Former teammates clash on live TV
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher are known for their witty banter and sharp analysis on Sky Sports, but sometimes they also get into some heated arguments. The former Manchester United and Liverpool defenders were discussing the Premier League title race on Monday Night Football, when Carragher decided to take a cheeky dig at Neville’s managerial stint at Valencia.
Carragher was praising Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel for his impressive start in England, and compared him to Neville, who had a disastrous spell in Spain in 2015-16. He said: “He’s come in and he’s been outstanding. You talk about the top managers in the world, he’s one of them. He’s not Gary Neville at Valencia.”
Neville was clearly stunned by the remark, and his facial expression said it all. He looked at Carragher with a mixture of disbelief and amusement, before bursting into laughter. He then tried to defend himself by saying: “I lasted longer than he did at Chelsea.” Carragher was referring to Tuchel’s previous job at Paris Saint-Germain, where he was sacked in December 2020.
The hilarious exchange between the two pundits was captured on camera, and soon went viral on social media. Fans enjoyed the friendly banter between the two former rivals, and praised them for their entertaining commentary.
Neville’s coaching career
Neville retired from playing in 2011, after spending his entire career at Manchester United. He won 20 trophies with the Red Devils, including eight Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns. He also earned 85 caps for England, and played in four World Cups and three European Championships.
He joined Sky Sports as a pundit in 2011, and quickly established himself as one of the best analysts in the business. He also became part of the England coaching staff under Roy Hodgson in 2012, and continued until 2016.
In December 2015, he took his first managerial role at Valencia, where his brother Phil was already an assistant coach. However, his tenure was short-lived and unsuccessful, as he won only 10 of his 28 games in charge. He was sacked in March 2016, after Valencia were knocked out of the Europa League by Athletic Bilbao.
Neville returned to Sky Sports after his Valencia debacle, and resumed his partnership with Carragher on Monday Night Football. He has since admitted that he does not have any plans to return to management, and prefers to focus on his media and business ventures.
Carragher’s punditry career
Carragher retired from playing in 2013, after spending his entire career at Liverpool. He won 11 trophies with the Reds, including two FA Cups, three League Cups, a UEFA Cup and a Champions League title. He also earned 38 caps for England, and played in two World Cups and two European Championships.
He joined Sky Sports as a pundit in 2013, and soon formed a popular duo with Neville on Monday Night Football. He is known for his passionate and outspoken views on the game, as well as his humorous interactions with Neville and other guests.
Carragher has also been involved in some controversies during his punditry career, such as when he was suspended by Sky Sports in 2018 for spitting at a Manchester United fan’s car. He later apologised for his behaviour, and was reinstated by the broadcaster.
Carragher has also expressed his interest in becoming a manager someday, but has not taken any steps towards that goal yet. He has said that he enjoys his work as a pundit, but would not rule out a coaching career in the future.
