David Beckham has opened up about what he did before axing ex-Manchester United team-mate Phil Neville at Inter Miami to his brother and fellow Salford City co-owner, Gary
David Beckham
David Beckham made his feelings clear to Phil Neville before sacking him as Inter Miami boss
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David Beckham has confessed to breaching an unspoken rule in football prior to sacking his ex-Manchester United team-mate Phil Neville. In January 2021, Beckham appointed Neville as head coach of the Major League Soccer team.
Neville guided the Herons to the MLS playoffs in 2022, but a downturn in the team's performance led to his dismissal by Beckham in 2023 following a run of 10 losses in 15 matches. Beckham has now disclosed that he and the other club owners had reservations about Neville's tactics before deciding to let him go.
Although it is generally frowned upon for owners to interfere in team matters in English football, Beckham did not hesitate to inform the head coach that his tactics were not working. During a conversation with Gary Neville for a Salford City documentary series, Beckham reflected on Phil's tenure in Florida, saying: "Phil played five at the back in Miami, for six months."
An amused Gary asked: "Did he play one up or two up? Beckham replied, rubbing his forehead: "One up! Five at the back and one up."
Asked by Neville: "Did you tell him?" Beckham confirmed: "Yeah, every day. We didn't really have the philosophy of not telling the coach."
Gary Neville and David Beckham
Beckham tells Gary Neville about Phil's final days as Inter Miami boss
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Beckham admitted that letting Phil go was one of the most difficult decisions he's had to make. In conversation with another former United team-mate, Rio Ferdinand, he revealed: "Phil has been in management for a long time, and he knows what happens in management.
"When I first brought in Phil to manage the team in Miami, I knew what he was going to do. I knew he was going to steady the ship. I knew that he was going to bring the work ethic that I'd seen over the years.
"Everything had to be perfect with Phil. He brought everyone together and he changed that club overnight. The work that Phil did, it was incredible.
David Gardner, Phil Neville, and owner David Beckham look on prior Inter Miami's game against CF Montreal
Beckham has praised Phil Neville's impact on Inter Miami
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"But Phil knew and he said, 'If I'm not getting the results, I know what's going to happen.' And we're close enough to have that conversation.
"When he first came in, I said, 'Phil, I don't want this to affect our friendship.' He said, 'I get it, it won't, when the time's right, if it's right, we'll both know.' And we had a very sensible conversation but I will never underestimate what he did for the club.
"I think it was one of the most difficult things I'd had to do, even though me and Phil had spoke about it when he first came. I knew that if it came to this moment, it was going to be difficult, no matter what time it happened and when it happened."
Beckham remains involved with Inter Miami as a co-owner. Along with Gary Neville, he is also part of the main ownership group at League Two Salford.
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