English women's soccer coach steps down

Phil Neville has stepped down as England women's team manager with immediate effect, the Football Association says, with the former Manchester United and England defender expected to join David Beckham's Inter Miami.

Neville, 43, has been in talks with the Major League Soccer men's side, who have a vacancy since sacking manager Diego Alonso this month.

The FA said in a statement it would shortly appoint an interim head coach to lead the Lionesses until Sarina Wiegman, currently manager of the Netherlands women's team, assumes the role full-time after the delayed Tokyo Olympics end in August.

Wiegman was appointed last August to lead England at the European championship in 2022 and through qualification for the 2023 World Cup.

Neville, who had been due to lead the Team GB women's soccer side at the Tokyo Games, had announced last April that he would be moving on after the Olympics due to the women's European tournament being postponed from 2021 by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FA said a recruitment process had already been underway after the departure of England assistant coach Rehanne Skinner to Tottenham Hotspur's women's team last November.

Neville said he had enjoyed "three of the best years of my career".