Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has talked up the influence that three Manchester United legends had on him before his emergence at Old Trafford.
Gary Neville was one of the famed ‘Class of ‘92’ members that broke into the Manchester United first team in the 1990s under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 49-year-old United legend was a mainstay at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson and spent his entire career under the iconic Scotsman’s tutelage.
During his time at Old Trafford, Neville lifted eight Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, three FA Cups and three League Cups.
Neville ascended to the United captaincy after Roy Keane was axed from Old Trafford and became a key locker-room figure towards the end of his career.
The former United and England right-back bowed out of Old Trafford in 2011 after he called it time on his prolific playing career.
Neville on three Man Utd influences
Gary Neville has seen success away from his playing days at Manchester United, including becoming a leading figure in punditry for Sky Sports.
The Sky Sports pundit also tried his hand at coaching and served as England assistant manager, as well as enduring a disastrous managerial spell at Valencia.
Speaking to The Bury Times, Neville revealed that United legends Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes and Norman Whiteside were all “childhood heroes” for him.
However, the former England international has had a change in outlook and candidly spoke about the influence that his parents and family had on him.
“Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes and Norman Whiteside were my childhood heroes but as I get older I look back and appreciate the time and effort my parents and my nan and grandad took in looking after us and taking us to football every week,” he said.
“Their principles and values were and are so important to me. My mum’s dad, though, is my true hero.
“To me, he was the perfect male role model. He worked every day up until four weeks before he died aged 81 and looked after everyone in the family.
“He was wounded twice during World War Two and would show us the shrapnel scars but he never complained.
“He was my coping mechanism at United; when I had difficult moments I would think: Shut up, Gary, this isn’t difficult compared to what Grandad has been through. My dad gave me my seize-the-day attitude but my grandad is my ultimate hero.”
Neville on his time at Man Utd
Neville admitted that he “felt quite shielded” during his rise at United due to other players receiving more attention, including David Beckham and Ryan Giggs.
“I remember the early years at United, and wanting to prove myself,” he said.
“There was a lot of scrutiny but I felt quite shielded as other players in the team, such as David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Eric Cantona, were in the spotlight more than me.
“I think I get recognised more now than I did as a player. It certainly helped having Phil with me as we could go through highs and lows together but I have to say that in the team we were all brothers.
“There were 22 in our squad and we were all so close so it really did help coming through in a committed and spirited group where we all felt like brothers.”
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