Messi gets new coach as ‘Kily’ Gonzalez takes charge at Inter Miami

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – MARCH 18: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF looks on during the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 Second Leg match between Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC at Chase Stadium on March 18, 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

By Adegboyega Adeleye

Argentina forward Lionel Messi is set to have a new coach at Inter Miami after the MLS club officially announced the arrival of Argentine Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez.

According to Reuters, Gonzalez will lead Inter Miami until June 2028 after securing the necessary United States work permit.

The club had announced last month that the 52-year-old would take charge once his work documentation was completed.

Gonzalez replaces Guillermo Hoyos, who had been overseeing the team as interim manager after Javier Mascherano stepped down in April.

He takes charge of an Inter Miami side that has struggled for results despite having Messi and several established players in its squad.

The reigning MLS Cup champions have won just one of their last five regular-season matches and sit second in the Eastern Conference, nine points behind Nashville.

Gonzalez was scheduled to lead his first training session on Tuesday ahead of Inter Miami’s Campeones Cup clash with Mexican side Cruz Azul on Wednesday.

The former Argentina international earned 56 caps between 1995 and 2005 and played for Inter Milan, Valencia and Rosario Central.

He moved into coaching in 2020 and has since managed several clubs in Argentina.