Phil Neville

"Philip Neville" redirects here. For the American federal judge, see Philip Neville (judge).
Phil Neville

Neville playing for Everton in 2011
Personal information
Full namePhilip John Neville[1]
Date of birth21 January 1977
Place of birthBury, Greater Manchester, England
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2][3]
Playing positionDefender
Midfielder
Youth career
1990–1995Manchester United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1995–2005Manchester United263(5)
2005–2013Everton242(4)
Total505(9)
National team
1992–1993England U1610(0)
1993–1995England U186(0)
1995–1996England U217(0)
2007England B1(0)
1996–2007England59(0)
Teams managed
2015Salford City (caretaker)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Philip John "Phil" Neville (born 21 January 1977) is an English football coach and former player, as well as being the co-owner of Salford City. After 10 years as a professional with Manchester United, during which time he won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the Champions League, he joined Everton in 2005, where he spent the final eight years of his playing career. Neville also played for England 59 times between 1996 and 2007, representing the nation at three European Championships. He could play in defence or midfield; due to this versatility, he operated in a number of different positions throughout his career, but was most often used as a full-back.

After earning his UEFA B Coaching Licence, Neville began his coaching career in 2012, filling in for Stuart Pearce with the England under-21s. When David Moyes, Neville's manager at Everton, left to join Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson's replacement in May 2013, Neville was considered for the Everton job, but he ultimately followed Moyes to Manchester United as the club's first-team coach. Neville retained his position under interim manager Ryan Giggs after Moyes was sacked in April 2014, but was found to be surplus to requirements when Louis van Gaal took over in July 2014.

Neville is the younger brother of fellow former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, and the twin brother of England netball international Tracey Neville.

Club career

Manchester United

Neville in action at Old Trafford in March 2004

Born in Bury, Greater Manchester, Neville, along with brother Gary, was one of "Fergie's Fledglings". Phil attended Elton High School where he was Deputy Head Boy. He started training with the Manchester United Academy along with his brother, then later joined as a trainee, making his first-team debut in the 1994–95 season but did not get many first-team opportunities until the following season.

While at Old Trafford, Neville helped United win six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League. He was not established as the club's first-choice left-back until the early 2000s due to the consistency of the much older Denis Irwin.

Everton

Neville warming up for Everton

On 4 August 2005, Neville joined Everton on a five-year contract for a fee in excess of £3.5 million. He made his debut in a UEFA Champions League qualifier against Villarreal CF of Spain, coming face-to-face with his former Manchester United colleague Diego Forlán. The following weekend, Neville made his FA Premier League debut for the Toffees, against Manchester United. The match marked the first time Phil and brother Gary had played for opposing teams.

Neville's attitude, work-rate and willingness to play anywhere has seen him become one of manager David Moyes' favourites. On 8 August 2006 Neville was announced as vice captain to David Weir, and – on Weir's departure to Rangers in January 2007 – he became the club captain. In the Manchester United versus Everton match on 29 November 2006, Phil and his brother Gary became the first siblings to captain their respective clubs against each other in the Premier League.[4]

Neville commented in the press about the first ever red cards of his long career (he never received any playing for Manchester United), claiming that he would perhaps not have been booked in a game against Fulham if he had been playing for United. However, he finished with more cards than any other Premier League player in 2005–06 (including another red soon after his first).[5] Whilst at Manchester United he was booked many times, such as in the 2002–03 season when he got far more cards than any other United player in history, despite only starting 5 competitive games.[6] Additionally, in September 2003 Neville also received a warning from the FA regarding his future conduct for his behaviour after Manchester United's game against Arsenal.

Neville scored his first goal for Everton in a 3–0 Premier League victory against Newcastle United on 30 December 2006.

Neville playing for Everton against Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup in 2008

On 30 March 2008, Neville was assaulted by a Liverpool fan as he took a throw-in during the 1–0 Merseyside derby Premier League defeat at Anfield. On 24 April that year, the fan, 48-year-old Michael Blackmore, was later banned from all matches in England and Wales for three years after admitting common assault. He was also banned from Anfield for life by Liverpool Football Club officials.[7]

On 19 April 2009, Neville scored his penalty to help knock out his former club, Manchester United in a penalty shoot-out in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. He sent the keeper the wrong way, putting it low to the keeper's right. On 19 February 2011, Neville scored the winning penalty in the penalty shoot-out against Chelsea to knock them out of the FA Cup after a 1–1 draw at Stamford Bridge. On 9 April 2011, Neville scored against Wolves, his 12th senior goal and his first in three years.

