David Beckham admits he broke unwritten rule that led to ex-Man Utd team-mate losing his job

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David Beckham has admitted to breaking an unwritten football rule before sacking ex- Manchester United team-mate Phil Neville. Beckham, a co-owner of Inter Miami, appointed the younger Neville brother as head coach of the MLS side in January 2021.

He led the Herons to the MLS playoffs in 2022, before the team’s fortunes nosedived, leading to his sacking by Beckham in 2023 after 10 defeats in 15 games. Beckham has now revealed that he and fellow club owners had concerns about Neville’s tactics before pulling the trigger.

While owners getting involved in team affairs is a big no-no in English football, Beckham had no qualms about telling the head coach his approach wasn’t working. Speaking to Gary Neville as part of a Salford City documentary series, Beckham addressed Phil’s time in Florida. He said ruefully: “Phil played five at the back in Miami, for six months.”

A laughing Neville asked: “Did he play one up or two up? Beckham replied, rubbing his forehead: “One up! Five at the back and one up.”

Neville then probed: “Did you tell him?” Beckham said: “Yeah, every day. We didn’t really have the philosophy of not telling the coach.”

Beckham has said sacking Phil was one of the hardest things he’s had to do. Speaking to another former United colleague, Rio Ferdinand, he confessed: “Phil has been in management for a long time, and he knows what happens in management.

“When I first bought 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.

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“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.

“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.

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“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.