Manchester United legend Gary Neville took his first voyage into management earlier this month when he was appointed as head coach at Valencia.
The 40-year-old, who won eight Premier League titles as United’s star right-back between the early 1990s and 2011, only joined Valencia on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
Neville’s long-term future remains a topic rife with speculation. It makes perfect sense for him to be linked with an eventual return to Old Trafford, especially with United failing to impress under current boss Louis van Gaal.
It would be fair to say that many United fans are far from impressed with Van Gaal. The Dutchman is accused of ignoring the club’s attacking traditions and making the team boring to watch.
United have played out six 0-0 draws this season. They have already been knocked out of the Capital One Cup and the Champions League, while Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Bournemouth left them clinging on to fourth place in the Premier League – they will drop to fifth if Tottenham Hotspur beat Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.
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Assistant manager Ryan Giggs, who made 963 appearances during a glittering United career, is an obvious candidate to take over once Van Gaal moves on.
However, fellow club legend Neville is not far behind Giggs on the list of natural successors to the Old Trafford throne.
Does Neville want the job though? Sky Sports‘ Spanish football expert Guillem Balague asked him whether he plans to return to United as manager. His response was emphatic.
“No, I don’t see myself managing Manchester United at all,” Neville told Balague in an exclusive interview. “I know what I want to do in my life, and that’s not something that’s in my mind.
“From my point of view, this is important for me and a valuable experience. I’m aware I need to succeed. Succeeding for me would be knowing these players have improved dramatically.
“Results come and go, I know we’re in a results-driven business, but I have never looked at football like that since I’ve finished playing. I did when I was a player. As a part-owner, I think about moving forward in the next five, ten years.”
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