Phil Neville to Take Charge of Team GB at Tokyo Olympics

Phil Neville is poised to be named as the Team GB coach for next summer's Tokyo Olympics, with an announcement expected in January.

Neville is stepping down as England Women's manager in July 2021 following the expiration of his contract, and had originally been earmarked to take charge of the Team GB for the Olympics and the Lionesses at Euro 2021.

However, the coronavirus pandemic has shifted each tournament back 12 months, and Neville's successor - current Netherlands manager Sarina Wiegman - will be in the England hot seat for the 2021 European Championships.

The 2020 Olympics, which take place between 23 July and 8 August 2021, fall outside of both Neville's and Wiegman's contract. The Dutch boss does not take the Lionesses reins until September 2021, and will lead her native Netherlands at the Olympics.

Although Neville had maintained his desire to lead the team in Tokyo, it had remained undecided whether the former Manchester United man would be in charge for the games.

According to the Times, a decision regarding Neville was made this week, and he will take charge of Team GB in Tokyo. However, an official announcement is not expected until January.

The 2020 Olympics will be just the second time that Team GB has fielded a women's football team, with their last appearance coming at London 2012. England's fourth place finish at the 2019 World Cup - the third highest placing from a European side - secured their qualification.

Neville will be tasked with selecting a squad of 18, and he has a pool of players from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to choose from.

Then England boss Hope Powell took charge of Team GB at London 2012, but selected just two non-English players; Scotland's Kim Little and Ifeoma Dieke, with Wales' Jess Fishlock a notable absentee.