Portland Timbers Name Phil Neville As Head Coach Amid Fan Complaints

The Portland Timbers have hired Phil Neville as their head coach until the end of the 2026 season.

Neville joins from the Canada men’s teams coaching staff and replaces Giovanni Savarese, who was fired from the team in late August following five and a half years.

Assistant coach Miles Joseph served as interim head coach until Neville’s hiring. 

“I am massively excited about the challenge ahead, and from the very first moment I met the staff I knew it was the right opportunity for me, the right club for me and the right city for me,” Neville said about the hiring. “The fans are the most important part of this football club with their intensity and support, and I think this journey is going to be something special. I have great memories visiting Portland, which reminds me of Manchester, my hometown, and I can’t wait for my family to get to know this beautiful city.”

Neville’s previous experience includes coaching Inter Miami from 2021 to 2023 and the England Women’s national team from 2018 to 2021, leading the latter team to the semifinals in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

The decision to hire Neville has sparked controversy amongst fans, as the Timbers support group issued a statement asking the club to reconsider, citing Neville’s past statements about women, which Neville has since apologized for.

“We are deeply disappointed that the club has reportedly settled on a finalist for head coach who has a history of sexist public statements that run counter to our ethos as a club, city and supporters’ group, and who also lacks a proven track record as a manager,” the Timbers Army statement said. 

Neville will look to improve the Timbers’ record, as they finished in the Western Conference and 18th overall and failed to qualify for the playoffs.