Phil Neville set to become new manager of David Beckham’s Inter Miami

England Women confirm Phil Neville has QUIT as manager six months early, after agreeing a contract with David Beckham to manage his Inter Miami MLS team and turning his back on the Olympics with Team GB

  • Phil Neville has agreed a two-year deal to become the manager of Inter Miami
  • David Beckham wants his former Manchester United team-mate to take over
  • Leaving his England Women post early means the FA must now find an interim
  • They need someone to lead at the Olympics before Sarina Wiegman takes over

Phil Neville has quit as manager of England Women and agreed a two-year deal to become the manager of David Beckham’s MLS franchise Inter Miami.

Sportsmail understands Inter Miami will make a formal announcement in the next 24 hours. 

Inter Miami want the 43-year-old to become their new boss ahead of the new season after former manager Diego Alonso and the club mutually agreed to part ways earlier this month. 

David Beckham is part of an ownership group at MLS side Inter Miami

David Beckham (R) and Inter Miami will appoint Phil Neville (L) as their new manager

Neville, who was hired as head coach of the Lionesses in January 2018, had already announced last April that he would move on this summer.

But his decision to end his reign early means the FA must now scramble to find a new Team GB boss for July’s Tokyo Olympic Games.

Holland’s Sarina Wiegman has already been hired as a long-term replacement but she will not take over until after the Olympics. 

Wiegman, named FIFA women’s coach of the year in December for her work with Holland, was appointed last August to lead England at the 2022 European Championships and through the qualification programme for the 2023 World Cup. 

In a statement, Neville said: ‘It has been an honour to manage England and I have enjoyed three of the best years of my career with the FA and the Lionesses.

‘The players who wear the England shirt are some of the most talented and dedicated athletes I have ever had the privilege to work with. They have challenged me and improved me as a coach, and I am very grateful to them for the fantastic memories we have shared.

The FA have already named Sarina Wiegman as Neville's long-term successor for the Lionesses

The FA have already named Sarina Wiegman as Neville’s long-term successor for the Lionesses

‘I’d like to thank the FA for the tremendous backing they have given me, in particular Sue Campbell and my talented support staff whose energy, commitment and enthusiasm has been crucial to helping us make the progress we have.

‘I wish England Women every success in the future and look forward to following their journey in the years to come.’

FA Director of Women’s Football, Baroness Sue Campbell added: ‘I want to pay tribute to Phil for his significant contribution during his three years with The FA. 

‘After steadying the ship at a challenging period, he helped us to win the SheBelieves Cup for the first time, reach the World Cup semi-finals and qualify for the Olympics. Given his status as a former Manchester United and England player, he did much to raise the profile of our team.

‘He has used his platform to champion the women’s game, worked tirelessly to support our effort to promote more female coaches and used his expertise to develop many of our younger players.’

Neville will inherit an Inter Miami squad that includes ex-Chelsea striker Gonzalo Higuain

Neville will inherit an Inter Miami squad that includes ex-Chelsea striker Gonzalo Higuain

Neville and Beckham were team-mates at both Manchester United and England as players

Neville and Beckham were team-mates at both Manchester United and England as players

As Sportsmail reported earlier this month, Neville is excited about the prospect of a new challenge.

Beckham has big ambitions for Inter Miami, who only finished 10th in the 14-team Eastern Conference last season.

Their squad includes Gonzalo Higuain, the former Chelsea, Juventus and Real Madrid striker, as well as former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi. 

Following the season’s return after the enforced break due to coronavirus, the club performed poorly to the end of the season and finished bottom of their ‘MLS is back’ group. 

That meant the Inter Miami won just seven of their 23 matches, losing 13 times, a sequence that led to Alonso’s exit from the club.

Neville has also had his critics leading England, but did take them to the 2019 World Cup semi-finals and victory in the SheBelieves Cup since taking over three years ago.