David Beckham broke unwritten rule as ex-Man Utd team-mate lost job | Football | Sport

David Beckham has confessed to breaching an unspoken rule of football before sacking his former Manchester United team-mate Phil Neville. Beckham, who co-owns Inter Miami, appointed Neville as head coach of the MLS team in January 2021. Neville guided Inter Miami to the playoffs in 2022, but a downturn in the team’s fortunes led to his dismissal by Beckham in 2023 following a run of 10 losses in 15 matches.

Beckham has now disclosed that he and the other club owners had reservations about Neville’s tactics before making the decision. Despite the fact that owners meddling in team matters is frowned upon in English football, Beckham had no hesitation in informing the head coach that his strategy wasn’t paying off. In a conversation with Gary Neville for a Salford City documentary series, Beckham reflected on Phil’s tenure in Florida.

He lamented: “Phil played five at the back in Miami, for six months.”

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

When Neville further questioned: “Did you tell him?” Beckham admitted: “Yeah, every day. We didn’t really have the philosophy of not telling the coach.”

Beckham has described dismissing Phil as one of the most difficult things he’s ever done. In a chat with another ex-United team-mate, Rio Ferdinand, he admitted: “Phil has been in management for a long time, and he knows what happens in management.

“When I first brought Phil in 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.

“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.

“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 continues his involvement with Inter Miami as a co-owner.

Meanwhile, alongside Gary Neville, he also forms part of the principal ownership consortium at League Two outfit Salford.