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Alex Neil reveals his vision going forward in his first interview as new Millwall head coach

Alex Neil reveals his vision going forward in his first interview as the new head coach of Millwall, as replacement for Neil Harris.

He acknowledges the existing philosophy and style of play under Neil Harris, which involves direct football, control of the second ball, wing play, and minimal risk in play from the back.

Neil’s approach is seen as aligning well with Millwall’s identity, suggesting a strategy that builds on the club’s established tactics while focusing on developing young talent alongside experienced players.

This vision is intended to drive the club forward gradually, ensuring stability and growth without disrupting the current team dynamics.

The Lions currently sit currently sit 13th in the Championship table with 29 points from 23 games played.

Interviewer: Alex, welcome to Millwall Football Club. Just tell us how excited you are to start as our new head coach.

Alex: Yeah. I think that, the opportunity was was obviously a great one for me and like you said, we went through our recruitment process that got us to this point, but, yeah, delighted to be here.

Interviewer: What was the attraction of Millwall? Why do you feel this is the right club for your future?

Alex: I think it’s very much similar to when I went into Preston. You know, I think that when I took over Preston, it was it was a similar sort of situation. Get in a good environment. I mean, it was not as if there’s huge problems. The team wasn’t struggling. And I had to go on and sort of develop a style of play, maybe bring some some of the younger players through. So, yeah, I see this as a very similar project to what I did there.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Millwall Football Club is delighted to announce the arrival of Alex Neil as The Lions’ new Head Coach.
The 43-year-old joins the club on a long-term contract alongside Martin Canning, who arrives as Assistant Head Coach.

Neil, born in Bellshill, Scotland, played for the likes of Barnsley and Hamilton Academical before stepping into management, which he did with the Scottish side before moving on to Norwich City, Preston North End, Sunderland and – most recently – Stoke City.

Steering The Canaries to a Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final victory over Middlesbrough in 2015, Neil and Norwich then took on the Premier League before he joined the Deepdale outfit, turning North End into a competitive Championship outfit, known for pushing towards the top six.

Four seasons and almost 200 matches in charge later, Neil departed Deepdale, before arriving at the Stadium of Light in February 2022, guiding The Black Cats to a Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final success ahead of switching the North East for The Potteries in August 2022.

Neil left Stoke City in December 2023 and now becomes The Lions’ new boss with over 300 Championship matches in the dugout under his belt.

Millwall chairman, James Berylson, said: “We’re excited to welcome Alex to the club. Having met with him over the last couple of weeks, I have really enjoyed his passion and energy for the role.

“We have a clear vision and strategy at the club that Alex is aligned with, and he has some really exciting ideas of how we can progress with those objectives and ambitions together across the entire club.

“All our support is there for Alex, and I can’t wait to see what he can do for us. I, alongside everybody at Millwall, wish him the very best as our new Head Coach.”

Millwall’s Director of Football, Steve Gallen, added: “This has been a thorough and efficient recruitment process, and we’re really pleased to welcome Alex Neil as Head Coach.

“A number of factors were analysed extensively during this process to ensure that we appoint that right person for the role.

“Ultimately, Alex has an excellent track record in The Championship for results and development of young talent, as well as many other attributes that we feel confident will drive us forward as a club.

“Alex’s hunger to take this football club to the next level was clear during the several conversations we had. He has proven methods that have worked successfully in a hugely competitive League and has exciting ideas of how he sees this team developing.

“We’re delighted to welcome to him to Millwall and I look forward to working closely with Alex.

“We’re grateful to David Livermore for taking charge of First-Team affairs in the interim, alongside his support staff of Adam Barrett, Andy Marshall and Kevin Nugent.

“David will remain at the club as part of Alex’s backroom staff whilst Kevin Nugent has returned to his position as Under 21s Elite Development Squad Manager.”

The Scot will take charge of Millwall for the very first time when The Lions take on Oxford United at The Den on New Year’s Day.

Welcome on board, Alex!

Here’s how fans reacted as Alex Neil reveals his vision going forward in his first interview as new Millwall head coach….

@FTM1042: Good luck Alex. Always be grateful to Neil for coming in at Sunderland and getting us promoted back to the championship. He’s a honest manager a no nonsense type of coach who will hopefully give Millwall stability.

@StevieJMillwall: Good luck to him and I’m supporting him 100%. If he can get us playing more to feet and less long ball I’m all for it as it will bring strikers into the game more.

@ChrisBlaylockDJ: Good manager and coach. Had all our best players sold underneath him at Preston then we sacked him!! Terrible tbh

@B1235122: An excellent appointment! Was very good at Preston and lost his way with poor leadership from the top under Peter Ridsdale. Very much similar to the project at Preston. Perfect fit I think! Good luck Alex!

@88_mcgowan: Good luck sir alex

@HCMFC94: Promising appointment, needs players in January then judge him over the summer

@AlbieBaker3: Let’s get behind him and the boys.

@DNE_637: long old drive from Longridge, that

@EdCouzensLake: Did very well for us & no complaints about the football-fast, on the front foot and proactive. Witness the 2015 P/Off win which typifies his style/tactics perfectly.

@Lukeee_UK: Let’s have em Alex welcome, back him all the way, fuck em all we start and build new here 👏 I’m looking forward to it

@1980MLL: I just hope he rids the club of this ‘Millwall way’ mindset. I love Harris, but trying to nick wins is not the ‘Millwall way’. Harris & then Rowett infected the club with this cancer. The club earned its nickname (& are only club to earn one) with aggressive, attacking football!

@PNEste25: Got yourselves a good un here lads and lasses. A very good coach who has a knack of developing players. Wish Alex all the best. Feels like the perfect club for him

@MillwallDave2: Can’t argue with it. Pick of the bunch. Good record at Preston. Very good record at Norwich. Three promotions. Won’t be afraid to give the players a bollocking. Crucially, a safe pair of hands. A very good choice that could take us to the next level. Welcome, Alex.

@s4m_scfc: Millwall fans from a stoke fan who didnt like his time at stoke very much. He likes to buy former players from when he was at Norwich, Sunderland, Preston and probably now Stoke. His football annoyed me quite a lot tbh wasnt a fan of him at all he had a few good games like when we beat 22/23 coventry 4 – 0 and Sunderland 22/23 1 – 5 but had some shite games such as during the end of his run at stoke in the 23/24 season when we were losing to relegation candidates sheffield wednesday and plymouth. So overall Im not a fan of him but he could be totally different at Millwall.

@PotterTom__: Announce Ben Pearson, Daniel Iversen, Daniel Johnson

@DarrellAllen94: Great appointment Alex is a fine manager and even more of a wonderful man. I got on extremely well with him when he was at Norwich. Wish Millwall all the very best. Will try get down for a match.

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