On 21 September, Neville scored in the League Cup game against West Bromwich Albion, this time a clinical effort which was the deciding goal in the game. The goal was judged to be the Everton's goal of the season at the club's end of season awards.

On 9 April 2013, he announced that he would leave Everton at the end of the season when his contract ends.[8] He subsequently announced his retirement from professional football.[9]

International career

Neville was regularly picked for England squads, making his debut on his 19th birthday against China in 1996. He played alongside his brother Gary in this match; they had appeared together in the 1996 FA Cup Final two weeks earlier and thus were the first pair of brothers to play together in an FA Cup-final winning side and for England in the same season since Hubert and Francis Heron in 1876, 120 years earlier.[10]

He was only briefly a regular first-choice player for the side, as a left-back in 2000 under Kevin Keegan's management. He later struggled to make the squad with players such as Wayne Bridge being preferred as back-up to Ashley Cole. He, nonetheless, once briefly captained the side in a friendly match (a game in which England fielded four different captains).[11] Despite having been in the England squad at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 European Championships, and having 59 England caps (23 as a substitute), Neville was never in an England World Cup squad.

Neville's England career included the honour of being the youngest member of Terry Venables' squad for Euro 96, though he never kicked a ball (his brother played in every match until the semi-finals); he was one of the players omitted at the last minute by Glenn Hoddle when he was selecting his final 22 for the 1998 World Cup. Hoddle's decision left Neville in tears, though media attention was almost entirely devoted to the exclusion of another player, Paul Gascoigne. Neville revealed in an interview that Gascoigne, not usually noted for his maturity, took the younger Neville brother under his wing and consoled him.

Keegan played Neville at left-back in Euro 2000; Neville received criticism and a large proportion of blame for England's exit, when he committed a late foul on Viorel Moldovan which led to a penalty for Romania which Ionel Ganea scored to win the match.

Neither of the Nevilles went to the 2002 World Cup – Phil was left out, while Gary was injured. Both were back in the squad for Euro 2004. The brothers played together for England for the first time in 7 years in a friendly against Spain on 7 February 2007, which England lost 1–0. They hold the record number of England appearances by a pair of brothers (142) and the most starts in the same England team by two brothers (31).

Phil was not included in Sven-Göran Eriksson's squad for the 2006 World Cup as Eriksson wanted to give young players a chance. However, he was drafted into Eriksson's stand-by group of players after Nigel Reo-Coker withdrew through injury.[12] Neville remained in the England squad with new England manager Steve McClaren and started at right-back against Andorra. He was not called up after 2007.

Post-playing career

Neville holds a UEFA B License.[13] In February 2012, it was reported that Neville would help England's Under-21s coaching staff in the absence of Stuart Pearce in the Under-21 European Championship qualifier against Belgium. The Everton captain received a special dispensation to help Brian Eastwick prepare the side for the game at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough as Pearce would be in charge of the senior team in the friendly against the Netherlands at Wembley.[14][15] England defeated Belgium 4–0. Continuing his work with the England under-21 side, in March 2013 it was announced that Neville would join the coaching staff of the England under-21s for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.[16]

Neville has suggested he would like to enter into management when his playing career comes to an end, he had previously sought advice from José Mourinho.[17]

In February 2013, it was reported that Neville was being considered for the England U20 managerial position for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[18]

In May 2013, Neville was interviewed by Bill Kenwright for the vacant manager's role at Everton, but the job went to Roberto Martínez.[19]

On 4 July 2013, Neville became first team coach of Manchester United, where he would be reunited with Manager David Moyes. It was announced on the same day Moyes named Ryan Giggs as player/coach.[20]

In 2014, it was announced that Neville, along with fellow Manchester United players Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Nicky Butt had agreed a deal to purchase Salford City ahead of the 2014-15 season.[21][22] with plans to get the club to the Football League.[23] The group announced they would take part in a special friendly, with Salford facing a Class of '92 team.[24][25][26] On 22 September, the group agreed to sell a 50% stake in the club to billionaire Peter Lim.[27][28]

