Phil Neville’s tenure at Inter Miami came to an end after two and a half seasons, amid controversy.
A fan collective of the Portland Timbers has expressed their “profound disillusionment” with the possibility of Phil Neville filling the team’s coaching vacancy due to his previous sexist remarks.
Neville, who was let go by Inter Miami in June, has become a contender for the MLS club’s vacant managerial position. This comes after his departure, which followed a series of underwhelming performances.
He once faced backlash for historical tweets that demeaned women, particularly one where he joked that women would be preoccupied with “making breakfast/getting kids ready” to pay his posts any mind. He addressed these tweets with an apology upon his appointment as the manager of England’s women’s team in 2018, insisting that such comments were not indicative of his true beliefs or character.
Nonetheless, the Timbers Army, a vocal group of supporters, questions Neville’s managerial pedigree, describing the 46-year-old as lacking a substantial track record in management.
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“The Portland Timbers are in the midst of crafting a new squad on the field and are simultaneously working to mend their relationship with supporters and the wider community,” the supporters’ group stated.
They continued, “It is hugely disheartening to learn that the club seems to have zeroed in on a head coach nominee with a past tainted by sexist public declarations, which is at odds with our core values as a club, community, and fan base. Furthermore, the nominee’s managerial experience is not exactly illustrious.
The group has publicly called on the Timbers to rethink the prospective hire and to consider other candidates more seriously before proceeding with any contract.
Neville guided the English women’s national team, known as the Lionesses, for three years from 2018 to 2021, after which he embarked on a new challenge in the MLS with Miami.
His spell in Miami, a team co-owned by Neville’s ex-teammate at Manchester United and England, David Beckham, concluded with the club languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference following a string of 10 losses in 13 matches.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Phil Neville controversy
Why are Portland Timbers fans upset about Phil Neville being linked with the team?
Portland Timbers fans have expressed their disappointment with Phil Neville being considered for the head coach position due to his history of making sexist remarks and a perceived lack of a successful managerial track record.
What were the sexist remarks made by Phil Neville?
Phil Neville previously made sexist comments on Twitter, including a post suggesting that women are too preoccupied with “making breakfast/getting kids ready” to read his messages. He apologized for these remarks in 2018, stating they did not reflect his true character or beliefs.
What is Phil Neville’s history in soccer management?
Phil Neville’s managerial history includes a stint as the head coach of England’s women’s national team, the Lionesses, from 2018 to 2021, and managing Inter Miami in the MLS until June, where his tenure ended with the club at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Have the Portland Timbers responded to the fans’ concerns?
As of the information provided, there has been no official response from the Portland Timbers regarding the fans’ concerns over Phil Neville’s potential hiring as the new head coach.
What is the Timbers Army’s stance on the potential hiring of Phil Neville?
The Timbers Army, a fan group of Portland Timbers, strongly opposes the potential hiring of Phil Neville. They cite his past sexist comments and lack of a proven managerial track record as reasons that run counter to the club’s and community’s ethos.
More about Phil Neville controversy
- Timbers Fans Disapprove Neville’s Potential Hiring
- Neville’s Past Sexist Tweets
- Neville’s Apology
- Neville’s Management Record
- Timbers Army Statement
- Inter Miami’s Performance Under Neville
- Football Daily Podcast
- Sport News Center App
5 comments
we want a coach who reflects our values and who can actually win games, this aint it!
Phil neville really?? did we run out of better options or what am i missing here.
Really the same guy who made those sexist comments? haven’t we moved past this kinda thing yet?
gotta say not sure what the Timbers are thinking here, Neville hasn’t really proven himself and those tweets…bad form mate
lets give the guy a break everyone deserves a second chance to prove themselves, his record isn’t that bad is it