Phil Neville

Philip John "Phil" Neville (born January 21, 1977 in Bury, Greater Manchester) is an United Kingdom football (soccer), who plays for Everton F.C.. He previously played for Manchester United F.C.. He is younger brother of Manchester United captain Gary Neville, and the twin of England netball international Tracey Neville.

A versatile player, Neville was much-decorated during his United career, winning six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League. He can play in defender (football) or midfielder, and was used predominantly as a full back, usually on the left (despite being right footed) through his earlier career though it is genuinely unclear where his strongest position on the pitch is. He adopted a holding midfield position in his last two seasons at Manchester United, and it is there where he currently plays for Everton.

Club career

Neville started training with the Manchester United academy along with his brother, then later joined as a trainee with Manchester United and made his debut in 1994. From that point he was a regular, although not consistent, member of the first team and seemed destined to spend his whole career there. Like his brother, and arguably to a greater extent, he is much maligned by some football fans although some seasoned observers of the game see a mature, versatile and unfussy player who proved an important part of Manchester United's success. Nevertheless, when Neville won his 50th England cap (football) in 2004, former Nottingham Forest F.C. manager Brian Clough, in his monthly Four Four Two column, bemoaned the apparent state of the English game that such an "average" performer could achieve this milestone. As of September 2007, his tally had risen to 58 caps, although it is accepted that he is now only called upon as an understudy for either of the full back positions.

On August 4, 2005 Neville joined Everton F.C. on a 5-year contract for a fee in excess of £3.5 million. He made his debut in a UEFA Champions League qualifier against Villarreal CF of Spain, coming face-to-face with his former Manchester United colleague Diego Forlan. The following weekend, Neville made his FA Premier League debut for the Toffeemen. Fittingly, it was against Manchester United. The match marked the first time Phil and brother Gary had played for opposing teams.

Neville's attitude, work-rate and willingness to play anywhere has seen him become one of manager David Moyes' favourites. On August 8 Neville was announced as vice captain to David Weir, and - on Weir's departure to Glasgow Rangers in January 2007 - he became the club captain. In the Manchester United versus Everton match on November 29, 2006, Phil and his brother Gary became the first siblings to captain their respective clubs against each other in the Premiership.

Recently Neville commented in the press about the first ever red cards of his long career (he never received any playing for Manchester United), claiming that he would perhaps not have been booked in a game against Fulham FC if he had been playing for United. However, he finished with more cards than any other Premier League player in 2005/2006 (including another red soon after his first). Whilst at Manchester United he was booked many times, such as in the 2002/03 season when he got far more cards than any other United player in all competitions, despite only starting 35 games.

Neville scored his first goal for Everton in a 3-0 Premiership win against Newcastle United on the 30 December, 2006.

International career

Neville has also regularly been picked for England national football team squads, making his debut on his 19th birthday against China national football team in 1996. He was only briefly a regular first-choice player for the side, as a left back in 2000 under Kevin Keegan's management. In recent times he has struggled to make the squad with youngsters such as Wayne Bridge being preferred as backup to Ashley Cole. He has, nonetheless, once briefly captained the side in a friendly match and remains a regular squad player.

Neville's England career included the honour of being the youngest member of Terry Venables' squad for 1996 European Football Championship, though he never kicked a ball (his brother played in every match until the semi-finals); he was one of the players omitted at the last minute by Glenn Hoddle when he was selecting his final 22 for the Football World Cup 1998. It is known that Hoddle's decision left Neville in tears, though media attention was almost entirely devoted to the exclusion of another player, Paul Gascoigne. Neville revealed himself in an interview that Gascoigne, not known for his maturity, took the younger Neville brother under his wing and consoled him.

Keegan played Neville at left back in 2000 European Football Championship; Neville received criticism and a large proportion of blame for England's exit, when he committed a late foul which led to a penalty for Romania national football team which they scored to win the match.

Neither of the Neville brothers went to the Football World Cup 2002 - Phil was left out, while Gary was injured. Both were back in the squad for 2004 European Football Championship.

Neville was again not included in Sven-Göran Eriksson's squad for the World Cup 2006 as Eriksson wanted to give youth a chance. However, he was drafted into Eriksson's stand-by group of players after Nigel Reo-Coker withdrew through injury. Neville remained in the England squad with new England manager Steve McClaren and started at right back against Andorra national football team. Phil and his brother Gary are the only remaining players on the England squad from Euro 96. The brothers played together for England for the first time in seven years in a friendly against Spain on February 7, 2007, which England lost 1-0. They hold the record number of England appearances by a pair of brothers (142) and the most starts in the same England team by two brothers (31).

Trivia

- Neville shares the same birthday (January 21) with former United teammate Nicky Butt.

- Phil along with his brother Gary are sponsored by Adidas.

- Despite having been in the England squad at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 European Championships, and having 56 England caps, Neville has never been in an England FIFA World Cup squad.

Personal life

Neville was also an excellent cricketer in his youth and a contemporary in Lancashire County Cricket Club Under-19 side of England's star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff not to mention captaining England Under-15s at cricket. It is said that he was good enough to have been a professional cricketer if football had not claimed him. One of his former coaches called him the greatest schoolboy cricketer he'd ever known. His father, Neville Neville, was a well-known league cricketer in Lancashire.

Neville is married to Julie and has one son, Harvey, and one daughter, Isabella. Isabella is diagnosed with cerebral palsy.