Gary Neville's time in charge of Valencia was a gamble that backfired for owner Peter Lim... Or the funniest thing that has ever happened if you are Jamie Carragher.
The former Man Utd captain took on a job that proved to be far too much for an inexperienced manager to handle, let alone in an entirely different footballing culture to what they knew, but when he was sacked with the club near the relegation zone Neville took stick from all angles.
Carragher has been quick to remind him how poor a job he did whenever managers are being discussed on Monday Night Football, but Neville is adamant that he will not hold back on criticising managers because of how difficult he found life in charge of Valencia, as he confirmed in an interview with The Times.
He also confirmed that he won't be returning to management, partly as he can't keep up with the example set by Alex Ferguson.
I genuinely don’t feel I can go back to management. I think its a disrespect to other coaches who dedicate themselves & work hard to be the best. I wasn't that dedicated to coaching. When you see Sir Alex first into work at 6 in the morning into his late sixties, what excuse have we got?
I was doing part-time with England and thinking I would have the same results [at Valencia]. I loved it, but I was doing it in my spare time while I did media and business.
I am too diverse. There’s too much going on and I can’t cut my other projects to nothing. The businesses I own or part-own will probably employ 800, 900 people in Manchester next year. It’s huge. There is an obligation to these people. It would be wrong for them, too.
Since I came back from Valencia, what I definitely haven’t done is thought I should forget the fact that I have played 600 times for United, 85 times for England, won eight Premier Leagues, been to eight international tournaments with England, and think, ‘I’ve not got an opinion that’s worthy any more.’
You don’t have to be a great manager to be a great pundit, or vice versa. They are very different roles. I’ve had a level of success in broadcasting. I can still pose a question of a manager. I am not holding back because I lost a few games in Valencia, no chance.
Gary Neville is a good pundit.
There will always be those who simply cannot stand to hear his voice because of his allegiance to Manchester United, but himself and Jamie Carragher have clearly upped the level of analysis on Sky's Premier League coverage since becoming regulars.
His failed attempt at cracking management in Spain may provide his colleagues, and Twitter followers, with ammunition to take the piss, but it doesn't mean that he can't criticise managers anymore. At least he tried, after all.
It does seem very much like a lesson learned for Neville. Every player who has proven themselves as a leader during their playing days is sort of expected to evolve into a great manager, but not everyone is cut out for it.
You can read his article in full over on TheTimes.co.uk.
