The I-5 FC: Phil Neville is ready to be judged
In a candid reflection on his journey, Timbers’ new manager Phil Neville sets his sights on unity, growth and a long season ahead.
PORTLAND — Phil Neville used to love preseason training.
During his years as a player with Manchester United and later Everton, the now-Timbers manager viewed every day of practice as another opportunity to make a case for himself. He was never the most talented player on the pitch, but “I was one of those players that loved to run,” Neville said. “Maybe 15, 20 years ago, we didn’t touch the ball for the first 10 days. I loved it. I loved the feeling of pain — the blood, sweat and tears type of thing.”
The manager spoke with The I-5 Corridor last week from Coachella. It was the morning after the Timbers dropped a 1-0 decision to San Jose and two days before the club closed out the preseason with a 2-1 loss to Chicago. For those looking at Portland’s exhibition slate for signs of a club ready to return to the postseason after a two-year absence, the Timbers’ 0-1-2 record against MLS competition wasn’t particularly inspiring. However, it wasn’t exactly unexpected: the Timbers are still in the process of signing their second designated player and, admittedly, Neville said it’s going to take some time before everything is firing at 100 percent.
During a 19-year career as a player in the Premier League and his last six years as a manager, Neville said he’s learned it takes time to form the relationships, bonds and chemistry that are necessary to reach a championship level. The player who once loved to sprint out of the gates in the preseason has grown into a 47-year-old manager who knows it really doesn’t matter where you start — whether that’s on the roster as a player, or your standing as the new face of a city’s football club.
“As a player, I always found it difficult because you’re looking for places at the front of the race and every day is almost a trial for that first game. You want to be in that starting 11 the first game of the season,” Neville said. “But as I got older, I got more experience and learned that, you know what, this season is going to last 11 months. And it’s not the first day you want to be in the team, it’s the last day of the season.”
Neville’s father often liked to tell a story of his favorite moment as a sports fan. A lifelong Manchester United supporter, Neville Neville would recount walking up the steps of Old Trafford and viewing the iconic grounds for the first time.
“He said it was probably one of the best moments of his life,” Phil recalled. “He stood there just for an hour amazed at the size of the place.”
Neville Neville was a cricketer. He married the now-Jill Neville, who grew up playing rounders, hockey, netball and basketball. They had three children — a son, Gary, who is a year older than Phil, who is 12 minutes older than his twin sister, Tracey.
“Every night we’d be in the park playing some type of sport,” Phil said. “We were just the sportiest family ever.”
That’s continued into their professional lives.
Gary would play 19 seasons for Manchester United and captained the squad for five years. Phil played 11 seasons for Manchester United and won six Premier League titles with his brother. Tracey is a professional netball coach who led the English national team to the gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth games.
Phil remembers watching England beat Australia 52-51 for gold on his phone while boarding a flight out of London.
“I was sobbing like a baby,” he said. “She was on the other side of the world and I’ve never been so proud.”
Tracey now coaches in Australia. Gary is a commentator back home.
“I’m in Portland. My sister is in Melbourne and my brother is in Manchester,” Neville said. “We were from this sleepy little town, Bury. People born in Bury stay in Bury. When I go back and visit my mum, it’s the same people that go into the same pubs and restaurants. It’s like time stood still. So when me and my sister branched out, it was a big thing, ya know?”
Phil and Julie Neville moved to Portland on the last day of 2023.