Gary Neville has opened up about his relationship with younger brother Phil, admitting the pair have not seen each other in “well over a year”.
The duo came through the Manchester United academy together and were both part of the famed ‘Class of ’92’ alongside David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt. They went on to work together during Gary’s ill-fated stint in charge of Valencia, with Phil serving as his assistant.
They also have several business interests together, with the brothers co-owning a hotel, university and League Two club Salford City alongside some of their former teammates. However, Gary has now revealed the pair have a distant relationship, with Phil having spent the last four years coaching in America.
“I’ve not seen Phil in ages,” Gary said on the latest episode of Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet. “I’ve not seen him for well over a year now. We text sometimes, we don’t speak that often but that’s really more me.
“My brother will ring my mum every day, will ring my sister and text her whereas I’m a bit more [distant]. I need to book a week over in Portland.” Phil is currently in charge of MLS side Portland Timbers, having previously manager Inter Miami and the England women’s team.
Gary, meanwhile, has remained focused on his media career and business interests. “I’m happy [in life]. You’re always told, particularly when you’re at United, to never settle,” he added of his post-football life.
“So, to say you’re happy, you feel like that’s not really what you say. I am contented, I love my post-football career – going and watching matches and the stuff I do during the week in the office, I absolutely love it. I still feel excited everyday which is important, that buzz has never left me thankfully.
“I get up at 5am every day and I’m in the gym for 6am, back home for 7am spending an hour getting ready and seeing the kids, then I’m in the office at 8am. I don’t spend as much time with them [my kids] as I should, but that’s partially because they’re out playing netball four or five times a week. They’re out as much as I am it feels like.
“You think it’s old [when you turn 50]. The scary thing is when you retire and see people you used to play with that are 50, and think, ‘No, that’s not right’. I don’t feel 50 though, I don’t know what 50 feels like, but I don’t feel it.”
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