Former England, Manchester United, and Everton player, Phil Neville has made a quick return to coaching after being sacked by Inter Miami.
The English football legend has joined the coaching staff of Canada’s national team ahead of next week’s CONCACAF Nations League semifinal.
Phil Neville was sacked as Inter Miami coach last week, just days before Lionel Messi announced he would be joining the Major League Soccer club.
The former England women’s national team coach will work under John Herdman, the English head coach of the Canadian national side.
Richard Shaw, the former Crystal Palace, Coventry City, and Millwall defender, is also joining Herdman’s staff and the pair will be involved in the two games in Las Vegas next week.
Canada head coach Herdman said in a statement;
“Both Phil and Richard bring with them winning experiences at the highest levels and have worked with some of the premier leagues top managers during their careers.
“They’ll work as positional and unit coaches with the aim of helping us to win our first trophy in over two decades.”
Canada reached their second-ever World Cup in 2022 and first since 1986 but exited at the group stage. They now have the opportunity for their first trophy since 2000 when they play Panama in the semi-finals of the Nations League where the winners face the United States or Mexico for the trophy.
After ending his playing career with Everton in 2013, Neville moved into coaching and had spells as an assistant with Manchester United and Valencia before taking up the post of head coach with England Women’s National team, winning the SheBelieves Cup in 2019 and finishing fourth at the 2019 World Cup.
Inter Miami came calling in 2021 but his time in the MLS came to an end earlier this month. The 46-year-old was sacked by long-time friend and Inter Miami owner, David Beckham, following a dismal start to the MLS season, which saw the Sunshine State-based team win just five games from 16, leaving them bottom of the Eastern Conference.