Gary Neville

Gary Neville
Born	Gary Alexander Neville (1975-02-18) February 18, 1975 England
Occupation(s)	Former footballer, coach, football analyst
Years active	1992–2011 (player), 2012–present (coach and analyst)
Known for	Right-back for Manchester United; England international; co-owner of Salford City

Gary Alexander Neville (born 18 February 1975) is a former English footballer, coach, and current football analyst, as well as a co-owner of Salford City, a club competing in the English Football League. Throughout his playing career, Neville operated as a right-back exclusively for Manchester United, where he also held the captaincy for five seasons. He ranks among England’s most accomplished footballers, having secured a total of 20 major trophies, including eight Premier League championships and two UEFA Champions League titles.

Neville made his international debut for England in 1995 and remained the preferred right-back for more than ten years, representing his country in three European Championships and two FIFA World Cup tournaments.

Following his retirement in 2011, Neville began working as a football commentator with Sky Sports before taking on the managerial role at Valencia CF in 2015. After being relieved of his duties in 2016, he returned to punditry at Sky Sports. Additionally, he was appointed assistant manager of the England national team from 2012 until 2016.

He is the older sibling of Phil Neville, who also played for Manchester United, and Tracey Neville, a former international netball player.

1994–2004

Neville entered Manchester United’s youth system as an apprentice in 1991 and captained the youth team to victory in the FA Youth Cup during his debut season. His first appearance for the senior squad came on 16 September 1992 in a goalless UEFA Cup match against Torpedo Moscow. He was an integral member of Alex Ferguson’s youth-driven team of the 1990s, famously known as Fergie's Fledglings, which included players such as his brother Phil, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Nicky Butt, and Paul Scholes.

During the 1994–95 season, Neville established himself as Manchester United’s primary right-back following an injury to Paul Parker and retained this position until his retirement. This was despite competition from players like Denis Irwin and tactical adjustments involving Lee Sharpe.

Neville scored his inaugural career goal in 1997 against Middlesbrough in a thrilling 3–3 draw. Over time, he accumulated five league goals for United, including memorable strikes against Everton (1999), Aston Villa (2001), Leicester City (2004), and Charlton Athletic (2004). In addition to league goals, he found the net twice in the UEFA Champions League, scoring an equalizer versus Basel in 2003 and registering his final goal for United against Lyon during Sir Alex Ferguson’s milestone 1,000th game in charge in 2004.

Throughout his tenure at United, Neville formed an effective partnership on the right flank with Beckham, regularly setting up goal-scoring opportunities and playing a key role in the team’s offensive tactics.

2005–2011

In January 2005, Neville openly criticized Nike's Stand Up Speak Up anti-racism initiative, accusing the brand of exploiting it for publicity purposes. Ahead of a match against rivals Arsenal, he declined to wear a training shirt featuring the campaign's logo, which heightened tensions between the clubs.

Following Roy Keane's exit in November 2005, Neville was named club captain. In January 2006, he courted controversy by celebrating a last-gasp winning goal against Liverpool directly in front of their supporters, resulting in an FA charge and a £5,000 fine for unsporting behavior.

After recovering from an injury sustained in March 2007, Neville scored during a reserve team fixture versus Everton in January 2008. On 9 April 2008, he returned to first-team action in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Roma, where he received a standing ovation and wore the captain's armband. Despite this, he was omitted from the Champions League final squad but took part in the celebrations following Manchester United's penalty shootout victory.

Neville led Manchester United as captain in the 2008 FA Community Shield and participated in early matches of the 2008–09 campaign, including appearances in the UEFA Super Cup and Champions League group stage. He agreed to extend his contract until June 2010.

On 27 October 2009, Neville was dismissed during a League Cup encounter with Barnsley. He later secured a League Cup winner's medal on 28 February 2010 after coming on as a substitute in the final against Aston Villa. Although eligible for a ninth Premier League winner’s medal that season, Manchester United finished second by a single point behind Chelsea. In April 2010, he signed a further one-year contract extension.

Due to fewer playing opportunities in recent seasons, Neville relinquished his role as team captain in September 2010 to allow regular starters such as Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidić to assume leadership duties on the field; however, he retained the status of club captain off it. On 24 October, he marked his 600th appearance and penultimate start for United during a victory over Stoke City, receiving a yellow card and being substituted at halftime following a second foul.

Retirement

On 2 February 2011, Neville declared his retirement from professional football after nearly two decades with Manchester United. His final competitive match was a 2–1 win against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on New Year's Day 2011. Neville later disclosed that he realized during halftime of that game it would be his last appearance. By the time he retired, Neville had amassed eight Premier League titles, three FA Cup trophies, two Champions League victories, an Intercontinental Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup, and two League Cups. The 2006 League Cup was his inaugural trophy as captain.

