Cristian “Kily” González makes his debut as the head coach of Inter Miami tonight in the Campeones Cup clash against Cruz Azul.
The Argentine’s arrival was announced weeks ago, but González was unable to take up his official duties because of visa issues. Now, the 52-year-old, who shared the pitch with Lionel Messi for Argentina, arrives at a time when the club is struggling with consistency.
The Herons currently sit second in the Eastern Conference standings and have a chance to lift silverware tonight with a win over the Liga MX side. Despite having one of the most dangerous attacking teams in MLS, along with the signing of Casemiro, Inter Miami has secured just one win in its last seven matches.
González now has the task of rejuvenating the squad, and a win tonight would be the perfect start for the Argentine.
The new head coach will also reunite with Messi, whom he played alongside for Argentina in 2005.
Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images
Addressing the opportunity to work with the 39-year-old, González called it a privilege during a press conference.
“There are things in football that simply cannot be described in words; they are unique feelings. I feel privileged and blessed to have this opportunity and to share the fantastic relationship I have with Leo,” he said.
Kily Gonzalez’s Salary at Inter Miami
Inter Miami has not publicly disclosed González’s compensation or exact salary as head coach. However, elite MLS coaches at high-profile clubs typically earn between $1 million and $3 million annually, according to online reports. Former Inter Miami manager Tata Martino was reportedly toward the higher end of that range.
Kily Gonzalez’s Stats as a Player
González had a decorated career as a left midfielder, playing professionally from 1993 to 2011. During his career, he won La Liga with Valencia, Serie A with Inter Milan and an Olympic gold medal with Argentina.
The 52-year-old also shared the field with another soccer legend, Diego Maradona, during his time at Boca Juniors.
After winning La Liga with Valencia and Serie A with Inter Milan, González finished his playing career in Argentina, where he had spells with Rosario Central and San Lorenzo.
At the international level, González earned 56 caps and scored nine goals for Argentina. He represented his country at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and was part of the Argentina squad that won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics.
