GARY NEVILLE

02. GARY NEVILLE

Gary Neville was born on 8th Feb, 1975 and holds the distinction of being England's most capped right back.

After playing for both Bury and Greater Manchester Schoolboys, Gary Neville joined Manchester United on schoolboy forms in July 1991 and signed as a professional 18 months later in January 1993.

He was a part of the successful Youth team of 1992 and 1993 which produced several players for the senior squad. He made his first senior appearance for the Reds in the UEFA Cup in September 1992 against Torpedo Moscow.

It was in the 1994/95 season when Neville became a regular in United's first team, replacing the injured Paul Parker at full-back. The same term, he appeared in the 1995 FA Cup Final only to end up on the losing team - a double disappointment considering United missed out on winning the League Championship on the last day of the season by a single point.

However, the following season Neville collected a League winners' medal and came on as substitute in the 1996 FA Cup Final victory over Liverpool. His joy was complete when he was picked for England's Euro '96 squad, where he played in every game apart from the semi-final from which he was suspended. Gary added another Championship medal to his collection in 1997.

In the summer of 1998, Neville was included in Glenn Hoddle's 22-man England squad for the World Cup in France, playing in three of England's four matches.

Gary played a full part in the 1998/99 season, making 54 appearances throughout the Treble-winning campaign. He even managed to score a goal against Everton!

Gary started 1999/2000 in the physio's room, recovering from a groin injury. He made a comeback in the home match against Newcastle only to suffer a recurrence and be forced out until the start of November.

After that, Gary missed just three games in all competitions up until the end of April, racking up his 250th United appearance along the way. The Premiership medal won at The Dell was the fourth of his career.

Gary added to his collection of England caps at Euro 2000, playing in all three matches before returning to United to claim the fifth League crown of his young career. A goal against Aston Villa in January took his tally in a United shirt to three in nine seasons!

Gary filled in at centre-back for much of the 2000/2001 campaign in the absence of Jaap Stam, and his assured performances alongside Wes Brown meant Jaap had a fight on his hands to get back into the team. Injury and suspension meant that Gary's season ended with four matches left to play, leaving the defender one short of his 300th United appearance.

A broken foot put paid to his hopes of playing the 2002 World Cup, but he quickly returned to the side after regaining his fitness, and was once again the first choice right back by the time of Euro 2004.

He has gained a reputation as a 'union' figure within the England camp - he was allegedly the ringleader of an idea to boycott an important Euro 2004 qualifier in Turkey in support of team-mate Rio Ferdinand who had been issued with a ban for missing a drugs test. The strike never occurred and the match went ahead.

The elder Neville brother is often criticised for his supposedly underwhelming displays, but more shrewd football observers see a competent, experienced defender who can lead teams from the back. He is also useful joining the attack - David Beckham has spent almost all of his career with Gary behind him in support, which he has always said acts as a great reassurance. The two are close friends - Gary was the best man when David married Spice Girl Victoria Adams.

Gary signed a new four year contract with Manchester United in the summer of 2004 and seems now destined to spend his entire playing career there. He is also a good candidate, injury permitting, to achieve 100 appearances for England; or, at the very least, become his country's most capped full back overall - Kenny Sansom, the former Crystal Palace and Arsenal left back, currently holds that honour with 86 caps.

His goals record is not good, even for a defender - a handful for Manchester United in ten years, and none for his country.