Phil Neville has left his role as head coach of the Portland Timbers. The club announced that they had mutually parted ways with Neville.
The Timbers are now looking for a new head coach.
Neville’s Time in Portland
Neville joined the club in November 2023. During his time at the helm, he had a 27-31-24 record.
Timbers owner Merritt Paulson said he enjoyed working with Neville and praised his leadership qualities and positivity. He thanked Neville for his dedication to the club and the Portland community.
General manager Ned Grabavoy expressed appreciation for Neville’s commitment and efforts. He noted that discussions had taken place regarding areas for improvement this offseason. Ultimately, they had not seen the needed progress, and results had fallen short of expectations.
Timbers’ Performance Under Neville
The Timbers currently sit in 13th place in the Western Conference standings. They have 14 points with a 4-8-2 record. There are 20 matches remaining in the 2026 campaign.
In Neville’s first season, the Timbers had a 12-11-11 record. They reached the playoffs for the first time since 2021. The team also set a single-season club scoring record with 65 goals in 2024.
The Timbers qualified for the playoffs for the second-straight year in 2025. They had an 11-12-11 record. Portland defeated Real Salt Lake in the Wild Card round before losing to top-seeded San Diego FC in the Round One Best-of-3 Series.
Neville’s Farewell
Neville thanked Merritt Paulson, Ned Grabavoy, and the Portland family for their support. He also thanked his staff for their loyalty and hard work. Neville extended his gratitude to the players for their effort and the laughs they shared.
He acknowledged the results business and that the results hadn’t met the club’s expectations. Neville also thanked the Timbers Army for their support and inspiration.
- Neville joined the Timbers in November 2023.
- He led the team to the playoffs in his first season.
- The Timbers are currently 13th in the Western Conference.
The team is on a three-week break for the summer international window. They will return to play on July 16. Interim coaching decisions will be made in concert with the timing of the head coach hire.
Prior to joining the Timbers, Neville was head coach of Inter Miami CF for two-plus seasons.