Phil Neville didn’t have to wait long to find himself a new head coaching gig.
The Portland Timbers hired Neville as their new head coach, the club announced Monday. Neville signed a three-year contract with Portland, becoming the fourth head coach in the club’s history.
The 46-year-old Neville most recently served as head coach of Inter Miami from 2021-23. Neville helped the Herons reach the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2022 after registering a 14-14-6 record In 2022, which is still the team’s best-ever finish to date in club history.
Neville also served as an assistant coach with the Canadian men’s national team during the 2023 Concacaf Nations League Final Four and Concacaf Gold Cup following his departure from Inter Miami.
“I am massively excited about the challenge ahead, and from the very first moment I met the staff I knew it was the right opportunity for me, the right club for me and the right city for me,” said Neville. “The fans are the most important part of this football club with their intensity and support, and I think this journey is going to be something special. I have great memories visiting Portland, which reminds me of Manchester, my hometown, and I can’t wait for my family to get to know this beautiful city.”
Prior to making the move to MLS, Neville was manager of the England women’s national team from January 2018 to January 2021. He led the Lionesses to the 2019 SheBelieves Cup as well as an undefeated 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualification run before a fourth-place finish in France.
He won 19 of his 35 matches in charge of the Lionesses across all competitions.
“We are thrilled to welcome Phil Neville as the new head coach of the Portland Timbers, and we look forward to making Phil and his family feel at home in Portland,” said general manager Ned Grabavoy. “Phil’s character makes him the right person to lead this team forward as we continue to reshape the group with a goal of returning to sustained success. His leadership qualities, diverse experience as a coach, and ambition to evolve made him a terrific fit here with us in Portland.”
A former 19-year player, Neville excelled for both Manchester United and Everton during his professional career. He lifted 14 trophies as a player, including six English Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League title, and three FA Cups.
He also earned 59 caps for the English national team.
The Timbers failed to make the MLS Cup Playoffs this year, finishing 10th in the Western Conference and one point out of the final Wild Card spot.
This is a poor hire. Neville didn’t do anything of note at Inter Miami, where he was appointed because his friend owns the team> Lets be honest, Inter Miami failed to compete even when the team broke the MLS rules on designated players and all of the weird allocation stuff. Granted, he didn’t have Messi, but I wonder if Messi said he wanted a new coach before joining.
Admittedly, while Coach Phil was a part of the English WNT, the results got better. But he left before the end of his planned term, when results started to go south in friendlies and She Believes Cups. And, after he didn’t renew his agreement, the England WMNT won Euro 2022 and lost by a goal in the 2023 WWC final.
Just because a guy is from England, doesn’t make him a good coach. I have often thought Portland to be a pretty good franchise in the MLS, but this really makes me wonder.
Uhhh… why?
*fourth head coach during the club’s MLS era…
Spencer was in over his head. Trying to play direct with a target striker
Porter had a plan to build a team through the middle. With heavy possession and possession with a purpose. Won MLS Cup and put Portland near the top with the exception of one season. Quit when management sells Nagbe to ATL where he wins a Cup there against Timbers and another with Porter with the Crew.
Gio gets hired and very first match tries to play a high line with slow CB’s. When the team is built to counter with two to three passes and scoring chance. Gio punished team for not being able to play his style and resorts to a Christmas tree formation. Players have a closed door meeting and basically say we are built for four in the back two defensive mids, three offensive mids, and a target striker who can run, pass, hold the ball, and score. By the way Valeri plays anywhere he wants. Timbers go onto dominant MLS is Back Cup and get to another final. Roster gets old fast and has injuries. Valeri has nothing left in both legs. Blanco has a series on knee injuries. Two of the best in MLS do not contribute for years. Also, finances if roster investments and not performing on the field. Gio gets fired after the new young players shut it down. Gio is a great guy!!!!
Neville is faced with a transition of Portland being able to spend with two DP spots open and ability to buy players. Timbers will add six to nine players. Can Neville coach with talent and communicate with young South Americans? His track record is mediocre at best. Fan base does not like the hire and he is on a short leash to say the least.
wow, and thanks.