Love United, Hate Scousers – The story of Gary Neville’s life

One of the most iconic and controversial moments in Manchester United’s recent history was when a certain Gary Neville took off from the halfway line and ran all the way to where the visiting Liverpool fans were seated at Old Trafford, after an injury time winning header by Rio Ferdinand, to celebrate in front of his much hated Scousers; proudly kissing the crest on his jersey and angrily shouting towards the Liverpool supporters. Of course, he was fined £5,000 and warned about his conduct, but that was yet another demonstration of Gary Neville’s undying love for his club and unfading hatred towards Liverpool. A captain every fan would love to have. Also, one every club chairman would fear to have.

Gary Neville was always made to be a leader. He was born to be one, in fact. Even when he began his climb up the United ladder, he showed qualities of leadership, captaining the youth side to FA Youth Cup glory in his first season. He wasted no time in working his way up with some fine showings for the youth side and very quickly emerged as one of Fergie’s Fledglings of the 90s, and soon became the darling of the Old Trafford faithful and enemy no.1 at Anfield. His best phase at United was when he played behind Beckham at right-back, regularly making assists, a habit which he was to keep even after the English talisman left.

Although he was nowhere near becoming the best defender in the world, his presence was invaluable at Old Trafford, and all through the latter part of the 90s when Ferguson was at the absolute peak of his powers, Neville formed a great partnership with the other regular members of the United back four, consisting of the likes of Irwin, Stam, and Johnsen, among others.

Following Roy Keane’s departure in 2005, Neville was made the club captain and deservingly too, considering how he had served the club for nearly a decade and a half since his debut in 1992. For sure, he had come a long way from being Paul Parker’s replacement and Denis Irwin’s understudy. He still had a couple more years of his best football left in him, but after the Champions League success of 2008 – and he didn’t play the final, either – he was a mere shadow of the Old Trafford legend with his inspirational leadership and leonine bravery.

Gary Neville had to put a disgraceful end in 2010 to a one of England’s most distinguished career in both club and international football, winning 85 caps for England, and being part of the side that saw his club-mate Wayne Rooney being sent off by another of his club-mates, Cristiano Ronaldo. He even briefly took over the England captaincy from Beckham during that game and was considered to replace Beckham as England skipper, an honour that eventually went to John Terry. Just like all his other England team mates of the ‘Golden Era’, he too was destined never to enjoy even a fraction of the success that he did all through his career at the Theatre of Dreams.

Neville had some unforgettable as well as forgettable moments with United, most of the latter coming in the last few years of his glittering career with United, that included eight League medals, three FA Cup medals and a Champions League medal which he described as ‘supernatural’.

Gary Neville made an everlasting impact on United supporters all over the world for his loyalty to the one club he played for even from the age of 16, when he was signed on as an apprentice by the fabulous scouts of United in the 90s. Neville will always remain one of the club’s most loved players as he has been. He will forever remain in the hearts of United supporters as the Red who hates Scousers.