MIAMI – Inter Miami CF announced Monday that it named former England women’s national coach Phil Neville as its head coach for the 2021 Major League Soccer season.
The club also appointed Chris Henderson, who had been with Seattle Sounders FC as sporting director, as chief soccer officer and sporting director to lead the strategic vision of the Club. Neville’s addition to the Club is pending receipt of his work visa.
“I am incredibly delighted for this opportunity to coach Inter Miami and to work with Chris and the entire ownership group. This is a very young club with a lot of promise and upside, and I am committed to challenging myself, my players and everyone around me to grow and build a competitive soccer culture we can all be proud of,” Neville said in a statement. “This fantastic soccer-loving market deserves consistent performances and a winning mentality, and I look forward to getting to work.”
Neville, who holds a UEFA Pro License for coaching, was appointed as the manager of the England national side in January 2018. The Bury, England native helped guide England to a second-place finish in the 2018 SheBelieves Cup, a title-winning run in the 2019 SheBelieves Cup, and an undefeated 2019 Women’s World Cup qualification run. England lost to the United States in the World Cup semifinal.
As a player, Neville featured primarily as a defender at Manchester United and Everton FC. He began his career in the Manchester United academy before making his first team debut in 1995. He made more than 300 appearances for the Red Devils, helping the team win the Premier League six times, the FA Cup three times and the UEFA Champions League once, including winning all three in one season to claim the coveted treble in 1998-99. With Everton, Neville also made more than 300 appearances in all competitions, and was rewarded for his effort by earning the title of captain with the Toffees.
Henderson will manage soccer operations and on-field developments, from the First Team to the youth levels. The full technical staff will be announced at a later date.
“This is an incredible opportunity for me to take the next step in my career, return back to South Florida and solidify my mark on this league,” Henderson said in a statement. “I have always believed in the Inter Miami project and the Club’s ability to become a powerhouse not only in MLS but across the global soccer industry. My goal is to work with the technical staff to ensure we have a roster that fits the style of soccer we want while maintaining a healthy pipeline of youth, league wide and international players who could contribute to the team’s success on and off the field. I’m looking forward to joining Inter Miami’s journey and reconnecting with the fanbase in South Florida.”
