Phil Neville Out as Portland Timbers Head Coach
Quick Look
- Phil Neville has been dismissed as head coach of the Portland Timbers after the club "mutually parted ways" with him.
- The team's recent 3-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes left them 13th in the MLS Western Conference, missing playoff contention.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Phil Neville has been removed as head coach of the Portland Timbers following a string of poor results. His tenure saw the team make the playoffs in his first two seasons but fail to advance past the first round. The club is currently 13th in the MLS Western Conference, out of playoff contention.
Phil Neville is no longer in charge of the Portland Timbers after they announced they had “mutually parted ways” with their head coach.
“In my nearly two decades of owning and operating the Portland Timbers, there are very few people I have enjoyed working with more than Phil Neville,” said Timbers owner Merritt Paulson. “Phil has outstanding leadership qualities and a boundless sense of positivity even in the face of adversity. I cannot thank Phil enough for his tireless dedication to this club and the Portland community, which he and his family truly embraced.”
Neville’s final match in charge of the Timbers was a 3-1 defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes that left the team 13th in the MLS Western Conference, well short of a playoff place. The club made the playoffs in Neville’s first two seasons in charge – in 2024 and 2025 – losing in the opening round and the first round respectively. On Monday, Neville admitted he had not taken the team as far as he would have liked.
“I’d like to thank Merritt Paulson, Ned Grabavoy, and the entire Portland family for their unwavering support in giving me the job and standing behind me,” Neville said after his departure was announced. “To my staff, thank you for your incredible loyalty and hard work. And to the most incredible bunch of players: thank you for the effort, the good times, the good results, the bad results, and all the laughs we shared together. I realize we are in a results business, and the results haven’t been to the expectation of this football club. To the Timbers Army – you are the reason I felt inspired to try and bring success to this club. Keep getting behind the players and the club in this wonderful city. I will miss you all.”
Portland was Neville’s second head coaching job in MLS. He was in charge of Inter Miami from 2021 to 2023, leaving shortly before the arrival of Lionel Messi helped change the club into title contenders. He was also in charge of the England women’s team, leading them to the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup.
Open Questions
- Who will be the next head coach?
- What is the specific reason for the mutual parting beyond results?
- What is the club's future strategy under new leadership?
