Phil Neville joins Canada coaching staff

By Sports Desk June 09, 2023

Phil Neville has joined the coaching staff of the Canada national team just days after leaving his role with Inter Miami.

The 46-year-old will join up as part of John Herdman’s technical team alongside Richard Shaw, and the two new additions will be part of Canada’s plans for their CONCACAF Nations League finals in Las Vegas.

Neville was relieved of his duties with Inter Miami last week with the club sitting rock-bottom of the Eastern Conference in Major League Soccer, just days before Lionel Messi was announced as their new marquee signing.

The former England Women boss will take a familiar role with another national team after leading the Lionesses to a fourth-place finish at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2019 SheBelieves Cup success.

Canada reached just their second ever World Cup in 2022 and first since 1986 but exited the group stage, and 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.

Shaw will take up a similar position to Neville and his first as part of any national team having previously been involved at Watford, Millwall and Crystal Palace.

Following the announcement, Canada boss Herman told their website: “Both Phil and Richard bring with them winning experience at the highest levels and have worked with some of the Premier League’s 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.”

Related items

  • Postecoglou warns 'no easy or quick fix' for Spurs after Coventry scare Postecoglou warns 'no easy or quick fix' for Spurs after Coventry scare

    Ange Postecoglou acknowledged "there is no easy or quick fix" for Tottenham following their EFL Cup scare against Coventry City.

    Spurs scraped through to the fourth round by the skin of their teeth, having been second-best against their Championship opponents for large periods of the tie at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

    Ben Davies had cleared off the line from Haji Wright minutes before Coventry took a deserved 63rd-minute lead through Brandon Thomas-Asante.

    The Sky Blues looked set to book their place in the last-16 draw, but Djed Spence rounded off a neat move to equalise in the 88th minute then, deep into stoppage time, Brennan Johnson completed the turnaround to snatch victory from under Coventry's noses.

    Postecoglou has been the subject of criticism this week after stating he "always" wins silverware in his second season at a club.

    The Spurs boss knows his side still have a long way to go, but was pleased by the character demonstrated by his players in testing circumstances.

    "We had to just hang in there somehow, and we did," he told Sky Sports. "We weren't fluent or cohesive.

    "I have consistently said there is no easy or quick fix to where we want to get to and one result doesn't change that.

    "Tonight, we showed what we have been missing the first four games. A little bit of spirit to fight our way and find a way to win a game of football."

  • Inzaghi content with Man City draw but laments Inter misses Inzaghi content with Man City draw but laments Inter misses

    Simone Inzaghi lamented Inter's missed opportunities but was broadly satisfied with their 0-0 draw at Manchester City on matchday one in the Champions League.

    Inter produced an impressive performance at the Etihad Stadium, holding the team that beat them in the 2023 Champions League final to seal a memorable treble.

    Matteo Darmian and Henrikh Mkhitaryan had huge chances to put the Nerazzurri ahead in the second half, though they were also fortunate to see Ilkay Gundogan miss two golden opportunities for City.

    After becoming just the second coach to oversee a clean sheet in an away Champions League game versus Guardiola's City, Inzaghi heaped praise on his players.

    "The players did really well, we knew the quality of our opponents, but we worked well and could have hurt them more in some situations," he told Amazon Prime Video Italia.

    "In the final third we need to show skill and technique, which we do have in the squad.

    "Against these sides like Manchester City and Real Madrid, you always seem like you might be able to score a goal, but then they manage to rescue it."

    Midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, meanwhile, said Inter were determined not to be intimidated by City following their defeat in the 2022-23 showpiece game.

    "We wanted to show that we are not scared to play here. We play football the way they do, with sacrifice we showed that we can also play football," Calhanoglu said.

    "We enjoyed ourselves against a very strong team and could also have won, but with the right courage and spirit of sacrifice, we proved that we can compete against anyone."

    Inter will now turn their focus to the Derby della Madonnina against Milan in Serie A on Sunday.

    "It will be a derby, we all know what that means for the club and our fans," Inzaghi said. "They never stopped singing tonight in Manchester. 

    "We will stay here overnight, fly back tomorrow and try to prepare the match in just a few days."

  • 'I love my team' – Guardiola proud of Man City despite Inter blank 'I love my team' – Guardiola proud of Man City despite Inter blank

    Pep Guardiola was proud of Manchester City's performance despite their failure to find a breakthrough in their goalless draw with Inter, declaring: "We are a fantastic team".

    In a repeat of the 2023 Champions League final, City were unable to find a way past a resolute Nerazzurri defence at the Etihad Stadium.

    Ilkay Gundogan missed two huge chances at the death for the hosts, but Inter themselves went close to snatching three points through Henrikh Mkhitaryan.  

    Erling Haaland, meanwhile, was limited to the fewest touches of all 22 starters (14) as his bid to reach 100 goals for City was foiled.

    Despite City failing to score for just the second time in 42 home Champions League games under him (also versus Sporting CP in 2022), Guardiola refused to criticise his men.

    Asked what he liked about their display by TNT Sports, Guardiola said: "Everything, absolutely everything. We played so good, I love my team, we are a fantastic team.

    "Against a team who are masters of defending, we did so, so well. We conceded one or one and a half chances, and you cannot expect to create 20 chances when a team defends so deep.

    "When you lose easy balls, it's a counterattack, it's impossible to stop it. We had to be more precise. You cannot always control it.

    "We had not a lot [of chances], but they were so clear. It's also the start of the season, these players will get better with a little bit more time."

    Guardiola was also asked for an update on the condition of Kevin De Bruyne, who was withdrawn at half-time just four days out from a huge Premier League matchup against Arsenal, but he was unable to provide one.

    Defender Ruben Dias was also pleased with most aspects of City's performance, saying: "A very intense game against a very strong opponent.

    "We knew what was coming, they're a top team as well, they're used to winning, and we knew we were not going to have an easy job. 

    "In the end, I think the team had a great performance, we were very close to scoring."

    Another huge chance for Inter to snatch victory saw defender Matteo Darmian inexplicably attempt to find Nicolo Barella with a backheel when he had a clean sight of Ederson's goal in the second half.

    Asked about that moment after the game, Nerazzurri boss Simone Inzaghi said: "I asked him, 'what were you playing at?', and he said he could hear Barella behind him."

    City's next Champions League game is at Slovan Bratislava on October 1, while Inter host Crvena zvezda on the same day.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.