Given the confrontational and abrasive nature of the subject in question, for years it was impossible for fans of rival clubs not to get wound up by this player, for a myriad of reasons.
Nonetheless, this column is a tribute to Gary Neville, who today announced his retirement from football.
Since making his debut in the United team in 1992, Neville has racked up over 600 appearances and won pretty much everything you can win in the domestic game. For years he was also England's undisputed choice at right back and, although injury has reduced his status in the twilight of his career, not many people would argue that over the Premiership years there has been a better right back, certainly not an English one. Part of the Golden Generation at United (for once, a team that actually justifies this tag), Neville was well established in the first team by the time of Alan Hansen's infamous 'You don't win anything with kids' prediction of August 1995. Neville's departure should signal the football world to recognise his achievement and acknowledge what an outstanding career his has been.
Unfortunately, if you asked many football fans to describe Gary Neville in one word, that word would be the worst one there is. (If you're struggling, try the same exercise with: 'Dennis Wise' or 'Lee Bowyer'...you'll get there in the end)
Neville always reminded me a bit of Gareth Keenan. Particularly during the ill-fated 'look how hard I am, I've got a moustache' years, he always seemed like someone trying too hard to be taken seriously and given the respect that his experience, authority and trophy cabinet demanded. Perhaps he wasn't helped by being David Beckham's best mate - he is very much the Milhouse of that duo. Certainly though, episodes such as the England media strike and numerous outbursts against perceived injustices towards his beloved club sent out an image of someone who didn't quite get it.
The fact is however that his apparent desperate and deluded yearning for authoritah stemmed from the very thing that caused fans of other clubs to hate him so much. Say what you like about Neville, I invite anyone to question his passion, loyalty and commitment. Of course it is easy to stay loyal to Man United when you are first choice, winning trophies and well paid. Plus for years you got to look at David's bum running around just in front of you, and you can be the first one to jump on him when he scores. (His facial hair is so cool, I'm going to get me some of that) But loyalty in itself does not necessarily result in the same kind of devotion and true passion that Neville showed throughout his career.
It is easy to imagine him going to bed in his Man United pyjamas and switching off his Fred the Red lampshade. The notorious celebrations in front of the Liverpool fans were, in the eyes of every United supporter (and many of us who found it funny), brilliant. He really, truly cared. Too often, fans bemoan the commitment of a player based on a perceived indifference to the cause. I find it relatively easy to forgive the Saints on a bad day, players can be off-touch and things might not go right - it winds me up horribly however if they are going through the motions and they don't seem to appreciate how much it means to us.
Neville had that attitude and commitment in spades, more arguably than almost any of his team-mates or rivals. For that, United fans should love him. But he was more than just a passionate fan - he was also an exceptionally good right back.
We ll know RB is probably the least glamorous position on the pitch - maybe this adds to Neville's Gareth Keenan status. Think about it, if you had to pick a team from the staff at Wernham Hogg, where does Keenan go? RB. Ricky the temp is your engine room, Neil and Lee solid at the back, Finchy your target man up top and big Keith the Fatty Foulkes in goal. Brent would obviously play himself in centre mid but would be the deluded weak link of the team, naturally. But no doubt, Gareth (they even share the same name) goes at Right Back.
What Neville has shown though, both for United and England, is that unglamorous position or not, it is still a key part of any team; and he played it better than anyone has managed to since, for club and country. I fondly remember his excellent cross and brilliant subsequent celebration, putting the ball perfectly on Alan Shearer's forehead to give England a 1-0 lead over Scotland in Euro 96. The years leading up to the 2002 World Cup (which he missed through injury) were probably his peak, at that stage he was up there in many World Elevens, probably behind only Cafu I'd say. He gave nothing away in defence and also offered a fantastic foil for Beckham going forward, taking a defender away to create space, or overlapping to make use of his exceptional crossing ability himself.
I'd love to see him step into the post Gray-Keys world of football punditry, as I think he would have the guts to speak his mind and call it how he honestly sees it. Having only just retired he could speak first hand about many of the games main players and would surely offer far more entertainment than the bland uninsightful tripe that too often passes for punditry. Knowing his passion for his club however, it might well be that he fancies a move into coaching alongside Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. No doubt he could get the kids to respect him, except the ones 11 and over with better facial hair, that is.
Whatever he goes on to do now, it is only right to take a moment to applaud the achievements of the best English right back of the last 20 years. But what a c..
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