Man Utd legend Gary Neville says FA lined him up for England job as he reveals three English clubs he rejected
GARY Neville reveals how he was being lined up to succeed Roy Hodgson as England manager, along with the three English clubs who have approached him to take over as head coach.
The Manchester United legend became a sought-after managerial candidate following retirement.
He opted to go into punditry and later joined Roy Hodgson’s team as an assistant coach for England, presiding over the World Cup in 2014 and Euro 2016.
In between the two international campaigns, Gary Neville joined his brother Phil, who had been working as an assistant at Valencia, and was appointed Head Coach.
Valencia owner Peter Lim already had a good relationship with Gary Neville, being a shareholder in Salford City, and believed they could replicate their business success on to the pitch.
Neville revealed on the Stick to Football podcast that when he took the job, then-FA Director Dan Ashworth (who is currently looking to join the Manchester United hierarchy) endorsed him as Roy Hodgson’s successor.
But the Manchester United legend only lasted four months in Spain.
He was sacked after winning just three games in 16, with a low point being a 7-0 hammering at Barcelona.
Gary Neville's coaching experience
- Appointed as England assistant coach in May 2012.
- Euros in 2012 where they were knocked out by Italy in the quarter-final.
- World Cup in 2014 where England were knocked out in the group stages for first time since 1958.
- Appointed head coach of Valencia in December 2015 but was sacked three months later with a win rate of 35%.
- Rejoined England as head coach for Euro 2016 where they were knocked out in the last 16 by Iceland.
- Left England coaching role with a 59% win rate, partially due to the poor standard of opposition.
Speaking on Stick to Football, Neville said: “I remember getting the Valencia job in December, and Dan Ashworth rang me and said this was the perfect move for me to be on that next step for when Roy Hodgson decided he wanted to leave the England job, for me to take over.
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“I always remember that phone call and him saying this was the perfect opportunity, but I look back now, and it was right that I failed in the job because I didn’t put the work in.
“With how my work ethic is now, I needed to fail to have that slap in the face moment, for me to get back to it, which is where I am now.”
The former England right back also revealed the three clubs that approached him to take over as manager but turned them down in favour of focusing on his businesses and media duties.
“I’ve been asked by Middlesbrough for an interview, Newcastle and Derby asked to speak to me, all in the previous three years I had been on Sky, and I said no to every offer because it wasn’t what I wanted to be.
“I had started my businesses and my media career, so I didn’t want to be a coach and I had said no to Newcastle, which came from someone at Sky who had a contact at Newcastle as they wanted to speak to me, which was the same with Middlesbrough.
“And I’m not saying that would have got me the job but it could have.
“I took the Valencia job purely because I knew the owner and I felt like I owed him something and I was loyal to him, he believed in me in terms of the business.
“But I didn’t want to be a manager and I didn’t want to be a coach, and I said no to Peter Lim the first time, but he said that he really wanted me to do it.
“I signed on a five-month contract, and I didn’t last that time because it became impossible for Peter, for me and for everyone.”
Pundits verdict on Ten Hag's future
Where do the pundits stand on Erik ten Hag's Manchester United future
Jamie Carragher – Sacked
“I don’t see how Erik ten Hag stays. It’s just performance after performance.”
Gary Neville – Stay if he wins the FA Cup
“To sack a manager who’s won two trophies in his first two seasons at the club I think would be extreme.”
Louis Saha – On the fence
“I don’t see it as clearly but they need changes from the players but they need changes from him as well.”
Alan Shearer – Sacked
“I believe the future of the Man Utd manager is already determined. Even if they win the FA Cup I think he’s gone.”