The National's Sport cover for the Thursday, December 3 issue, featuring Gary Neville as he takes the reins at Valencia.
Andy Mitten writes about the implications of the move, with Gary Neville joining brother Phil Neville already on staff at the Mestalla:
“For a country with Western Europe’s highest unemployment levels, Spain has some restrictive labour practices. A football manager, for instance, cannot coach in Spain during the same season that he loses his job.
“Phil Neville was unable to become the next manager at Valencia because he has not completed his Uefa pro licence badge.
“A coach with Neville’s qualifications would be able to work in England’s Premier League, but in Spain he is only allowed to be joint-caretaker manager for 10 days.
“Neville, who won 59 caps for England, wants to be a coach when the time is right and was not expecting to become Valencia coach this season.
“Valencia have been in a state of flux since the weekend, with their next coach uncertain. Even on Tuesday night as he prepared for a trip to the Basque Country, Phil Neville did not know who it would be or if that next coach would take him as his assistant.
“That became a little clearer on Wednesday morning. His new gaffer will be his brother, Gary, who will go into his first management job as he takes over at Valencia until the end of the season.” Gary had long intended to decide his future this month, whether that meant relinquishing his role as a television analyst, his job as England’s assistant manager and/or moving into management. Ever decisive, he settled matters on December 1. His brother is delighted.”
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