Time right to quit United, says Neville

GARY NEVILLE took the hardest decision of his life last night by walking away from the Manchester United dressing room he loves so much.

Although it had been painful to watch the most accomplished right-back of his generation labour through recent matches, quitting must still have been tough for the 35-year-old, who has yet to announce his future intentions.

Certainly, Neville will want to be remembered for his eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups and a Champions League winners’ medal, plus his 85 England caps, rather than his contribution to this season’s victories over Stoke and West Brom, both of which could easily have ended in red cards.

“Obviously I am disappointed that my playing days are at an end, however it comes to us all and it’s knowing when that time is and for me that time is now,” Neville said.

“I have been a Manchester United fan all my life and fulfilled every dream I’ve ever had.

“I have played in the most incredible football teams, playing with some of the best players in the world, as well as against them, and I have been lucky to be a part of the team’s achievements and the club’s great success.

“There have also been so many great players that I have had the privilege to train and play alongside. The experiences we’ve shared will be with me for the rest of my life.’’

A controversial figure who never made any attempt to hide his love for United, Neville was also a leader within the dressing room, a fact acknowledged by long-time team-mate Rio Ferdinand as the news broke.

“The best right-back in Premier League history, fact,” Ferdinand wrote on Twitter. “Gonna be a big loss to our dressing room.”

Neville inherited the captain’s armband from Roy Keane in November 2005, but within 18 months suffered a broken ankle in a challenge with Gary Speed during a Premier League game against Bolton.

Although he eventually returned to the United side and repeatedly battled back from a series of muscular complaints, he was never the same player and lost his automatic place to Wes Brown, John O’Shea and current incumbent Rafael.

“Gary was the best English right-back of his generation,” United manager Alex Ferguson said. “He is an example to any young professional, hard-working, loyal and intelligent.

“As a United fan born and bred, his fantastic career at Old Trafford has cemented his place in the affection of the club’s supporters everywhere.

“His impact on the club in general has been huge; his presence in the dressing room and leadership qualities have been an asset to me as a manager.”

It will be interesting to see what direction Neville’s life now takes.

He has long been touted as a potential coach at United and was mentioned as a possible successor to reserve team boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has returned to Norway to take charge at Molde.

However, in the aftermath of Andy Gray’s abrupt departure from Sky, he has also been linked with the main pundit’s job, even though his obvious allegiance to United would appear to present a problem to supporters of Liverpool and Manchester City in particular.