His testimonial took place at Old Trafford on 24 May 2011 against Juventus, featuring fellow members of the "Class of '92": Phil Neville, Beckham, Butt, Scholes, Giggs, alongside himself. Juventus emerged victorious with a 2–1 scoreline. Additionally, Neville participated in Paul Scholes' testimonial on 5 August 2011, playing for the New York Cosmos during their first match since being reformed in 2010.

International career

Neville made his first appearance for the England squad in 1995, having been selected by Terry Venables for a friendly match against Japan. On 23 May 1996, Neville and his brother Phil both represented England in a game against China, becoming the first brothers since 1877 to win an FA Cup and play for England during the same season.

Throughout his international tenure, Neville was chosen as right-back by five different England managers, competing with players such as Micah Richards, Glen Johnson, and later teammate Wes Brown.

At Euro 96, Neville was the youngest regular starter and participated in every match until he was suspended for the semi-final, where England were defeated by eventual champions Germany. Under Glenn Hoddle's management, he took part in the 1997 Tournoi de France and the 1998 FIFA World Cup, a tournament noted for Hoddle’s controversial decision to involve a faith healer with the team. Neville also featured in Euro 2000 during Kevin Keegan’s tenure.

A broken foot prevented him from participating in the 2002 World Cup, but he returned as England’s primary right-back at Euro 2004 under Sven-Göran Eriksson. Although injuries limited his involvement during the qualifying matches for the 2006 World Cup, he was included in the squad and played in the opening group fixture against Paraguay. A calf injury restricted his playtime until the quarter-final loss to Portugal, where he earned his 81st cap—placing him ninth on England's all-time appearance list.

In that quarter-final match, Neville briefly assumed captaincy following David Beckham’s substitution due to injury. After the tournament, he pledged to remain available under new manager Steve McClaren and was considered for the captaincy role before John Terry was appointed.

During a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying match against Croatia, Neville was involved in an unusual own goal when a backpass hit a divot on the pitch; this marked only the second own goal of his international career. He concluded his England tenure with 85 caps without scoring.

Neville’s final international appearance came on 7 February 2007 in a friendly defeat to Spain at Wembley. Shortly thereafter, an ankle injury prevented him from matching Kenny Sansom’s record for England full-backs and contributed to his diminishing role with the national team. England subsequently failed to qualify for Euro 2008 following a loss to Croatia.

In May 2009, under Fabio Capello’s management, Neville was recalled for World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra, although he did not take to the field.

Neville holds several notable England records: surpassing Phil Neal’s right-back cap record with his 51st appearance; making a record eleven appearances across three European Championship finals; and jointly holding with Phil Neville the record for most combined caps by English brothers at 142 appearances. They also share the record for most matches played together in an England lineup (31).

Reflecting on his international career in his autobiography, Neville revealed that at times it felt "a massive waste of time," emphasizing that his achievements at Manchester United were always his foremost priority.

Style of play

Recognized as one of England's finest right-backs and among the top Premier League full-backs of his era, Gary Neville was a seasoned and committed footballer known for his fierce, determined, and robust tackling approach. His key attributes comprised a strong work ethic, professionalism, relentless determination, and consistent performance; his excellent positional awareness also enabled him to occasionally operate as a centre-back. During Euro 96 under England manager Venables, Neville adapted to various roles including right wing-back and winger, expanding beyond his customary positions at right-back and right-sided centre-back.

Although he lacked exceptional pace or technical flair, Neville was a dependable, classic defensive right-back praised for his tactical acumen, ability to read the game, endurance, diligence, commanding presence, and leadership qualities—traits that earned him the reputation of an "old-school" defender because of his combative nature. At Manchester United, he developed a significant partnership with David Beckham, frequently pushing forward to deliver precise crosses when Beckham faced tight marking.

A prominent and vocal figure both on the field and in the locker room, Neville’s outspoken nature occasionally led to disputes. Sir Alex Ferguson, his former manager, hailed him as "the best English right-back of his generation."

England assistant manager

Possessing UEFA Pro Coaching Licences, Neville joined the England senior squad’s coaching team under manager Roy Hodgson on 14 May 2012, committing to a four-year contract with the FA. He was part of the staff during Euro 2012 and continued serving as assistant manager through the 2014 World Cup and the Euro 2016 qualifying rounds. His appointment received praise from former teammate David Beckham, who called it a "shrewd move."

Valencia

On 2 December 2015, Neville was named head coach of Spanish club Valencia CF, with his brother Phil initially acting as caretaker manager before becoming his assistant. Throughout this period, Neville maintained his role as England’s assistant coach. His appointment surprised many due to his lack of prior managerial experience and limited proficiency in Spanish.

