Phil Neville has admitted he became "emotional" whilst watching England's Lionesses win Euro 2022 on Sunday.
The Inter Miami manager was in the company of friend David Beckham as "my girls" saw off Germany 2-1 after extra time thanks to Chloe Kelly's winner. Neville turned his back on England to take over at MLS outfit Miami in January last year, six months before his contract with the FA was due to expire.
It was under his management that England triumphed in the SheBelieves Cup in 2019 before reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup later that year. Results soon took a downturn but Neville would likely have still been in charge of the England side for this summer's Euros had he not jumped ship across the pond.
Sarina Wiegman was eventually brought in as his permanent replacement months later and has done a sterling job to lead England to their first ever major trophy with a 100% record throughout the Euros. Matchwinner Kelly, 24, was handed her debut by Neville back in November 2018, and her former boss recalled how she was "literally shaking" when taking her England bow.
"I think back to Chloe Kelly who scored the winning goal, I remember when we gave her her debut against Austria," Neville told Football Daily. "She was just a little baby at the time and she was literally shaking as she was going on the field and then she scores the goal in the Euros final.
"It was quite an emotional moment - I was going to say 90 minutes but it was extra time as well. It was an emotional moment because all these girls have inspired me and 87,000 people at Wembley Stadium and I think 20million people back home in England watching [on TV]. That's changed women's sport, never mind women's soccer."
The victory has captured the hearts of the nation as England's players celebrated their triumph until 4am after the final before taking the party to Trafalgar Square for a trophy parade in front of thousands of fans. Tributes have flooded in from all corners, including the Queen and Prince William who toasted the Lionesses' success.
Former England captain Beckham had been among those to send messages of good luck ahead of the final, and Neville revealed he watched it alongside his old England colleague and they were overjoyed at the result.
"There's only one word, just immense pride," Neville continued. "I watched the game with David and we jumped up and celebrated and we felt just immense pride watching it and I did feel emotionally attached because I always say these are my girls and they inspired me and made me a better manager."
Neville's successor Wiegman is now set for a new contract after leading the team to glory, with the FA reportedly keen to keep her at the helm until 2025, including next year's World Cup.
"She will have a couple of weeks off. When she gets back, we'll have a conversation," said Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA's head of women's football (via BBC ). "She needs a holiday. She's done an incredible job. You have to remember she only came in in September.
"Everybody said to me, 'do you think she can win the Euros?' and I said, 'it's a very short time span that.' But my goodness, she has moulded the team together. Not just the players, the team around her."
Meanwhile Neville's Miami side are currently three from bottom in the MLS Eastern Conference having won seven of their 22 fixtures this season.
