- Planet Sport writer
- 9 June 2023
Phil Neville finds new coaching job just days after Inter Miami departure
It didn't take Phil Neville long to get back into work as the former England Women boss confirmed his next move.
Phil Neville is an English soccer manager who is currently in charge of Inter Miami FC in Major League Soccer (MLS). Previously, he played for Manchester United and Everton before serving on the coaching staff of England U-21, Manchester United and Valencia.
Neville then went on to manage England women, guiding them to the semi-finals of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, where they were beaten 2-1 by USA.
He is also a co-owner of Salford City FC alongside brother Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and David Beckham, as well as investor Peter Lim.
Phil Neville and Manchester United
Phil Neville during brother Gary Neville's testimonial
Neville started training with Manchester United Academy along with his brother, Gary, who went on to captain the club. Phil signed as a trainee in 1993 and went on to feature for United until 2005.
On February 11, 1995, with brother Gary injured, Phil made his debut for United at Maine Road against Manchester City. The Red Devils won the game 3-0.
Phil started the 1996 FA Cup final win over Liverpool while his brother sat on the bench. In total, he helped the Red Devils win six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League, establishing himself as a tough-tackling and versatile player at his boyhood favourite club.
Eventually, he moved on to Everton for a fee reported to be in the region of £3.5million. Sir Alex Ferguson wrote in his autobiography that Neville was not going to be playing regularly and he let him go for a good price due to his solid service to the club.
"That is when my Manchester United career ended..."@GNev2 and Phil Neville discuss what it was like to go head-to-head on and off the pitch
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 9, 2020
The Neville family sat down with @GeoffShreeves for a special edition of Off Script: https://t.co/tiHf1gI0uk pic.twitter.com/R7rqBzOF9R
Speaking about his conversation with Ferguson near the end of his time at Manchester United, Neville told The Independent:
"I went in there a little bit nervous but I came out feeling top of the world, even though I was leaving the club I'd always played for.
"One of the best managers who had ever lived had just chatted to me in his front lounge for an hour and a half about the next stage of my career and what he thought was best for me.
"He didn't seem like a manager. It was more like a father speaking. It was beyond a manager looking after his club, anyway, because he could have kept me for being what I was good at, being a squad player.
"But he realised I needed more than that. From the first day I joined the club my mum and dad had said to him, 'tell us when it's time to leave'.
"Then the next day we went on tour and it was just a blur for me. For the first time in my career football become secondary.
"I got back on the Saturday, on the Monday I met (Everton manager) David Moyes, on the Wednesday my dad met (Chairman) Bill Kenwright, and I phoned David Moyes at 11:30 that night to say I'd be signing for Everton.
"From the moment the manager (Moyes) came to my house, I didn't want to speak to anyone else. He's similar to Alex Ferguson in that he has an unbelievable work ethic.
"I was watching United against Benfica and found that all I was thinking about was Everton's next game. I've been engrossed in this club from the first day."
Phil Neville and Everton
Phil Neville endeared himself to Everton fans over the years and quickly worked his way up to becoming club captain.
In 2008, in a match against Manchester United, he gained popularity with Evertonians for a crunching tackle on former Red Devils team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo. Neville drew disapproval from his former Manchester United team-mates for the tackle.
He told the UTD Podcast: "It was funny because after the game, Giggsy said: 'I would have done the same thing'. And I said to Giggsy: 'I would have chased you down as well if you'd have tackled one of our players like that'. It was just one of those things.
"Ronaldo was absolutely brilliant. He obviously rolled around, but the ball went up the other end. I was playing right-back and he was left-wing and he just high-fived and winked at me and said: 'Great tackle, I'd have done the same thing'."
Speaking on how the tackle changed Everton fans' perceptions of him, Neville said: "(The Everton fans) always said I was a Manc.
"The day I tackled Ronaldo, I did a really bad tackle on Ronaldo, was the day they changed their opinion on me because I went against the club they thought I loved.
"Do you know when you get them moments and you think, 'I've got you here - I can go through you and win the ball?'
"And I thought: wow, it was like having a tap-in!
"Then Giggsy and Fletch (Darren Fletcher), two of my mates, and Rio (Ferdinand) came towards me, effing and blinding.
"And I'm saying, 'Guys, I've won the ball there'. I was just walking away and not one Everton player came and helped me!"
Coaching career
Neville retired in 2013 and had spells on the coaching staff of England U-21 and Manchester United. At the Red Devils, he served under David Moyes and briefly Ryan Giggs during the 2013/14 season.
From 2015 to 2017, Neville worked at Valencia under Nuno Espirito Santo, Voro, Pako Ayestaran and his brother Gary. It proved a difficult period for the club as they struggled to keep pace with La Liga's dominant clubs.
From 2018 to 2021, he was in charge of England Women. He took the plunge despite knowling about the women's game, but led them to the semi-finals of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.
In January 2021, Neville was appointed manager of David Beckham's Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
The appointment saw Beckham having to defend accusations he had gone with Neville just because of their friendship.
"Our ownership group don't just employ our friends," said Beckham. "We employ the best people whether it's on the field, off the field, in our backroom staff. We're running a serious soccer club. We hire people we feel are best suited for the job."
Given the attention given to his links to Beckham, Neville really needed a good start to his career at Inter Miami, but that didn't pan out.
He lost seven of his first 11 MLS games, with the team only managing a league-low 9 goals in those matches.
Personal life
Phil Neville has two children, Harvey and Isabella, with his wife Julie. Isabella has cerebral palsy, leading Phil Neville to become an ambassador for Bliss, the special care baby charity, and a patron of Royal Manchester Children's Hospital's New Children's Hospital Appeal.
His brother is former England and Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville, and his sister, Tracey, is a former England player and head coach for England in Netball.
Phil Neville's net worth
The Express reported that Neville was earning between £250,000 and £300,000 annually while in charge of England Women before stepping down to take the Inter Miami job.
