Phil Neville has departed from the Portland Timbers following two and a half seasons, as confirmed by the MLS club on Monday.
Timbers general manager Ned Grabavoy expressed gratitude for Neville’s commitment during his tenure, stating in a press release, “We are thankful for Phil’s dedication and efforts with the Portland Timbers. He brought a great deal of enthusiasm and passion to the position, and it has been a pleasure to work with him. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”
Grabavoy added, “In our offseason discussions, we identified areas needing improvement. Unfortunately, we did not see the necessary progress, and the results have not met expectations.”
The Timbers will now begin the search for a successor.
Neville joined the Timbers in November 2023 ahead of the 2024 MLS season after managing Inter Miami from January 2021 to June 2023.
During his time in Portland, Neville recorded a total of 27 wins, 31 losses, and 24 draws, and leaves the team in 13th place in the Western Conference standings. In his inaugural season, he achieved a record of 12 wins, 11 losses, and 11 draws, leading the Timbers to their first playoff appearance since 2021.
Neville also guided the team to the postseason in 2025, where they won against Real Salt Lake in the Wild Card round before being eliminated by San Diego FC in the first round of the Best-of-3 Series.
In a press release, Phil Neville expressed his gratitude, saying, “I want to extend my thanks to Merritt Paulson, Ned Grabavoy, and the entire Timbers organization for their unwavering support throughout my tenure. To my staff, I appreciate your loyalty and hard work. And to the amazing players: thank you for the effort, the good times, the successful moments, the challenges, and all the memories we’ve created together.”
“I understand this is a results-driven industry, and the outcomes have not met the club’s expectations. To the Timbers Army, you have been my inspiration to strive for success with this club. Please continue to support the players and the organization in this beautiful city. I will miss all of you.”
The Timbers are set to return to the pitch on July 16 against the Seattle Sounders after the World Cup break.