32 Greatest footballers in the history of the English Premier League - Part 11
23. Gary Neville:
Gary Neville is a part of the very few elite players who have helped the English club Manchester United in winning the English Premier League.
It all started off with Bryan Robson, the first Manchester United captain. Later, Steve Bruce, Eric Cantona and Roy Keane took the place and then when it was time to select a captain when Keane retired, it was Gary Neville who stepped up to take the job
and managed to perform his duties fabulously. He became the fifth Manchester United captain who lifted the Premier League trophy as they won it during the 2006-2007 season.
However, Gary Neville himself did not play the whole season and was left out for most of it as he suffered an ankle ligament injury when Bolton Wanderers came to the Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford and he was sidelined after just 11 minutes. However, he did
come back during the end of the season and while wearing the Captain’s armband, he lifted the Premier League Trophy.
During the 2005-2006 season, Roy Keane left Manchester United and it was Gary Neville who was given the captain’s armband and the home-born player took the responsibility of leading the team to victory. He was Manchester United’s most consistent performer and
was always committed with the Red Devils since the 1994-1995 season as he became the “first choice” of being a captain when he managed to replace Paul Parker as a right back, perfectly. Neville says that Manchester United is the only club he would play for
and at the age where players are trying to retire or trying to leave their usual clubs for getting first team opportunities, Gary Neville is staying put with the Red Devils and has proven himself as a “one-club man.” In the eyes of the Red Devils, he is definitely
a legend.
Gary Neville is one of those players who simply do not give up. He has all the attributes of being a great leader for the Red Devils which is why he wore the captain’s armband. He is single-minded and when he sets a target, he does everything to achieve. This
is the reason why Manchester United fans simply love how he performs throughout the game. He is sound and works perfectly as a right back with the experience that he has earned throughout these years. However, he does get out of hand when it comes to supporting
Manchester United as he hates all the clubs in the Premier League and would do anything to prove Manchester United as the best club in the English Premier League. His fist pumping celebration after Rio Ferdinand’s last-minute winning goal against Liverpool
at Old Trafford charged him of improper conduct and he had to pay 5000 pounds as a fine.
After being fined, he protested about the way the board approached him. He said: “Are you meant to smile sweetly and jog back to the halfway line?”
This simply sums up the passion he has for football and for the fans that support him. More importantly, this just shows how much he loves the club that he plays for – Manchester United.
The Red Devils did not manage to win a single Carling Cup since 1992, however they did win one in 2006 when Gary Neville was in charge of the team and was the captain while playing for them. The last time they had won the competition was when Neville was
in the youth team that included players like David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. However, he did celebrate again after winning the trophy as there was a long break between the two times they won it.
Since the day he became a part of Manchester United, his determination to be the best, did not change and Sir Alex Ferguson admires him as one of the best defenders that he has ever produced. However, later the manager mentioned that even though he did not
have the “talent” that the legendary Manchester United players Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes possessed, but he still had the determination to be a part of the team.
Even though he missed out the amazing “double” success that Manchester United had in 2008 as he was out because of an injury he still managed to add impressive honours for the club as he helped them win his eighth English Premier League gold medal in 2009.
Later, he also helped them win the second Carling Cup in 2010 as the Red Devils emerged victorious against Aston Villa at the Wembley Stadium.
The amount of appearances that he made for Manchester United sums it all up as he has already reached the 600 appearances mark and only players like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Sir Bobby Charlton have made more appearances than him.
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