Gary Neville

Lore & Background

Neville made his international debut for England in 1995 and was first-choice right-back for more than 10 years, representing the nation at three European Championships and two FIFA World Cups. After retiring from football in 2011, Neville went into punditry and was a commentator for Sky Sports until he took the manager position at Valencia in 2015. After being sacked in 2016, he returned as a pundit for Sky Sports that year. He was also an assistant manager for the England national team from 2012 to 2016. Neville's younger brother Phil Neville is also a former long-serving player for Manchester United, while his sister Tracey Neville is a retired netball international.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights at Old Trafford hummed their low, electric note. It was a cold Tuesday in March, the kind of night where the air itself seemed to hold its breath. Neville, in the red and white, tracked a winger down the right channel, his boots biting into the wet grass. The winger cut inside — Neville didn't. He stepped in, shoulder first, and the thud of the challenge echoed off the Kop. The winger went down. Neville did not. He was already turning, already barking instructions to the centre-backs, his face a mask of controlled fury. In the stands, a ten-year-old boy in a too-big United scarf pressed his palms flat against the cold rail, watching the right-back who had been his hero since the '99 final replay on the family television. The boy would grow up. The scarf would shrink. But the image of that red-shirted figure, turning to defend, would not fade. It never has.

Reader's Guide

Neville joined Manchester United as an apprentice upon leaving school in 1991, and captained the youth side to FA Youth Cup glory in his first season. He made his senior debut for United on 16 September 1992 in a goalless home draw against Torpedo Moscow in the UEFA Cup. Neville emerged as part of Alex Ferguson's youth-oriented side of the 1990s (nicknamed Fergie's Fledglings) that included his brother Phil, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes. In the 1994–95 season, Neville became United's first-choice right-back when Paul Parker was ruled out by injury. He scored his first career goal in 1997 against Middlesbrough in a 3–3 draw, and went on to score a total of five league goals for United. He also scored two goals in the UEFA Champions League. Neville formed a successful partnership with Beckham on the right wing. Following Roy Keane's departure in November 2005, Neville was appointed the new club captain. He stepped down as team captain in September 2010, though he remained as club captain off the pitch. On 2 February 2011, Neville announced his retirement from football after almost 20 years at Manchester United. By the time of his retirement, Neville had won eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, two Champions Leagues, an Intercontinental Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup, and two League Cups.

Did You Know?

• Neville made his 600th appearance for Manchester United in a 2–1 away victory against Stoke City on 24 October 2010.
• Neville's testimonial was played at Old Trafford against Juventus on 24 May 2011, with the starting line-up including members of the 'Class of '92'.
• Neville was sent off for a tackle on Adam Hammill in United's 2–0 away win against Barnsley in the League Cup Fourth Round on 27 October 2009.
• Neville scored his seventh and final ever United goal against Lyon on 23 November 2004 in Alex Ferguson's 1,000th game in charge of the club.