Gary Neville enjoyed a highly successful career at Manchester United, winning eight Premier League titles, though rather than coaching he may put that down to his superstitions
Gary Neville has revealed that he only wore white underwear as part of a superstition on Manchester United matchdays.
Neville spent 19 years in United’s first-team, with the right-back acting as club captain for the final six of those. He made more than 600 appearances for the Red Devils over the course of his career.
The Englishman played a key role for United during their period of stunning dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson. Neville won eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, three League Cups and two Champions Leagues.
While some may put that down to United’s brilliant team and Ferguson’s legendary management, Neville may disagree. Instead, the Red Devils icon would point in part to his strict list of pre-match routines.
“I used to wear the same coloured underpants for every game during my career. White. Just because it was something I did. Same Tubigrip, same tape, the physios knew it,” Neville told Geoff Shreeves on the Football, Music and Me podcast.
“I used to put the same underpants on, go to the same toilet to read the programme, even though I didn’t always need to toilet. Same seat on the coach next to Becks. I never shifted, there were things I did that were part of my routine.”
Neville kept his superstitions throughout his lengthy and successful career. But they also drew raised eyebrows from United’s coaching staff, with reserve boss Jim Ryan mocking Neville.
“Jim Ryan once said to me ‘it’s really interesting that the whole success of Manchester United depends on the colour of your underpants’. He would take the p*** out of my, but he actually had a point,” Neville added.
“Then he said to me ‘but on an individual level, all those hours that you’ve worked all your life, thousands, hundreds of thousands of hours, all that practice that you’ve put in, and you’re putting even a little bit of importance on the colour of your underpants’.”
Neville retired from his career as a player in January 2011, with Ferguson paying an emotional tribute to his most trusted lieutenant. The Scot praised Neville’s work ethic, with the right-back having gone all the way from the academy to legend status.
“Gary is an example to any young professional, hard-working, loyal and intelligent. His impact on the club in general has been huge,” Ferguson said when Neville announced his retirement.
“His presence in the dressing room and leadership qualities have been an asset to me as a manager. As a young boy he had the will and determination to succeed as a footballer and that character remained with him throughout his career.”
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