Ex-Inter Miami boss Neville joins Canada's men's soccer team as assistant

The Canadian men's soccer team will have a familiar face on the touchline heading into the 2026 World Cup.

Phil Neville, fired last week by Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, is John Herdman's newest national team assistant, Canada Soccer announced Friday.

Richard Shaw, a former defender for England's Crystal Palace, Coventry City, and Millwall, also joins Herdman's staff.

Shaw and Neville will replace Jason deVos, one of Herdman's trusted right-hand men who recently took on the role of interim general secretary.

Neville, whose brother is Manchester United legend Gary Neville, is expected to join the Canadian team ahead of the June 15 Nations League semifinal against Panama.

Neville was in his third season as head coach of David Beckham's Inter Miami when Beckham, a former teammate of Neville's during their playing days at Manchester United, dismissed him.

He left the team in last place in the Eastern Conference with just five wins in 16 matches.

"For me, it will be just a great opportunity just to tap into Phil's brain," Herdman told The Canadian Press' Neil Davidson. "I've heard a lot of great things about Phil being a terrific man-manager and learning a lot from (former Manchester United manager) Alex Ferguson. So I'm hoping Phil can transfer a lot of that to our coaching staff as well as our player group."

Neville, 46, has experience as an assistant, having worked alongside his brother at Valencia in 2015. He served as head coach of England's women's team from 2018-21 and worked with current Canada women's head coach Bev Priestman during his time with the Lionesses.