Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Gary Neville, Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson
Josh Lawless
Gary Neville has opened up about his "double life" and how he broke a strict Sir Alex Ferguson rule while playing for Manchester United.
Neville spent his entire career at United, coming through the ranks as a youth player before making 607 appearances and winning eight Premier League titles in his tenure.
Known as a consummate professional who got as far as he did by working harder than everything else, Neville captained United and was a solid, reliable player for Ferguson.
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Neville was so focused on the task at the hand that he even ignored his own brother Phil when lining up in the tunnel ahead of a clash between United and Everton.
However, he has revealed that he did have another project going on during his playing career - keeping his passion for property under wraps.
Neville first dabbled when he was 21, purchasing 12,000-square-foot barn in Bolton. He would bring architect's drawings to look at on the plane home after games while Dwight Yorke and Teddy Sheringham were playing poker.
Neville would begin a business partnership with Paul Devine, a friend and former United trainee and they oversaw the development of a further 25 houses.
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"For 10 to 12 years, I had this almost like double life," Neville said in an interview with the Daily Mail.
"I did it under the radar, purely because I knew that it would be deemed as a distraction.
"Under Sir Alex, distraction was absolutely illegal, you know that. But I knew that my football career would come to an end, and I knew that I had to plan for it, I knew that I had to do something different and I loved it.
"The meetings, the thrill of the interior design, the selling part of it, the finding the land, the planning."
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As well as being a pundit and co-commentator for Sky Sports, Neville owns a football club in Salford City, six buildings in Manchester, a university and a production company which brings shows like 'Stick to Football'.
Nicknamed 'Busy', Neville employs 700 members of staff and starts his day at 5.15am. He's been told to take a step back but is still ambitious as ever as he prepares to turn 50 next week.
"I said that when I was 50 I wanted to settle into being more laser-focused and have a more singular role," Neville said, regarding future plans.
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"'I’m probably four years behind. It needs to be something that's important.
"I don't think it can be politics now. I thought about it at a certain point. I'd get I'd get stuck in the mud and I can't get stuck in the mud.
"It would have to be something that's connected to sport, business, that in some way puts me into a position whereby I can put the experiences of the last 30, 40 years of football, media and business together and bring value to someone or something."