Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has been appointed as Valencia's head coach. His contract runs out at the end of the current season. Neville, aged 40, will take charge at Valencia on Sunday but he will also remain part of the England coaching staff. England head coach Roy Hodgson said: "As far as I'm concerned, this will be an extra string to his bow and the experience he will gain working in the Spanish league can only be beneficial to our work together with the England team. Gary's commitment to the FA's preparations for Euro 2016 will not be in any way affected by the fact that he will be coaching abroad during the next five months."
Peter Lim, Valencia's owner, has a stake in Salford City, which is a non-league club that is co-owned by Neville. His brother, Phil Neville, had already joined the Spanish side as an assistant manager last summer. "I am absolutely thrilled to be given this opportunity with Valencia," Gary Neville said. "Valencia are a huge football club of immense standing - and I know from my time as a player the passion and dedication of the Valencia fans."
Club president Layhoon Chan said: "He is hugely respected in English football and it was his personal qualities which persuaded us that he was the right choice to lead Valencia until the end of the season." The first match in charge for Gary Neville will be next week, when Valencia take on Lyon in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Former head coach Nuno Espirito Santo resigned after Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Sevilla. Valencia are currently ninth in the Primera Liga and they are 9/2 at Bet365 to finish inside the top four this season.
sharpe 8 years ago
Obviously the connections between Peter Lim and Gary Neville is the main reason for the ex MU player to receive that job but it's a definitely a good opportunity for him to develop like a manager. Gary don't have enough experience I think to be manager at such a club but who knows, maybe he could be a successful one, but...
Obviously the connections between Peter Lim and Gary Neville is the main reason for the ex MU player to receive that job but it's a definitely a good opportunity for him to develop like a manager. Gary don't have enough experience I think to be manager at such a club but who knows, maybe he could be a successful one, but he have to be dedicated completely to that job and I'm not sure he is at the moment.
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GREGJO 8 years ago
I think Valencia's fans are really angry. I'm sure Peter Lim knows nothing about football. He appointed Gary because they are friends. But this is not Levante, and C.F. Valencia are not a toy. Kempes who is a cultic hero of Valencia offered his services too but his offer was turned down due to lack of experience. Is Neville...
I think Valencia's fans are really angry. I'm sure Peter Lim knows nothing about football. He appointed Gary because they are friends. But this is not Levante, and C.F. Valencia are not a toy. Kempes who is a cultic hero of Valencia offered his services too but his offer was turned down due to lack of experience. Is Neville an experienced coach? I don't think so. He was an assistant coach with the English National Football team and a football analyst on SkySports. No doubt this is a very good opportunity for Neville because after a couple of good seasons with Valencia he will have a good chance to get the United job. I really hope he'll be successful at the club but in my opinion Valencia are a too big club for a novice manager.
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