At Manchester United, Gary Neville won eight Premier League championships, two UEFA Champions League trophies, and four FA Cups. During his nearly two decades with one of the most successful clubs in English football, the legendary former Red Devils captain set an example and served as Sir Alex Ferguson’s spokesperson, encouraging his team to have a winning attitude.
The renowned full-back may not receive the recognition he merits for his skill as a football player, and his ability to adjust to changing circumstances allowed him to maintain United’s right-back position at Old Trafford during the Ferguson era. He supported his accompanying right-winger and was a nuisance forward, but he was defensively sound.
It should come as no surprise that Neville captained some of the greatest players in history and, in the eyes of many, the greatest to ever play in the Premier League. The phrase ‘world-class’ is controversial because it can be used too loosely or is constrained by certain criteria that determine a player’s ‘world-class’ skills.
Because of this, Jamie Carragher shocked a lot of people when he revealed the names of the two “world-class” players he used to share a changing room with at Carrington. Even Wayne Rooney, the team’s all-time leading scorer, and Roy Keane, his former treble-winning captain, were left off the roster.
The ‘World-Class’ teammates of Neville were Peter Schmeichel and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Former Liverpool Player Described His Co-Pundit’s Attitude
Carragher discussed the key role that the custodian plays in creating a Premier League winning squad and ensuring their continued success. The most crucial player and the impetus behind Ferguson’s illustrious reign at Old Trafford, according to the Liverpool legend, was Peter Schmeichel.
He disclosed that Neville had picked “the Great Dane” as one of two elite former United teammates while bolstering his argument for Schmeichel’s significance (via The Independent):
“Gary Neville once confided in me that during his Manchester United career, he felt he only ever played with two truly elite players. Cristiano Ronaldo was one of them. Schmeichel was the other. He (Schmeichel) was so essential to United’s success.
Schmeichel, Peter
For just £500,000, Schmeichel joined United from Brondby IF in Denmark in August 1991. The 6’4″ Dane went on to become arguably the best custodian in Premier League history, helping the Red Devils win five titles with an aggressive style, unmatched shot-stopping skills and an area command that scared off some of Europe’s top forwards. He played for Ferguson’s team that won the treble in 1999. up the way to European triumph, he put up a number of memorable performances, such as a spectacular “starfish” save against Inter Milan.
Neville is well aware of Schmeichel’s exacting standards, and this mindset was a major factor in his development as a formidable goalie. He informed the right-back that he believed he ‘was a risk’ and that he ‘wouldn’t be good enough,’ describing how ‘brutal’ the Dane used to be during their training sessions together.
During their illustrious time together at the club, when they shared the field 182 times in Red Devils colours and preserved 76 clean sheets, Neville and Schmeichel developed a strong understanding as members of a dominant defence, dispelling such worries. In his new documentary, Ferguson had a similar opinion on Schmeichel, referring to him as “the greatest custodian we’ve ever had.”
Man United Career Statistics for Peter Schmeichel
Rivalry
The UEFA Champions League
The Premier League
FA Cup
The UEFA Cup
UEFA Supercup
First Division of English
League Cup
Looks
34
252
41
3.
One
40
17
Clean Sheets
Twelve
113
21
2.
One
17
8.
Objectives Given Up
35
212
28
2.
0
32
11.
Awards/Titles Acquired
One
5.
3.
0
One
0
One
Ronaldo Cristiano
Prior to Cristiano Ronaldo’s contentious departure at the conclusion of his second stint at Old Trafford, Carragher made a comment regarding Neville’s position on “world-class” former United teammates. In 2021, the Portuguese legend made a second appearance for the Red Devils, but it was a turbulent moment that led to a falling out between the five-time Ballon d’Or winner and his former captain, Neville.
When a youthful, brace-faced 18-year-old Ronaldo joined the team from Sporting CP in August 2003 for £12 million, the two had been close. ‘You don’t typically see that from veteran players, never mind a young kid,’ Neville said after playing against the winger in a friendly, explaining his crucial part in the transfer:
“Obviously players should never be involved in signings, but he certainly made everyone sit up and take notice.”
After Ronaldo became one of the greatest football players in the world and was rendered unplayable during his time at United, the Premier League was quickly placed on notice. In 2008, he won his first Ballon d’Or after helping the Reds win the UEFA Champions League. Before departing for Real Madrid in 2009 in a then-record-breaking £80 million move, he recorded 118 goals and 72 assists in 292 games.
Neville and Ronaldo played together 137 times, and they were a great combination on the right side of Ferguson’s dominant squad in the 2000s. At the club (783 goals) and international (135 goals) levels, he had surpassed long-time rival Lionel Messi as the most complete player in football history.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-spell statistics for Manchester United
Rivalry
The UEFA Champions League
The Premier League
FA Cup
League Cup
Looks
52
196
26
Twelve
Objectives
15.
84
13.
4.
Helps
Twelve
37
9.
One
Awards/Titles Acquired
One
3.
One
2.
