LIVE: Gary Neville appointed Valencia head coach – reaction from the shock news from Spain

              Tyler full of praise for Neville

Sky commentator Martin Tyler has wished Neville well in his new job.

“Having known Gary since he was a teenager, it has been amazing to watch his development as footballer and then as a football person in a wider sense,” Tyler said.

“First and foremost he is fundamentally a very decent man who expresses his love for football in a unique way. It has been a real privilege to work alongside him for the last four-and-a-half years.

“I’m sure we have not heard the last of him on Sky Sports and I very much hope I haven’t done my last commentary with him, but I totally understand his thinking in accepting this wonderful opportunity.

“I have felt his strong connection with football management - obviously with England but also with Salford City as well.

“Many people who have had the career he has had would not get involved in football at a lower level but it’s typical of his passion for the game and his commitment to it at all levels.

“He is an exceptional person, a force of nature and I personally wish him every success in this new chapter in his life.

“I’m sure he will make a real go of it. He always does.”

Neville NOT Valencia's first English boss

Gary Neville may be making the somewhat surprising move to Valencia - albeit not so surprising once you’ve read this - but he’s not even the club’s first English manager.
That said, he is the first for some 80 years since Jack Greenwell, a former player and manager of Barcelona, took charge of the 1933/34 season.
Neville will become the fourth Valencia manager to hail from Great Britain, following Greenwell and his immediate predecessor Rodolfo Galloway, who was in charge for the two seasons prior to 1933.

Neville to fly back for Salford FA Cup tie

Salford City still expect Gary Neville to fly back from Valencia to watch their historic FA Cup clash with Hartlepool on Friday night.

The legendary Manchester United full-back has been announced as the new manager of La Liga giants Valencia, taking the role until the end of the season.

But Neville remains a co-owner of non-league giant-killers Salford, who are also part-owned by brother Phil and Valencia chief Peter Lim.

The Ammies take on Hartlepool in the second round of the FA Cup later this week - the biggest night in the history of the club.
Neville will be introduced to the Spanish press on Thursday afternoon, but Salford chairman Karen Baird has revealed that he is still hoping to be in attendance for their historic night.

When asked if he was set to return for the game, she said: “Yes, hopefully. I know he has got a press conference but hopefully he will be with us at the game on Friday.”

6 candidates to replace Neville on MNF

With Neville now off to Spain that leaves a large hole to fill on Monday evenings.

Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said: “We wish Gary all the very best as he returns to football with our blessing and begins his managerial career with Valencia.

“He will always be a friend of Sky Sports and we look forward to following the next chapter of his career closely, not least during our weekly La Liga coverage. And of course, the door will always be open should he wish to return.”

But now, Francis’ job is to find someone who can replace Neville, and step in alongside Jamie Carragher and Ed Chamberlain on MNF.

HERE are six possible candidates,

Meet the man behind the appointment

Lim’s immense wealth, accrued through stockbroking and investments, has long been an attraction for cash-strapped clubs but after aborted interest in both Liverpool and Manchester United, Lim’s friend Jorge Mendes proposed he look at Valencia.

The 62-year-old bought 70% of the club and hired super-agent Mendes’ first-ever client, former goalkeeper Nuno Espirito Santo, as manager. Nuno only had experience with Rio Ave in the Portuguese league but hit on some success and Valencia qualified for the Champions League in his first campaign - earning Mendes more power and influence.

Gary Neville - the player

It’s fair to say that if Neville is anywhere near as successful a manager as he was a player then Valencia will be quids in.

Neville enjoyed a glittering career at Manchester United going on to make 602 appearances during a trophy-laden career under Sir Alex Ferguson‘s stewardship.

The 40-year-old helped United win eight Premier League titles, two Champions League crowns, three FA Cups and two League Cups before hanging up his boots in 2011.

Nowt with England of course, but that was hardly all is his fault.

The cultural challenge for Neville

Our man in Spain, Ed Malyon, is taking an in-depth look at the challenges facing Neville at the Mestalla. Next up...

5. Learn the language, appreciate the culture

Learning the language will be absolutely essential to Neville in Spain, and his brother Phil is making a decent stab at it judging by his adorable tweets to that effect.

But while you can get by for a while without having a terrific command of Spanish, should Neville stay for any long period of time then there is no doubt that it would be important for him to be able to communicate precisely.

More important than the language though is the culture. David Moyes’ failure at Real Sociedad has been blamed, by the club’s president at least, on the Scot failing to adjust to the cultural norms in Spain and not being sensitive to the ways and values within the squad when trying to impress his own values upon them.

It was even blamed for his struggles at Manchester United, where he encountered a club unlike anything he was used to.

This isn’t about visiting cathedrals and churches, this is about getting to grips with the expectations and sensitivities of Spanish footballers and what they need in coaching.

Neville will need to be versatile and willing to adapt as well as having his own forthright ideas and views if he is to succeed in Valencia.

Sky Sports