Gary Neville once left Ian Wright and Jill Scott in awe after revealing what it was like having Christmas dinners under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United’s Carrington complex.
The Sky Sports pundit spent his entire playing career at United and was later appointed club captain during Ferguson’s legendary 26-year reign at Old Trafford.
Neville shared a special relationship with the former United manager and was even one of three locker-room leaders for Ferguson during the late stages of his career.
During his time at the club, Neville lifted eight Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, three FA Cups and three League Cups before his retirement in 2011.
Following on from his rise as a ‘Class of ‘92’ member to first-team regular at United, Neville became all too accustomed to Christmas dinners under Ferguson’s reign.
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Neville on United’s Christmas dinners under Ferguson
Speaking on a Christmas-themed Stick to Football show in 2023, ex-United captain Neville tucked into some food alongside Wright, Scott, Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane.
During The Overlap episode, Keane made an admission that caught Wright and Scott by surprise and even led to Neville trying to explain what happened.
However, Neville also opened up about Christmas dinner at Carrington and how Ferguson and his coaching staff would thank the players for all of their efforts.
The 48-year-old former United right-back revealed that Ferguson and his staff would personally look after the players, from serving them food to tidying everything away.
Neville called it an “unbelievable” experience and a “brilliant day,” with Wright and Scott impressed with the pampering that United players received from Ferguson.
Speaking on Ferguson, Neville said: “Do you know what I used to like about it when we used to have the Christmas dinner at Carrington and the shows?
“So, the first-year apprentices and second-year apprentices would have to do a show, a Christmas show, and all the players sat down and all the coaching staff, the manager would literally serve the players and thank them for basically everything during the year and they would tidy everything away, they’d bring you Christmas pudding, the players wouldn’t have to sit down.
“It was unbelievable, wasn’t it? A brilliant day.”
Ferguson’s United Christmas dinners seem a distant memory
United have struggled to re-establish themselves at the top of English football after Ferguson last led the Red Devils to the Premier League title in 2013.
Ferguson’s commanding presence at Old Trafford and ruling with an iron fist over his players allowed him to build a dynasty during his legendary career at United.
The 81-year-old Scotsman could be ruthless at times and showed no player was bigger than the club, with even the likes of Keane and Jaap Stam getting axed.
Now, Man Utd are struggling under the guidance of Ruben Amorim – although there have been some positive signs that the new boss, like Ferguson, is keen to stamp his authority at Old Trafford.
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