Phil Neville

Lore & Background

Born in Bury, Greater Manchester, Neville attended Elton High School, where he captained the football team for five years. Along with brother Gary, he joined the Manchester United Academy, signing associate schoolboy forms in September 1990. He made his senior debut for Manchester United on 28 January 1995 in a 5–2 win at home to Wrexham in the fourth round of the 1994–95 FA Cup. His league debut came two weeks later against Manchester City. He helped United win six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League. On 4 August 2005, he joined Everton on a five-year contract for a fee in excess of £3 million. He became club captain in January 2007. He retired from professional football after the 2012–13 season.

In Their Own Story

The rain lashed against the floodlights at Old Trafford, turning the pitch into a slick mirror under the evening sky. Phil Neville wiped mud from his forehead, scanning the defensive line as the opposing striker made his run. There was no hesitation in his movement; he slid across the grass with practiced precision, intercepting the pass before it could find its target. The roar of the crowd faded into background noise as he focused solely on the ball at his feet, one more tackle securing another point for the red shirt.

Reader's Guide

Neville could play in defence or midfield; due to this versatility, he operated in a number of different positions throughout his career, but was most often used as a left-back. He earned his UEFA B Coaching Licence and began his coaching career in 2012, filling in for Stuart Pearce with the England under-21s. He then worked as a coach at Manchester United, and as assistant manager to his brother Gary at Valencia in La Liga. On 23 January 2018, he was appointed head coach of the England women's team, leading the 'Lionesses' to fourth place at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Did You Know?

• Neville was the youngest member of Terry Venables' squad for Euro 96, though he never kicked a ball.
• He and his brother Gary became the first siblings to captain their respective clubs against each other in the Premier League in November 2006.
• Neville never received a red card while playing for Manchester United.
• He scored the winning penalty in a shoot-out against Chelsea in the FA Cup on 19 February 2011.