Gary Neville — Former Manchester United and England right-back turned broadcaster and entrepreneur; chairman of the Relentless Group with hotels, Salford City FC, a university, and property developments in Greater Manchester.
The gist
Gary Neville traces his relentless drive back to his working-class parents and the leaders he met at Manchester United, from Eric Harrison to Sir Alex Ferguson. He opens up about the cost of that drive, including collapsing with a fit after the Euros and being told to slow down. He dissects why Manchester United are failing, blaming a leadership and culture rot from the top and the Glazers' ownership, and argues the current players would thrive under the old culture. He discusses his Manchester business portfolio, his Labour politics and the stigma around being a wealthy socialist, and reflects deeply on mental health, his father's death, and the words he has never said to his mother.
Big reveals
- Neville reveals he collapsed to the floor and had a fit after Raheem Sterling's goal at the Euros, went to hospital, and was told he needed to slow down.
- He admits he is probably being involuntarily dragged by an insecurity rather than driven, comparing his life to going down a black ski slope with no way to stop.
- He argues Manchester United are failing due to a leadership rot from the top, comparing it to a school put in special measures after the head teacher and governors left.
- Neville openly criticizes Cristiano Ronaldo, saying as the star he should be leading the players rather than throwing his arms around or trying to leave.
- He states the Glazers take dividends and debt-interest payments out of the club, own only ~70%, and need a sale or investor within 6 to 12 months.
- He reveals that around age 24-25 he lost his form, came out of a 7-year engagement, felt deeply low, and secretly saw a psychiatrist for coping mechanisms.
- Neville keeps his late father at the top of his phone favorites and refuses to ever move him, getting emotional about accidentally pressing the contact.
- His closing confession: the words he has never said are to his mum, that she and her parents are the best people he has ever met and he never tells them.
Things worth remembering
- On the morning of his father's funeral, Neville presented the St. Michael's project at a council meeting before going straight to the funeral.
- His father passed away in Australia while watching Tracey Neville coach at the Commonwealth Games; she finished her game before he was pronounced dead.
- Neville lists teammates Jaap Stam, Denis Irwin, Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane, Beckham, Ronaldo, Cantona, saying every one had more talent than he did.
- He calls the 1999 Champions League final win in the Nou Camp the greatest moment of his life, noting he won the corner for the first goal.
- He recounts seeing Sir Alex Ferguson alone in his office at 6:30am on a Sunday, four days after losing the 2009 Champions League final.
- Roy Hodgson taught him to avoid rules because it is always the people you don't want to break them who break them; Neville now sets no rules in his businesses.
- Neville says Tottenham invested 1.3 billion in their stadium and training ground while United barely invested for 20 years.
- He admits 2022 was the first time he ever entertained the thought that it is not guaranteed Manchester United return to being champions.
- All of Neville's businesses, two hotels, a football club, a university, and developments, are concentrated in Greater Manchester.
- He flew home from his honeymoon in the Seychelles two days in when his maternal grandfather, the person who most influenced him, died.