Neville, who will be assisted by brother Phil and Miguel Angel Angulo, steps into the hot seat after Nuno – the man that lured Ryan to Valencia from Club Brugge during the off-season – vacated his post following Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Sevilla.
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Valencia head coach Gary Neville accepted a surprise move to Spain because he felt ready to leave the comfort of the television studio for the crucible of the dugout, he said on Thursday. When I received the call on Sunday evening, I thought ‘what a club, what a challenge.’ I’ve been sitting on television these last years talking about coaches, the time has now come for me to stand up.
Quique Sanchez Flores has revealed how he believes new Valencia head coach Gary Neville should approach the role.
“With me, there was a good discussion because every time I said, ‘OK, you take the ball for 60 per cent and shoot at goal for three times and cross the ball eight times”.
The decision to take the plunge into the world of club management will see his wife Emma and two girls Molly and Sophie join him in Spain, a decision which surely raises the prospect of Neville remaining in La Liga beyond the summer.
“He needs to adapt as quickly as possible to the Spanish culture because it is completely different to England – the style of football, the philosophy, the speed of play, the mentality of the fans, the culture of the media”, he said. He insists that he expects himself to “turn more Valencian and I don’t expect the staff to turn more English”.
“I did that with myself and with my family”, he added.
“Roy (Hodgson) was incredibly supportive, positive and enthusiastic for me”.
He wrote: “I knew Gary Neville would become a manager one day but the timing has come as a shock”.
The former centre-back also pointed out that Neville was player who showed character and fierce determination on the pitch and is hoping he bring those qualities to the table at Valencia.
“Gary has many attributes that suggest he will be successful in management”, he told Sky Sports.
Despite playing for no other manager at club level, Neville revealed he didn’t speak with Ferguson about whether to take the job, although he has since done been in touch with the Scot.
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The former right-back will not take charge for Saturday’s clash with Barcelona but instead begin his tenure with a decisive Champions League home fixture against Lyon. I have to say that from my point of view, I fully understand that I must prove to Valencia fans and players that I can do this job. “But I know I must pick up key phrases as quickly as possible”.
