About Gary...

“Longevity was my greatest achievement as a player. To stay at United for 20 years while the club was winning everything and competition for places was fierce.” 

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Since joining Manchester United aged 14 and becoming part of United’s famous Class of ‘92 alongside Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, and his brother Phil, Gary became one of the most decorated British footballers of all time.

After making his first team debut in 1992 in Moscow, Gary racked up 602 United appearances – the fifth highest in the history of the club. Gary captained the team he’d grown up supporting for five years during one of the most successful times in United’s history.

Gary’s honours include eight Premier League titles, two Champions League titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups and twice world champions.

Though not always a favourite of rival fans as the embodiment of United’s relentless winning mentality and never say die attitude, he has received plenty of praise from even United’s greatest foes. 

“Neville was the best English right back,” opined Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. “If you look at his record, he has won absolutely everything and the number of games he has played, he is without a doubt the best.”

A one club man, Gary proudly represented his country 85 times before retiring in 2011 as England’s most-capped right-back. He completed all his football coaching badges and went on to coach England under manager Roy Hodgson between 2012-2016 and Valencia during 2015-16.

“Sport has always been part of my life. Mum played netball every night and there was rounders and cricket at the weekends – or going to Old Trafford with my dad. Everything we did as a family revolved around sport.”

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Younger sister Tracey Neville played county level netball at 14, then played for England, competing in the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games, the latter in Manchester. After a knee injury forced her retirement in 2008, Tracey moved into coaching, first at Team Northumbria, then Manchester Thunder. In 2015, Tracey was appointed coach of the England netball team and was awarded an MBE for her services to sport in 2016.

Two years later, Tracey coached England to their first ever gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, followed by a bronze medal in the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool.

Tracey’s twin brother Phil was one of the famous Class of 92. He won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the 1999 Champions League before joining Everton, where he would become captain in 2005. Phil announced his retirement from professional football in 2013 after more than 500 appearances for United and Everton, mostly as a full-back like Gary. Phil also played 59 times for England under Kevin Keegan and Terry Venables.

“I didn’t want to only be known as a former Man United player and I didn’t want to think that my days of success, of achieving things, were over.”

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Gary started planning for life after playing while still on the pitch. Commentating on Manchester United’s reserve games, his honed his skills on the microphone and in front of the camera. It was a steep learning curve. When he interviewed then Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini who could clearly see who he was, he famously announced: “Roberto, it’s Gary Neville,” but the suave Italian responded only with a look of slight bemusement to the rookie broadcaster’s gaffe.

Yet Gary excelled at Sky Sports, with even rival City and Liverpool fans who’d disliked him as a player appreciating his penetrating analysis and cogent opinions.

Awards soon followed, with Gary named Pundit of the Year by the Football Supporters’ Federation awards on five occasions. 

Gary loves the job. “There’s a superb team at Sky and I’m grateful and proud to have been a part of it. There have been downsides, like having to put up with Jamie Carragher, but sometimes you have to make concessions and compromises in life.”

Gary also uses his experiences on and off the pitch in the world of public and motivational speaking and has spoken around the world to brands including Hugo Boss, Cadbury’s, social trading and investment group eToro and educational charity The Shine Trust – of which Gary is a patron, alongside Sir Alex Ferguson and his close friend David Beckham.