Career statistics

Club

Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other[29] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United 1994–95 201000000030
1995–96 240702010–340
1996–97 18000104010240
1997–98 30130107010421
1998–99 28070206110441
1999–2000 290–009050430
2000–01 29110206000381
2001–02 28220107000382
2002–03 2512140120–432
2003–04 31030107110431
2004–05 19050306010340
Total 26353111706521003868
Everton 2005–06 340401040–430
2006–07 3511020––381
2007–08 372005080–502
2008–09 370701020–470
2009–10 230200040–290
2010–11 3113010––351
2011–12 2706031––361
2012–13 1805020––250
Total 2424280151180–3035
Career total 505959132183210068913
As of match played 9 March 2013.[30][31][32]

International

England national team
YearAppsGoals
199610
199770
199850
199990
200080
200140
200230
200370
200460
200520
200620
200750
Total590

[33]

Honours

Club

Manchester United

Individual

Personal life

Neville attended Elton High School with his siblings. While in school, he captained his school football team throughout the whole five years he was there. Neville was also a talented cricketer in his youth, and a contemporary of England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff in Lancashire's Under-19 side, captaining England Under-15s.[34][35] Neville holds the record for being the youngest player to play for Lancashire's second XI at age 15.[36]

His mother Jill used to play netball in the local leagues, and is General Manager and Club Secretary for English Football League club Bury.[37]

Neville is married to Julie (née Killilea); the couple have a son, Harvey, and a daughter, Isabella. Isabella has cerebral palsy,[38] which has led to Neville becoming an ambassador of Bliss, the special care baby charity, and a patron of Royal Manchester Children's Hospital's New Children's Hospital Appeal.[39]

He made the property headlines in April 2008 when he struggled to sell his £4 million mansion in Lancashire.[40] In May 2009, he accepted a £2.6 million cash offer for the house from local businessman Matthew Greensmith.[41]

Neville became vegetarian in 2014 after a challenge from his wife to try the diet for two weeks. He said in a PETA video that "I started to feel healthier, leaner. I started to feel great."[42]

Media

He regularly appears as a pundit on football radio commentaries[43] and has appeared as pundit on the BBC's Match of the Day programme. In November 2010, he became a top-trending Twitter term after a strong performance against Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur led to a tongue-in-cheek "Chuck Norris"-style internet phenomenon.[44][45][46]

Neville was employed by BBC One as a commentator and pundit during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. His commentary of the England vs Italy match on 14 June attracted 445 complaints for his "lack of emotion and 'monotone style'".[47] He reflected on this in an online article by stating "I played it back the next day and it did not sound like it was me commentating. I was trying to be somebody I wasn't, and I knew I could do better than that".[48]

The BBC received further complaints for Neville's comments in January 2015 after Tomáš Rosický of Arsenal played a pass while looking in another direction; Neville said that if he were playing against a player doing that in training, he would deliberately injure that player. He admitted making an unacceptable comment, while the BBC stated that the tone of discussion was light-hearted enough to suggest Neville was not endorsing violence.[49]

