David Beckham sacked me - now I'm chasing a Man United reunion and revenge on the big stage

Sixteen months ago Phil Neville was sacked by one of his best mates - now he's aiming to set up a reunion with David Beckham's Inter Miami in the MLS play-offs.

Neville was axed by Beckham in June last year after a poor run of results, he was then appointed by Portland Timbers and has led them to ninth place in the MLS East and a wildcard game against Vancouver in the early hours of Thursday morning (3.30am UK time).

Win that and it's the play-offs proper, with Lionel Messi's Miami the favourites for the title and sitting on the other side of the draw. It would be a tall order for Portland to navigate their way to the final, where Miami may well be waiting.

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But for a man of Neville's background, perhaps unsurprisingly he has loftier aims than making up the numbers. "Finishing ninth is not where we want to be," he said. "We want to set the bar really high with our expectations.

"We are looking forward to the game, you have to enjoy the game and the moments. It is time for us to deliver. We are just excited. In these games you have to remain calm and I can see an extra edge to the players and there is energy around the building."

Neville did reach the play-offs with Miami in his second season, but his side were defeated 3-0 by New York at the first hurdle. That came before a poor 2023 campaign, which ultimately led to his good pal Beckham pulling the trigger.

“I knew the end was coming well before the time," he said, speaking about the decision earlier this year. "It was pretty obvious to everyone in and around the football club. We had to have some difficult conversations along the way but they were always pretty honest and frank," he said.

“The day I actually got fired was probably actually harder for David than it was for me. He really didn’t want to do it, he was really emotional. I was emotional too, but I knew it was coming, so it was probably easier for me.”

Beckham opened up on the decision himself earlier this week, referencing how difficult a call it was but how professionally Neville handled it.

"Phil has been in management for a long time, and he knows what happens in management,' Beckham told Rio Ferdinand Presents. "I think 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.

"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 the time, 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 on as Miami coach, 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.

'I'd called him and said, "we're going to meet," and he said "I know. We walked in the room and we hugged. It was quite emotional on my side just purely because I didn't want to sack a friend."