Neville’s spell began with a 2–0 defeat against Lyon in the Champions League, which led Valencia to drop into the Europa League. On 3 February 2016, they endured a heavy 7–0 loss in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona amid an eight-match winless run in La Liga, triggering demands for Neville’s resignation. Valencia exited the competition after a 1–1 draw in the return leg.

The team recorded their first league victory under Neville on 13 February 2016 with a 2–1 home win over Espanyol. In March, Neville was dismissed by officials during a Europa League round of 16 clash against Athletic Bilbao; despite securing a 2–1 victory on the night, Valencia were knocked out on away goals following a 2–2 aggregate scoreline. On 30 March 2016, with Valencia sitting 14th in La Liga—six points clear of relegation—and having won only three out of sixteen league matches without keeping a clean sheet during his tenure, Neville was relieved of his duties.

Club ownership

In 2014, Gary Neville joined forces with fellow Manchester United icons Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, and Phil Neville to acquire Salford City ahead of the 2014–15 season. Their goal was to elevate the club into The Football League. The group took part in a special exhibition match featuring Salford against a Class of '92 side. On 22 September that year, they sold half of their ownership stake to billionaire Peter Lim, strengthening the club’s financial resources. Under this new ownership structure, Salford achieved promotion in their inaugural season—a journey chronicled in the BBC documentary series Class of 92.

Property developments

Prior to his 2011 testimonial match, Neville revealed intentions to channel the earnings into establishing a supporters club and hotel near Old Trafford. Although Manchester United initially opposed the initiative, the scheme received approval in 2012. In 2013, Neville teamed up with Ryan Giggs to create GG Hospitality, aiming to launch football-themed hotels and cafés throughout the UK, beginning with locations in Manchester and London. Their inaugural project was Café Football, a football-inspired restaurant opened in Stratford, London, in November 2013. The Hotel Football, which evolved from the original supporters club concept, was planned to open by late 2014.

By 2015, Neville and Giggs had obtained planning consent for a second hotel in Manchester, this time without a football theme. They purchased the Grade II-listed Northern Stock Exchange Building for £1.5 million in 2013 with plans to transform it into a boutique hotel featuring 35 rooms, a gym, spa facilities, a rooftop terrace, restaurant, and bar. The planning process was overseen by Neville’s property consultancy, Zerum.

Neville also played a key role in founding University Academy 92 alongside fellow members of Manchester United's 1992 FA Youth Cup-winning squad. Situated in Old Trafford and inaugurated in September 2019, the academy offers a wider array of courses than conventional degrees to attract students who might not otherwise pursue higher education. By August 2022, enrollment had reached approximately 400 students.

Construction commenced in January 2022 on the £120 million St Michael's redevelopment project in Manchester city centre. This development encompasses St Michael's Square public area, 191 hotel rooms, 181 residential apartments, and a rooftop restaurant designed to accommodate up to 900 guests.

Media career

Neville contributed a weekly full-page column to the Sports section of The Sunday Times of Malta, Malta’s most widely circulated newspaper and home to the oldest recognised Manchester United Supporters' Club. He joined Sky Sports at the onset of the 2011–12 season, taking on the role of match analyst for Monday Night Football alongside Jamie Redknapp, succeeding Andy Gray. Prior to this, Neville appeared as a pundit for ITV Sport during both the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2008 tournaments. In 2014, he began co-presenting Monday Night Football with broadcaster Ed Chamberlin, later joined by former England teammate Jamie Carragher in 2015. Their on-screen dynamic, rooted in their playing careers together, has garnered widespread acclaim. Neville’s commentary on a Fernando Torres goal during the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League semi-finals became famously known as a "Goalgasm". On 8 August 2014, The Daily Telegraph announced Neville’s appointment as a columnist.

Neville departed Sky Sports in December 2015 to take on the managerial position at Valencia but was dismissed after four months. He resumed his punditry duties at Sky Sports for the 2016–17 season and contributed to ITV’s coverage of both the 2018 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2020. In 2021, he launched The Overlap, a YouTube channel dedicated to interviewing sports personalities.

Known for delivering thoroughly researched and impartial analysis, Neville is regarded as one of British television’s leading football commentators. Esteemed figures such as Gary Lineker and Des Lynam have praised his successful transition from player to analyst. Nonetheless, he has faced criticism; Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas accused him of partiality in 2011, while Hernán Crespo expressed disapproval of both his punditry and managerial stint at Valencia.

Neville has expressed concerns regarding the predominance of foreign players within the Premier League and advocates for increased opportunities for domestic talent. In 2018, he opposed plans to sell Wembley Stadium, proposing instead that agent fees be redirected toward supporting grassroots football initiatives.

