Portland Timbers Officially Name Phil Neville As Head Coach
By 750 THE GAME STAFF
After an up and down season that saw the Timbers missing out on the playoffs. The Portland Timbers announced on Monday that Phil Neville will be their new head coach.
Neville’s multiyear contract with the Timbers will see him in Portland through 2026. Neville, who holds a UEFA Pro License, becomes the fourth head coach in the club’s MLS era.
Neville, 46, joins the club with six years of head coach experience at the senior level between his time in MLS and on the international stage, following a 19-year career as a distinguished player in England’s Premier League and England Men’s National Team. Most recently, Neville formed part of the Canadian Men’s National Team technical staff as an assistant coach during the team’s participation in the 2023 Concacaf Nations League Final and the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup.
Neville was appointed as head coach of Inter Miami CF ahead of the club’s second MLS season in 2021, leading them through two-plus MLS campaigns until his departure midway through 2023. In 2022, Neville and Miami finished sixth in the Eastern Conference standings with a mark of 14-14-6 (48 pts), earning a postseason berth and the team’s best finish to date.
Neville enjoyed a tremendous playing career before his coaching career. Neville had a 19-year career as a defender at Manchester United and Everton FC. The England international made his professional debut with Manchester United in 1995. Playing with the Red Devils, Neville recorded 381 appearances in all competitions, helping the team win six Premier League championships, three FA Cups and one UEFA Champions League title.
