Inter Miami dey come into di coaching change while dem dey look to regain consistency. Di team remain second for Eastern Conference, but e dey go through stretch of irregular results for MLS.
For González, di challenge go immediate: adapt to squad of great stature, quickly find identity, and compete for di titles wey still dey up for grabs.
Goal also report say after Javier Mascherano departure and Guillermo Hoyos interim spell, Inter Miami officially appoint Argentine as new boss. Inter Miami statement: ‘Cristian Kily Gonzalez arrive South Florida today and e set to officially take charge of coaching Inter Miami. After completing necessary procedures, di Argentine coach go begin duties as head coach of first team, under contract running until June 2028.’
Gonzalez go hold im first training session today as Inter Miami prepare to face Mexican side Cruz Azul for Champions Cup on Wednesday evening. Dat clash go give di Argentine im first chance to lead Inter Miami from touchline as club chase another title.
Im coaching career start with reserve team of CA Rosario Central. Two seasons later dem promote am to first team, where e take charge of 68 matches across three seasons. E then move to CA Union Santa Fe, managing 78 matches over three seasons from 2023 to 2025. Most recently, e serve as head coach of CA Platense during 2025 season.
Long before e turn to dugout, Gonzalez enjoy distinguished playing career wey span Argentina and Europe, winning major titles for some of di most competitive leagues for world. Former midfielder, Gonzalez come through youth ranks of Rosario Central before e make im first professional appearance for club in 1993. After spell with Boca Juniors, e move Europe in 1996, joining Spanish club Real Zaragoza.
Spells at Valencia and Inter Milan follow, and e thrive for both, stacking up silverware. With Valencia, e win Spanish Super Cup during 1999-2000 season. For Italy, e lift two consecutive Coppa Italia titles with Inter Milan during 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons, along with Serie A title in 2005-2006.
For international stage, Gonzalez win 56 caps for Argentina and e be part of team wey take gold at 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens.
