Phil Neville passed his debut as the Portland Timbers’ new head coach with flying colors by steamrolling the Colorado Rapids, 4-1, in their 2024 season opener.

Saturday’s game at Providence Park saw the Timbers take a 4-0 lead at halftime before the Rapids’ Calvin Harris broke their clean sheet in the 55th minute.

Portland opened the scoring early when Eryk Williamson got on the board nine minutes after the opening whistle. Antony then scored back-to-back goals in the 14th and the 29th. Right before the intermission, Colorado’s Sam Vines added to the tally with an own goal.

With Messi’s arrival, Inter Miami hired his fellow Argentine Tata Martino to replace Neville at the helm in Fort Lauderdale.

Phil Neville’s tenure with the Portland Timbers is off to a perfect start with Saturday’s 4-1 win 

The Timbers were up 4-0 at halftime before the Colorado Rapids scored in the 55th minute

Timbers forward Antony led the game in scoring with back-to-back goals in the 14th and 29th 

Neville was announced as the Timbers’ new head coach in November after signing a multiyear contract through the 2026 season.

“I am massively excited about the challenge ahead, and from the very first moment I met the staff I knew it was the right opportunity for me, the right club for me and the right city for me,” Neville said upon his announcement.

“The fans are the most important part of this football club with their intensity and support, and I think this journey is going to be something special. I have great memories visiting Portland, which reminds me of Manchester, my hometown, and I can’t wait for my family to get to know this beautiful city.”

After a memorable playing career that saw him appear in 505 games between Manchester United and Everton, Neville made the transition into coaching. He managed the England Women’s team from 2018 to 2021 before moving stateside to Major League Soccer.

Neville looks to help the Timbers turn around after an 11-10-13 season in 2023 that saw them finish tenth in the Western Conference.

Before missing the playoffs in the last two seasons, Portland made the postseason for five straight years, including MLS Cup appearances in 2018 and 2021. The Timbers also won their first and only MLS title in 2015.

Neville and the Timbers will head east for their next two games to face DC United on March 2 and New York City FC on the 9th.