In 2021, Neville publicly spoke out against the proposed European Super League involving six Premier League clubs; following widespread opposition, the plan was abandoned. Subsequently, he voiced support for ongoing Anti-Glazer protests related to ownership disputes at Manchester United.

In 2024, Neville began appearing as a guest investor on Dragons' Den, backing enterprises including MyoMaster—a sports recovery company founded by former rugby player Joe Gray and his wife Lottie.

In May 2025, shortly before the final weekend of the 2024-25 Premier League season, Neville was denied accreditation by Nottingham Forest after making critical remarks about owner Evangelos Marinakis, prompting Sky Sports to assign an alternative commentary team for that fixture.

Personal life

Neville's father, Neville Neville, was once a league-level cricket player, while his mother Jill participated in local netball and held the roles of general manager and club secretary at Bury within the Football League. As a youth, Neville demonstrated considerable talent in cricket, competing alongside future England captain Michael Vaughan and his brother Phil for the Lancashire Under-14 squad. Additionally, he represented Greenmount Cricket Club in the Bolton Cricket League, where he notably achieved an unbeaten 110 runs in a pivotal 1992 partnership.

In 1999, Neville served as best man at fellow player David Beckham's wedding. He wed Emma Hadfield in 2007, and the couple have two daughters. In recognition of his football achievements, Neville was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Bolton in 2009.

In 2010, Neville sought planning approval to construct an environmentally sustainable, zero-carbon residence—the first of its kind in northwest England. His testimonial match was also recognized as the greenest event ever staged in English football.

Politically, Neville supported the Labour Party during the 2019 general election and officially joined the party in 2022. He publicly criticized Labour for abstaining on votes concerning COVID-19 lockdown measures and called for enhanced financial aid to businesses. Prior to the 2024 general election, he appeared alongside party leader Keir Starmer in a Labour campaign broadcast.

In April 2022, Neville disclosed that he would face a driving ban after accumulating twelve penalty points and issued a public apology.

Neville attracted criticism for his financial association with the 2022 Qatar World Cup, working as a pundit for Qatar's national broadcaster amid concerns over human rights violations. This connection led to a public confrontation with Ian Hislop on Have I Got News For You.

Club

... ...

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FΑ Cup		League Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Manchester United	1992–93	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	–		1	0
	1993–94	Premier League	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
	1994–95	Premier League	18	0	4	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	27	0
	1995–96	Premier League	31	0	6	0	1	0	1	0	–		39	0
	1996–97	Premier League	31	1	3	0	1	0	10	0	1	0	46	1
	1997–98	Premier League	34	0	3	0	0	0	8	0	0	0	45	0
	1998–99	Premier League	34	1	7	0	0	0	12	0	1	0	54	1
	1999–2000	Premier League	22	0	–		0	0	9	0	4	0	35	0
	2000–01	Premier League	32	1	2	no data	no data	14	no data	1	no data	49	no data
	Total			400	5	47	0	25	0	117	2	13	0	602	7

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Appearances	Goals
England	1995	6	0
	1996	10	0
	1997	7	0
	1998	8	0
	1999	3	0
	2000	7	0
	2001	8	0
	2002	5	0
	2003	7	0
	2004	12	0
	2005	4	0
	2006	7	0
	2007	1	0

!colspan="2"|Overall !!85 !!0

Managerial statistics

Club/Team	Nationality	Start Date	End Date	Performance Record
				Games	Wins	Draws	Losses	Winning %	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Difference
Valencia		2 December 2015	30 March 2016	39	38	+1
Aggregate				39	38	+1

Honours

Manchester United

• Premier League titles: 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2008–09
• FA Cup victories: 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04
• EFL Cup wins: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10
• FA Community Shield triumphs: 1996, 1997, 2008
• UEFA Champions League titles: 1998–99, 2007–08
• Intercontinental Cup: 1999
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

England U18

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship champion: 1993

England

• Winner of the Tournoi de France: 1997

Individual Awards

• Selected for the PFA Team of the Year in seasons: 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2004–05, and 2006–07
• Named in the PFA Team of the Century (covering 1997 to 2007): awarded in 2007
• Included in the ESM Team of the Year for season 1997–98
• Recipient of the FWA Tribute Award in 2012
• Honoured in the Premier League's Team of the Decade for both Domestic & Overall categories (covering seasons from 1992–93 to 2001–02)
• Featured in the Premier League's Fantasy Teams of the Twenty Seasons (from 1992–93 to 2011–12), selected by both Panel and Public vote
• Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2015
• Awarded honorary degrees by University of Bolton (Doctor of Arts, 2009) and University of Salford (Doctor of Science, 2014)

See also

• List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances
• List of one-club men in association football

External links

• Profile at ManUtd.com
• Profile on StretfordEnd.co.uk
• England FA profile
• The Overlap YouTube channel