Neville named Inter Miami coach after leaving England Women job
Phil Neville has been appointed as the new head coach at Major League Soccer outfit Inter Miami after ending his tenure as England Women boss.
Inter Miami confirmed the news yesterday, a few hours on from the Football Association announcing the 43-yearold was stepping down from his role with the Lionesses with immediate effect.
The club are co-owned by Neville’s former Manchester United and England teammate David Beckham, who is also his fellow co-owner of League Two side Salford.
Neville said in a statement on Inter Miami’s website: “I am incredibly delighted for this opportunity to coach Inter Miami and to work with Chris (Henderson, the club’s new chief soccer officer and sporting director) and the entire ownership group.
“This is a very young club with a lot of promise and upside, and I am committed to challenging myself, my players and everyone around me to grow and build a competitive soccer culture we can all be proud of.
“This fantastic soccerloving market deserves consistent performances and a winning mentality, and I look forward to getting to work.”
Beckham said: “I am very happy with the leadership group we have established to lead the team as we turn the page following our inaugural season and look forward to having Chris and Phil join
us soon.
“I have known Phil since we were both teenagers at the Manchester United academy. We share a footballing DNA having been trained by some of the best leaders in the game, and it’s those values that I have always wanted running through our club.
“Phil has deep experience in football, as a player and as a coach at both club and international
level, and over his career he has worked with many of the finest managers and players in the game.
“I know his qualities as a person, his decency, loyalty and honesty – and his incredible energy and work ethic. Anyone who has played or worked with Phil knows he is a natural leader, and I believe now is the right time for him to join.”
*Sixteen new positive cases were reported among Premier League players and staff in the latest round of coronavirus testing, the league has announced. The positives represent a drop of 20 compared to the last set of figures, and came from 3,115 players and staff who were tested between Monday and Sunday last week.
The Premier League has gone back to twice-weekly testing following an increase in coronavirus infections nationwide.
The league has been affected by a number of postponements since December, with Aston Villa’s last two matches having been called off due to an outbreak at the midlands club. Players hugging and kissing during goal celebrations have been in the spotlight over the last week, with the league’s chief executive Richard Masters suggesting clubs could practise safer celebrations in training to “get the hang of it”.
It is understood the league felt there was some progress in how the protocols were observed by players at the weekend, but that the situation will continue to be monitored closely.