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<\/p>\nPhil Neville has previously been in charge of Inter Miami and England\u2019s Lionesses <\/p>\n
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Phil Neville has described his role with Portland Timbers as a \u201cdream\u201d after being appointed manager of the Major League Soccer (MLS) club.<\/p>\n
Neville has replaced Giovanni Savarese at the Oregon side on a deal that runs until 2026. It is the former England international\u2019s first managerial role since leaving Inter Miami in June.<\/p>\n
The 46-year-old has worked with Canada\u2019s men\u2019s national team since his departure from a club owned by ex-Manchester United teammate David Beckham.<\/p>\n
And Neville has insisted that he chose his new job with the Timbers from a number of appealing options.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was lucky to have plenty of coaching opportunities to take,\u201d Neville explained at his unveiling.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut my gut said straight away I had to follow this dream to become the Portland Timbers head coach.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neville\u2019s appointment has been cricitised by fans of the Timbers, who finished 10th in the Western Conference and missed out on the 2023 MLS play-offs.<\/p>\n
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Phil Neville had been working as an assistant with Canada since his departure from Inter Miami <\/p>\n
The Timbers Army fan group said in a statement that it was \u201cdeeply disappointed\u201d that the club had appointed a manager with \u201ca history of sexist public statements\u201d.<\/p>\n
Neville has previously apologised for a series of posts on X, then known as Twitter, made more than a decade ago that resurfaced after the former full-back was appointed as manager of the Lionesses in 2018.<\/p>\n
The 59-cap international has reiterated that his social media posts were \u201cwrong\u201d and said he hopes to build \u201cincredible trust\u201d with Portland supporters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe big part of this city is the supporters, and the statement they put out showed that this club cares about their people,\u2019 Neville said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn reference to the tweets I made in 2011, I addressed these in 2019 when I was named the head coach of the England women\u2019s team. [They are] by no means a reflection of me as a person, of my character, and without a shadow of a doubt, the way I was brought up by my mother and father in terms of the values they instilled in me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe tweets I put out were wrong in 2011, and they\u2019re wrong today. I want to get to know the Timbers Army, I want to get to know everybody in the city, and I want them to get to know me as a person, as a character. And I want to make sure there is an incredible trust between us.\u201d<\/p>\n