19 September 2020

England boss Phil Neville holds ‘massive ambition’ to manage Team GB at Tokyo Olympics despite uncertainty

England manager Phil Neville has reiterated his desire to coach Team GB at the Olympic Games in Tokyo next summer.

The 43-year-old’s contract comes to an end with the Lionesses at the end of July 2021, with Netherlands boss Sarina Wiegman succeeding him in September.

European champion and World Cup finalist Wiegman will take over from Neville at England (PA Images)

And while the FA have not revealed who will take charge of the Great Britain Olympic squad, Neville remains hopeful he will be given the role.

"The Olympics is still a massive ambition of mine," he told BBC Sport.

"The [Football Association] know that and they have been brilliant in their communication with me in terms of the time frames of when they're going to make the decision.

"Whether you're England manager or a manager from one of the four nations, that's still going to be one of the toughest things to do, to pick 18 players [for the Team GB squad].

"It's one that I was excited to do and now it's obviously a clean slate and hopefully I'll get the opportunity to do it."

When pressed on what he believes the time frame will be for the FA to finalise their decision, he added: "I think from all communications it will be made pretty quickly.

"I think everybody is on the same page. The players will want to know which manager they will want to impress for their Olympic selection."

Neville was due to take charge of Team GB at the Olympics before the Games were postponed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The ex-Manchester United and Everton defender led England to the World Cup semi-finals last summer, but suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of eventual winners United States.

Meanwhile, incoming Lionesses boss Wiegman has already won the 2017 European Championships with The Netherlands and reached the World Cup final last summer.

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