Yahoo Sports We have reached Peak Neville – the brothers' brand is on a downward curve
Two recent chances for the nation to enjoy a beloved pastime: laughing at the Neville brothers. First to Florida, where newly deposed Inter Miami manager Phil lost his temper in a press conference. “Can I finish speaking or are you going to interrupt?” Neville asked reporter Franco Panizo. “Can I finish speaking?” he continued, apparently not yet finished speaking.
“Okay, because I don’t interrupt your question so don’t interrupt mine. Show some f------ respect. So… Sorry for the language. The… In, in the…” Then, with glorious comic timing: “Sorry what was the question? Ask me the question again please Franco.”
The fans of Inter Miami have seen a few things during their rich five-year history, but patience expired on Wednesday night, with the team bottom of their Eastern Conference. New York Energy Drink were the visitors to DRV PNK (no idea) Stadium and won 1-0.
In the stands, chants of “Que se vayan todos / Que no quede uno solo,” - “Let everyone leave / Don’t let anyone stay”, then a bedsheet appeared with ‘Neville Out’ painted on in furious script. Even Phil’s son Harvey was booed, but he is 20 and plays right-back, this was not fans storming the posh seats and baracking an infant. In Neville’s defence, sorry DE-fense, he is the winningest coach in franchise history, from a field of two.
Let us reflect on his journey to this point. After leading Salford City to a thumping 2-1 win over Kendal Town alongside joint-caretaker Paul Scholes in 2015, Neville was the surprise choice to lead the England women’s team. They flirted with glory at the 2019 World Cup but his time ended with the team in rotten form, made worse in retrospect when they were roused by Sarina Weigman.
He took Miami to the playoffs in his first full season but his American adventure is over now, David Beckham sacking his friend for soccer ineptitude. Lionel Messi has been linked, which seemed in part to seal his fate. While some weird things can happen late in Football Manager saves, you could not imagine Messi taking instructions from Phil.
At least his stroppy video was overtaken by one of his brother, resurrected from an August 2022 interview with Dragon’s Den inhabitant Steven Bartlett. There is Gary, well-tended biceps filling out a Zuckerbergian neutral t-shirt, outlining the novel idea of “mini-retirements”.
For the uninitiated these are periods of relaxation away from your usual home, often abroad, and a useful tool to break up the monotony of work. Or, as you might know them: holidays.
More than most, Neville has earned his mini-retirement. He is spread thin across hotels, politics, Salford City, education and YouTubing. His investment company is called Relentless Group. Never stop never stopping. All of this, you suspect, is driven by a profound fear of stillness and such appetite for life is laudable in some ways.
In others, at times he can sound like a parody of LinkedIn solipsism and the martyrdom of having a very early alarm. The tide must surely be turning on this stuff, taken to its extreme by Jake Humphrey and his, and there really are not inverted commas large enough for this, “world class basics”. It is a bit rum to be rhapsodising about attacking the day as your best self when most are treading water and a tub of butter suddenly costs a fiver.
It also seems exhausting. In the same interview Neville spoke about collapsing and having a fit during England’s Euro 2020 round of 16 win over Germany at Wembley. “After that I went to hospital and had checks and found that I need to slow down a bit, basically.” Looking again at the mini-retirement clip it is as if he cannot bring himself to say the word “holiday”, it is forbidden, his Lord Voldermort. At another point he says “I think I’m a little bit tired of hearing my own voice.”
With Phil’s once-promising management career going awry and even Gary Neville tiring of the Gary Neville surround sound effect, the Neville brand is on a downward curve. But both are nothing if not resilient. When they were 19 and 21 respectively there was uproar about their place in the Euro 96 squad, and perceived favouritism to Manchester United players.
Gradually the truth about them emerged. They were exceedingly reliable and dedicated footballers and, by all accounts, utter sticklers for high standards. In other words, a nightmare to work alongside but a manager’s dream. Both now seem slightly weather-beaten, yet almost certain to come again. Separated by an ocean, their fates and public standing remain entwined.
