Neville departure gives FA Olympic headache

Phil Neville has left his role as England Women's manager six months early in order to take charge of MLS side Inter Miami. He was due to stand down in July and was favourite to be put in charge of the Team GB side for the Tokyo Olympics.

The Football Association will now have to decide who will lead the women's side at the Games as well as an interim head coach for the Lionesses until Sarina Wiegman arrives once her commitments with the Netherlands end following the tournament in Japan.

"It has been an honour to manage England and I have enjoyed three of the best years of my career," said Neville. "The players who wear the England shirt are some of the most talented and dedicated athletes I have ever had the privilege to work with.

"They have challenged me and improved me as a coach, and I am very grateful to them for the fantastic memories we have shared."

The former Manchester United and Everton defender took charge of England in 2018 and enjoyed initial success, the Lionesses winning the SheBelieves Cup as well as reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup the following year.

However, England struggled to maintain that form before the global pandemic brought a halt to international football following a poor defence of their SheBelieves title in 2020.