June 02, (THEWILL) – Inter Miami and head coach, Phil Neville, have parted ways. The decision comes after Miami’s recent 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls, leaving the team at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with 15 points in 15 matches this season. The club has not yet announced who will take over as the interim or permanent head coach.
Neville, who had been with the team since the 2021 season, led Miami to the playoffs in 2022, but has faced challenges this year, including injuries to key players.
Injuries have plagued Inter Miami in the 2023 season, with captain Gregore and key starter Jean Mota sidelined for most of the campaign. The team’s poor form coincided with a six-match losing streak following Gregore’s injury, pushing them down the Eastern Conference standings. Furthermore, Neville had to navigate the team’s roster rebuild amidst sanctions and budget constraints imposed by Major League Soccer.
Inter Miami incurred fines and allocation fund reductions for violating salary and roster guidelines in 2020. Despite these challenges, sporting director Chris Henderson has worked to rebuild the squad through trades and sales over the past two seasons. Pressure had been mounting on Neville in recent weeks, with verbal disputes and frustrations from fans. Following the loss to Orlando City on May 20, Neville engaged in a heated exchange with a local reporter during a post-match news conference.
Fans expressed their disappointment during and after the recent match, booing Neville’s son, Harvey Neville, on the field. Banners calling for Neville’s dismissal were also displayed by a group of supporters. In response, Neville addressed the criticism, stating that he understands the frustrations and accepts the accountability that comes with being a professional football manager.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
