Sven-Goran Eriksson Names Former England Star As A 'Professional Moaner On Everything'

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has labelled Manchester United legend Gary Neville a “professional moaner,” despite calling him “very, very professional with what he does.”

Neville enjoyed a successful playing career with the Red Devils and lifted eight Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, three FA Cups and two League Cups.

The 46-year-old former United captain also played under Eriksson during his time with England, earning 85 caps for his country and featuring at three Euros and two World Cups.

Neville, who retired from football in 2011, has since teamed up with former England teammate Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports as a pundit.

However, Eriksson has now recalled how United legend David Beckham warned him of Neville’s outspoken opinions.

Speaking to The Italian Football Podcast, he said: “Gary Neville is a professional moaner on everything.

“David Beckham told me during one of the first England training sessions, he said: ‘Boss, don’t listen to him. He was born like that and he will die like that. But he is a good man and he doesn’t really mean what he says.’

“Gary Neville is very, very professional with what he does. But he feels like he has to say his opinion always -- and especially if it is something negative!

“But he was very much respected by all of his teammates and everyone knew how he was and nobody listened to him.”

Neville initially left his role as a Sky Sports pundit in 2015 to become Valencia manager, with his ill-fated managerial spell coming to an end after less than four months in charge.

Eriksson, who succeeded Kevin Keegan as England manager, led the Three Lions to two World Cup quarter-finals and made the quarter-finals in Euro 2004.

The former Manchester City and Lazio manager has now suggested that “everything was set up” for England to win Euro 2020 in the summer.

“I thought during the tournament that everything was set up for England to win the Euros,” he said.

“They played six of the seven games at Wembley. They were lucky with some of the decisions from the referees. So I thought they would win it. But they didn’t and that was fair. Italy and [Roberto] Mancini deserved it.”

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Gary Neville, England, Football

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

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