Gary Neville

Gary Neville was officially appointed as captain of Manchester United in November 2005 following the departure of Roy Keane. Neville had been with the club since his youth career, joining the senior team in 1992. Known for his leadership and loyalty to Manchester United, he was seen as a natural successor to the captaincy. Under his captaincy, Neville led the team through various competitions, continuing the club’s legacy as one of the top teams in the Premier League.

On February 11, 2009, Gary Neville made a return to the England national squad after an extended absence due to injuries. Neville, who had been sidelined due to various injuries, was included in Fabio Capello's squad for a friendly match against Spain. This selection was notable because Neville had not appeared for the national team since 2007. Although England lost 2-0 to Spain, Neville's inclusion signaled his recovery and maintained his reputation as one of England’s top right-backs.

On February 2, 2011, Gary Neville announced his retirement from professional football. Having spent his entire career at Manchester United, Neville was a one-club man, making over 400 appearances for the club. Known for his defensive prowess and leadership on and off the pitch, Neville's retirement was seen as the end of an era for the club. He received praise from fans and teammates alike for his contributions to both club and country, having also earned 85 caps for the England national team.

In December 2015, Gary Neville was appointed as the head coach of Valencia CF in Spain's La Liga. This marked Neville's first major managerial role, and it was a challenging task given the club's expectations and his lack of prior head coach experience. His tenure was closely watched by the football world, given Neville's career as a respected former player, pundit, and budding manager. However, results were mixed, and his term lasted only a few months before he was relieved of his duties in March 2016.

Gary Neville was dismissed from his role as head coach of Valencia CF on March 30, 2016, following a series of disappointing results. During his tenure, the team faced several challenges in La Liga and across competitions, leading to dissatisfaction among club leadership and fans. Neville's time at Valencia is often cited as a valuable learning experience, despite the lack of success, reflecting the difficulties many newly transitioned managers face when adjusting from player to coach roles in top-flight football.

On December 18, 2018, Salford City FC, co-owned by Gary Neville along with other former Manchester United teammates, won promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club’s history. The achievement was a significant milestone for the club, reflecting the successful investment and management strategies implemented by the owners. Neville’s involvement in the project was seen as extending his influence in football beyond his playing and punditry career, cementing his role in the development of lower league football in England.

Although Gary Neville himself was not appointed, on February 9, 2019, his brother Phil Neville was appointed as the head coach of the England women’s national football team, an appointment which Gary Neville notably supported and commented on. This event highlighted the sporting family's contributions to football beyond their playing careers. Gary’s support involved providing insights on adapting coaching skills for women's football and advocating for the women's game, which garnered media attention and sparked discussions on coaching standards and development in women's sports.

On July 4, 2021, Gary Neville was prominent among the critics speaking out against the proposed European Super League, which aimed to create a new competition featuring some of Europe's top football clubs. Neville, known for his candid football punditry, voiced strong opposition to the plan, arguing that it was motivated by greed and would destroy the fabric of traditional European football. His public statements and advocacy helped galvanize opposition, contributing to the eventual abandonment of the proposal by many clubs.

On March 20, 2022, Gary Neville took a significant step in launching a social media campaign to combat online abuse and trolling, particularly targeting players and public figures in sports. Frustrated by the negative impact of such behavior, Neville advocated for platforms to take stronger actions against abusers and called for social media reforms. His campaign gained widespread support from athletes, organizations, and fans alike, raising awareness about the mental health implications of online interactions and pressing for ethical standards on digital platforms.

On May 6, 2023, Gary Neville was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Salford in recognition of his contributions to sports, media, and community engagement. Neville, who has been actively involved in various projects, including co-founding a university focused on sports and media, was honored for his impact beyond the pitch. His involvement with Salford City FC, as well as his candid advocacy on football and social issues, were among the achievements celebrated by the university, reflecting his broad influence in and out of the sporting realm.