Portland Timbers Part Ways With Phil Neville

By Daniel Feuerstein | Portland, OR | May 25th, 2026

The Portland Timbers and Phil Neville have officially parted ways. The former Inter Miami Head Coach went to the Pacific Northwest for two and a half seasons at the Timbers, until his tenure came to an end with a three goals to one loss against the San Jose Earthquakes, just as the 2026 FIFA World Cup Break came after this past Memorial Day Weekend. His record from 2024 till his sacking for the Timbers was 27 Wins, 24 Draws, and 31 Losses with two Audi MLS Cup Playoffs appearances.

“In my nearly two decades of owning and operating the Portland Timbers, there are very few people I have enjoyed working with more than Phil Neville,” said Timbers owner Merritt Paulson. “Phil has outstanding leadership qualities and a boundless sense of positivity even in the face of adversity. I cannot thank Phil enough for his tireless dedication to this club and the Portland community, which he and his family truly embraced.”

The Timbers are in 13th place at the World Cup Break with a record of four wins, two draws, and eight losses. They are currently on a three-match winless streak. During the break, the Timbers will start looking for a new head coach to take over the second half of the 2026 MLS Season as they will return to action on Thursday, July 16th, in the Cascadia Cup on the road at the Seattle Sounders.

“We are appreciative of Phil’s commitment and efforts during his time with the Portland Timbers,” said general manager Ned Grabovoy. “Phil brought enthusiasm and passion to the role, and it was a pleasure to work with him. We wish Phil all the best in his next opportunity.

“This offseason, we had pointed discussions about the areas we needed to build on and improve. Ultimately, we have not seen the progress we’ve needed to, and, most importantly, results have fallen well short of expectations.”

Discover more from Bad Dawg Sports – Global Sports Coverage & Analysis

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.