23 June 2020

England women’s boss Phil Neville says Pep Guardiola told him to become a club manager

England women’s boss Phil Neville has revealed Pep Guardiola recently told him to make his next job in football a club management role.

Neville, who has coached the Lionesses for two years, will leave the role in the summer of 2021.

Neville guided England to the semi-finals of the 2019 Women's World Cup (PA)

And while he has enjoyed his time in international management, the 43-year-old agrees with Guardiola that his next job should involve more regular interaction with players.

Speaking on BBC Sounds’ 606 Savage Podcast, he said: "I spoke to Pep and he was passionate about how I had all this energy and needed to be in day-to-day football.

"Great managers can influence you, and I thought he was right.

"As good as international football is, there is that period when you give players back to their clubs and you do not have any influence.

"There is a big 12 months left with the Lionesses and then, hopefully, I will get the opportunity to manage a club in any country."

Neville has previously taken up roles under various managers at Manchester United, Valencia and England Under-21’s, but has never held the top job at a club side.

His older brother, Gary, coached Valencia while Phil worked under him, but his time at the Spanish outfit lasted less than four months before he was sacked.

Meanwhile, Phil’s sister Tracey is also involved in management, in netball, where she led England to Commonwealth gold at the 2018 Games.

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