Lionel Messi and Inter Miami Have a New Head Coach
The Herons begin a new era with an Argentine coach who already knows Messi very well.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have a new head coach. Cristian “Kily” González will officially take charge of the Florida club after completing the necessary paperwork to work in the United States. The Argentine has signed a contract through June 2028.
The 52-year-old arrived in South Florida on September 15 and immediately began working with the team. González replaces Guillermo Hoyos, who had served as interim coach since April following Javier Mascherano’s departure.
Kily inherits a squad led by Messi and Luis Suárez and a team looking to rediscover consistency. The reigning 2025 MLS Cup champions sit second in the Eastern Conference and hope the coaching change can provide a boost heading into the decisive stretch of the season.
From Messi’s Teammate to His Head Coach
González’s arrival also comes with a special connection to Lionel Messi. The two shared the field for Argentina in two World Cup qualifiers in 2005, when Messi was just beginning his senior international career.
More than two decades later, their paths cross again in completely different roles. Kily will now be responsible for coaching the Argentine superstar and finding the right formula to maximize a roster loaded with experience and talent.
As a player, González represented Rosario Central, Boca Juniors, Real Zaragoza, Valencia and Inter Milan. He also earned 56 caps for Argentina and was part of the squad that won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
A Coaching Career Built in Argentina
Kily González began his coaching career with Rosario Central’s reserve team before earning promotion to the senior job, where he managed 68 matches between 2020 and 2022.
He later took charge of Unión de Santa Fe, overseeing 78 matches between 2023 and 2025, before most recently coaching Platense during the 2025 season.
Inter Miami now represents one of the biggest challenges of his career. It will be his first coaching experience outside Argentina, and he takes charge of one of the most high-profile squads in the Americas.
A Trophy on the Line in His First Match
There will be little time for the new coach to settle in. His first training session comes as Inter Miami prepares to face Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup, a match expected to mark his debut on the touchline.
That means Kily González could win a trophy in his very first official match as Inter Miami head coach.
With the Herons competing near the top of the Eastern Conference and defending their status as MLS champions, the objective is immediate: get the best out of Messi and company and keep Inter Miami competing for every available trophy.
Key Takeaways
- Cristian “Kily” González is Inter Miami’s new head coach, signing a contract through June 2028.
- The Argentine went from sharing the field with Lionel Messi for Argentina to becoming his coach more than two decades later.
- His debut is expected to come against Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup, giving him the chance to win a trophy in his first match.
