PHIL NEVILLE is in “advanced talks” to become Portland Timbers boss – five months after Inter Miami sacked the Manchester United legend.
The ex-England defender is keen to return to the MLS and has also been linked with New England Revolution.
But The Athletic say Neville, 46, who managed the Lionesses from 2018-2021, is close to being named Portland coach.
Miami supremo David Beckham axed his former Old Trafford team-mate in June after the ambitious club went bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference.
Having taken over in 2021, Nev took Miami to the play-offs the next year.
But ten defeats in 13 MLS games in 2023 cost him his job.
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In his final season, Neville’s team were hit by injuries and a $2.3million (£1.9m) cut in allocation funds.
Miami suffered that cash reduction after being fined $2m (£1.6m) for the club breaking pay and roster guidelines three years ago.
Becks’ fledgling outfit were also saving funds for a summer spree that saw Barcelona icons Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba arrive.
But Nev didn’t last long enough to manage those greats.
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He has since admitted not expecting to be in charge when Messi came in.
And indeed his successor Gerardo Martino had a far richer pedigree at the highest level of management.
The Argentine bossed Barca as well as his home nation and Mexico.
But Neville has also said: “Forget Messi, the results weren’t good enough the last month I was in the job and I knew that. That is the reason I left.”
Soon after exiting Miami, Nev took on the assistant manager’s job with Canada for this year’s CONCACAF Nations League Final and Gold Cup.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