References

  1. ↑ Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 454. ISBN 1-85291-665-6.
  2. ↑ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 310. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  3. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2008). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2008–2009. London: Headline Publishing Group. p. 471. ISBN 978-0-7553-1820-9.
  4. ↑ Ferguson gamble pays off on non-vintage night
  5. ↑ "Premier League Player Discipline – 2005/06". Soccernet.espn.go.com. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  6. ↑ Manchester United – Player Roll Call 2002–2003
  7. ↑ Ashford, Ben (25 April 2008). "Fan's 3-year ban for Neville punch". The Sun (London). Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  8. ↑ "Phil Neville to leave Everton at the end of the season". BBC Sport. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  9. ↑ "Former Manchester United and Everton player Phil Neville retires from football | Football News". ESPN.co.uk. 2013-06-08. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  10. ↑ "Red Anniversaries: 22–28 May". manutd.com. Retrieved 27 January 2008.
  11. ↑ "Terry's timing perfect again". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 August 2006.
  12. ↑ "Neville in for injured Reo-Coker". BBC News. 22 May 2006.
  13. ↑ "Phil Neville passes 'vital experience' onto England's U21 side". The Daily Telegraph (London). 28 February 2012.
  14. ↑ Taylor, Daniel (23 February 2012). "Everton's Phil Neville joins England Under-21s coaching team". The Guardian (London).
  15. ↑ "Phil Neville takes coaching role with England U21". Sports Illustrated. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  16. ↑ "Phil Neville joins England Under-21 coaching staff for Euro 2013". The Guardian (London). 19 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  17. ↑ "When Jose met Phil". Daily Mail (London). 11 March 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  18. ↑ Sale, Charles (26 February 2013). "Cheeky Torres poster outside Stamford Bridge puts Chelsea in a paddy". Daily Mail (London). Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  19. ↑ Hunter, Andy (30 May 2013). "Roberto Martínez set for second interview for Everton manager's job". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  20. ↑ Crafton, Adam (4 July 2013). "Giggs appointed player-coach at United in first steps into management after Neville is reunited with Moyes as first-team coach". Daily Mail (London). Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  21. ↑ Keegan, Mike (27 March 2014). "Class of '92 stars agree deal to buy Salford City FC". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  22. ↑ "Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt agree deal for Salford City FC". Sky Sports. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  23. ↑ Robson, James (7 August 2014). "Class of 92 have big plans for Salford City". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  24. ↑ Keegan, Mike (9 May 2014). "Class of 92 to play in Salford City friendly". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  25. ↑ "Manchester United's Class of 92 set to face Salford City in friendly". The Guardian. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  26. ↑ "Ryan Giggs and Manchester United 'Class of 92' team-mates to face Salford FC". The Independent. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  27. ↑ Jackson, Jamie (22 September 2014). "Peter Lim to buy 50% stake in Salford City from Class of ‘92". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  28. ↑ "Singapore businessman Peter Lim joins forces with ex-Manchester United players and invests in Salford City FC". The Telegraph. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  29. ↑ Includes other competitive competitions, including the FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup
  30. ↑ Endlar, Andrew. "Phil Neville". StretfordEnd.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  31. ↑ "Phil Neville Everton Profile". EvertonFC.com. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  32. ↑ "Phil Neville Career Stats". Soccerbase. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  33. ↑ "Phil Neville". National Football Teams. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  34. ↑ "Phil Neville: Confessions of a Man Utd fan". The Independent (London). 16 December 2005.
  35. ↑ "Phil Neville to leave Everton at the end of the season". BBC Sport. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  36. ↑ Slot, Owen (18 March 2008). "Athletics leads rush to rescue young talent from football's huge scrapheap". The Times. p. 88.
  37. ↑ "Tracey Neville: Natural successor to family business". London: independent.co.uk. 23 August 1998.
  38. ↑ "England star Phil Neville's joy at cerebral palsy daughter's first steps". Daily Mail (London). 17 July 2007.
  39. ↑ "Cause celeb: Neville on cerebral palsy". BBC News. 14 April 2009.
  40. ↑ "Sunnyside House – home of Phil Neville". The Guardian (London: Guardian News and Media). 3 April 2008.
  41. ↑ Haurant, Sandra (20 May 2009). "A Neville-ending property saga is resolved". The Guardian (London: Guardian News and Media).
  42. ↑ Emily Heward, "Manchester United legend Phil Neville gives meat the red card in new PETA video," Manchester Evening News, 12 May 2014.
  43. ↑ "Broadcasting Forum - Radio Commentary". Broadcasting.vitalfootball.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  44. ↑ Macdonald, Neil (2010-11-03). "Everton FC captain Phil Neville conquers Twitter after Gareth Bale's Champions League masterclass". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  45. ↑ "Neville Conquers Cyberspace". evertonfc.com. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  46. ↑ Collins, Nick (4 November 2010). "Phil Neville goes viral on Twitter". The Daily Telegraph (London).
  47. ↑ "Phil Neville World Cup commentary draws complaints". BBC. 16 June 2014.
  48. ↑ "Coping with commentary criticism - Phil Neville". BBC Sport. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  49. ↑ Rice, Simon (28 January 2015). "Phil Neville and his fellow Match of the Day pundits given warning by the BBC after 'smash them' comment". The Independent. Retrieved 29 January 2015.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phil Neville.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
David Weir		 Everton captain
2007-2013 		Succeeded by
Phil Jagielka