Gary Neville Reveals Newcastle, Middlesbrough, and Derby County Tried to Hire Him as Manager

Former Manchester United defender and current Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has revealed that he turned down offers from Newcastle, Middlesbrough, and Derby County to become their manager before taking on the ill-fated role at Valencia in 2015.

In a recent interview on the Stick to Football podcast, Neville disclosed that he felt a sense of loyalty to the owner of Valencia, which led him to accept the job despite not having a strong desire to become a coach. His brief tenure at the Spanish club was marred by poor results, including a humiliating 7-0 defeat to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey.

Neville, who had previously served as an assistant manager for the England national team, joined Sky Sports after retiring from professional football due to injury. He admitted that his position at the broadcaster may have played a role in attracting interest from clubs like Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

Despite his unsuccessful stint at Valencia, Neville has since ruled out a return to management, citing the experience as a scar. He currently co-owns League Two side Salford and remains focused on his media career and business ventures.

Reflecting on his decision to take the Valencia job, Neville explained that he initially declined the offer from owner Peter Lim but eventually relented due to Lim’s persistence. However, the situation quickly became untenable, leading to Neville’s premature departure from the club.

While Neville’s foray into coaching may have been short-lived and tumultuous, his candid revelations shed light on the challenges and complexities of transitioning from player to manager in the world of football.