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Inter Miami on Thursday appointed Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez as the club’s new head coach, bringing in another Argentine from Lionel Messi’s hometown of Rosario to take charge of the reigning Major League Soccer champions.
Gonzalez, 52, a former Argentina international who played for Inter Milan, Valencia and Zaragoza, will replace interim manager Guillermo Hoyos, who took over in April after Javier Mascherano departed the club for “personal reasons.”
The club said in a statement that Gonzalez’s appointment is subject to his US work permit being approved, and Hoyos will remain in post until that process is completed.
“Inter Miami CF announced today that it has reached an agreement with Cristian Alberto “Kily” González to become the Club’s new First Team head coach,” the statement read.
“González will officially assume his duties once he receives the corresponding work permits.
“Guillermo Hoyos will provisionally continue in charge of the team until the arrival of the new head coach and his coaching staff.
“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.”
Gonzalez, who earned 56 caps for Argentina between 1995 and 2005, moved into management in 2020, taking the helm at three Argentine club sides before his move to Miami.
He will now attempt to turn around Miami’s poor run of form since the North American league’s mid-season World Cup break.
The MLS Cup holders have endured a rough spell since the North American league’s mid-season World Cup break, despite adding Brazil’s Casemiro from Manchester United to a star-packed squad.
The side under Hoyos has lost four of its last five games, remaining second in the Eastern Conference but slipping 10 points adrift of leaders Nashville.
Hoyos on Thursday received a one-game ban and fine for the club’s multiple violations of the league’s late kick-off policy, his team repeatedly slow to return to the field after half-time breaks.
Hoyos, previously Miami’s sporting director and a longtime friend of club captain and talisman Messi, only stepped into the temporary role in April after Javier Mascherano departed the club for “personal reasons.”
“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,” said the club statement.
