Inter Miami signs coach Phil Neville through 2023, begins offseason roster moves
Inter Miami coach Phil Neville will have at least one more season to try to achieve the lofty goals owners David Beckham and Jorge and Jose Mas set at the club’s inception three years ago.
Neville, whose contract expired at the end of the season, got a new one-year deal through 2023 with options for a further extension. His assistant coaches are in negotiations with the club regarding their futures.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Phil and build on the foundation put in place this year,” said Chris Henderson, Inter Miami sporting director and chief soccer officer. “He has helped Inter Miami build a winning culture, and we feel our processes, collaboration and communication have begun to bear fruit.
“We are ready for the road ahead and are confident we are heading in the right direction.”
Under Neville’s direction, Inter Miami exceeded expectations in 2002 after climbing to the playoffs from the Eastern Conference basement. Miami finished in sixth place and lost 3-0 on the road to 2021 MLS champion New York City FC in the first round of the playoffs.
The previous season, Miami finished in 11th place and did not qualify for the playoffs. Goal production increased from 36 in 2021 (second lowest in the league) to 47 this season and goal differential improved from minus-17 to minus-9.
The playoff berth was significant because Miami had 18 new players and most pundits predicted they would finish at or near the bottom of the conference.
“It’s a great honor to stay at Inter Miami,” Neville said. “I’ve always thought that I want to be at this club for a long time. I think we’re in the early growth period, the early building process, and I feel as if we’ve made great strides over the last two years, but by no means is the journey finished.
“In 2022 we finished sixth in the league, we got into playoffs. But that’s not success, that’s progression. The expectation is to win.”
He said he was motivated watching Los Angeles FC celebrate its MLS Cup title last Saturday.
“We want to experience what LAFC and Philadelphia experienced,” Neville said. “We want to stand on the podium with trophies and the owners and our families.” He said a top four finish and home-field playoff advantage is a key goal for 2023.
Priority No. 1 is replacing Higuain, the Argentine striker who retired after leading the team with 16 goals this season. As a “Designated Player” he was the highest paid on the roster at $5.8 million.
Lionel Messi, an even bigger Argentine star, has been linked to an Inter Miami move for years, but that remains a long shot. Henderson and Neville were asked about Messi on Monday, and both said all talk at this point is speculation, but they praised Messi for his skill and character.
“It’s great to be connected with amazing players, it’s speculation and rumors, but obviously he is one of the greatest players in the game,” Henderson said. Another marquee player who has been in conversation with Miami is FC Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets, according to multiple sources.
Miami exercised its purchase option for Ecuadorean forward Leonardo Campana, on loan from English Premier League team Wolves. The 21-year-old scored 11 goals in 26 games for Miami this season. He is back in Ecuador training, awaiting word on whether he will be named to Ecuador’s World Cup roster.
“I believe Leo has the qualities to go to a World Cup, and I hope he comes back with more goals and more confidence,” Neville said. “He could be a superstar.”
The team has a decision to make about Alejandro Pozuelo, a $4.6 million playmaker who was traded from Toronto to Inter Miami in July and made a big impact.
“Pozuelo came in middle of the summer and added that spark we needed,” Henderson said. “Creativity, final pass, boosted Higuain. So, we’re having conversations with him and his agent. But there’s a lot in the air with DPs.”
There is a chance midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro, who was a DP for Miami, could return from his loan spell with Mexican club Monterrey or Miami could sell him.
Miami loaned him out for 2022 with an option to purchase, but word is he is not in Monterrey’s plans. Pizarro was Inter Miami’s first DP in 2020. He played 47 games and scored seven goals with 12 assists.
“We are in conversations with Pizarro, his agent and Monterrey,” Henderson said. “We are looking at options all over the world. We get linked with big names. We want to bring in characters and personalities that fit what we’re building.”
Henderson also announced that Robbie Robinson and Edison Azcona are going on a training stint with Real Zaragoza, Inter Miami’s partner club in Spain. They will go over Nov. 15 and stay for a few weeks.
