Local soccer club Inter Miami lets go coach Phil Neville
DORAL, FL – Local soccer club Inter Miami CF announced Thursday that coach Phil Neville was let go of the team, together with Assistant Coach Jason Kreis.
“I would like to thank the Inter Miami CF ownership group for their trust and making me a part of this project; the players and staff for their impressive commitment, dedication and hard work; and the fans for their unwavering support for the Club since day one. I’m grateful to have played a part in the growth of this Club and wish Inter Miami CF all the best in the future,” said Neville, according to the news release posted on Inter Miami CF website.
Phil Neville took on his role as the club’s coach in January 2021 after a three-year period as the head coach of the England Women’s National Team. During his time in this position, the team reached the MLS Cup playoffs in 2022 and saw five Academy graduates make their First Team debuts.
“We are and always have been an ambitious Club. Sometimes the path to growth involves difficult decisions and today is one of those moments. We are grateful to Phil for the dedication and tenacity he brought to Inter Miami. His positive contributions are embedded in our team culture, and he represented our Club with class and dignity” said Inter Miami CF Managing Owner, Jorge Mas, as expressed on the website’s news release.
“When we appointed Phil, we knew he would give Inter Miami his all and I have watched him work incredibly hard and with real commitment towards the ambitions we set out for the club. He and his family embraced Miami and he has devoted himself to the drive to bring success to the city and to our fans,” said Co-Owner David Beckham.
“Phil has made a real contribution to the culture of our club with his qualities as a leader and knowledge as a coach. Sometimes in this game we have to make the toughest decisions and sadly we feel the time is right to make a change. I want to personally thank Phil for his hard work, his passion for our Club and for his integrity as a person.”
For the role of coach, the team already made its choice. Inter Miami CF Assistant Coach Javier Morales was chosen as Interim Head Coach effective immediately, while Assistant Coach Darren Powell, Goalkeeper Coach Sebastián Saja, and Assistant Coach and Performance Analyst Alec Scott will remain in their current roles.
“I would like to welcome Javi Morales to his new role. Javi has been a key member of our organization since day one and understands our goals,” Jorge Mas said.
Morales joined Inter Miami in early 2019 as an Academy coach. In 2022, he led Inter Miami’s U-17 side to the semifinals of the 2022 Generation adidas Cup, a first-place finish in the U-17 East (South) Division and qualified the team for MLS NEXT U-17 playoffs. Ahead of the 2023 season, Morales earned a spot as a First Team assistant coach.
Inter Miami CF will return to the field this Saturday, June 3, when the team hosts D.C. United at DRV PNK Stadium. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and tickets for the match are available at InterMiamiCF.com.
Photo by: @InterMiamiCF