Neville retires to focus on coaching

Lyndon Lloyd , 8 June, 28comments | Jump to most recent

Phil Neville has apparently decided against continuing his playing career, choosing instead to focus on his development as a coach as he prepares for eventual management.

The 36 year-old had already announced his intention not to extend his playing contract with Everton when it expires this summer and had indicated that he would be prepared to drop down a division in order to keep playing first-team football.

His experience with England's U21s in Israel this month coupled with potential coaching opportunities at Everton and Manchester United have made him re-align his immediate goals, however.

"In my heart, I knew I wouldn't be playing again — at any level," he is quoted in The Telegraph. "I just wanted to drift away.

"The biggest thing I will miss is July 4 when Everton are due back for pre-season training. I loved that day. I lived for it, getting back with the lads. My wife knows what I'm like. She's saying: ‘For God's sake, don't have any more time off'!”

New Blues boss Roberto Martinez has indicated his desire to talk with Neville when he returns from Israel to discuss the possibility of staying on at Finch Farm in a coaching capacity, while speculation persists that David Moyes has offered him a similar role at Manchester United.

Reader Comments (28)

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Drew Shortis
1 Posted 09/06/2013 at 00:18:44

Interesting one. I expect Neville will be torn between his loyalty to Everton and his loyalty to Moyes and his first club. I hope he chooses to stay here, but I think the lure of Man Utd may be too much. Whatever he chooses I wish him the best of luck!

Eugene Ruane
2 Posted 09/06/2013 at 00:24:39

Nice lad, but I hope he goes to United.

John Shepherd
4 Posted 09/06/2013 at 00:42:44

He also said in the interview he wants to spend more time on the "grass"... just saying, I found it a bit amusing, nevermind...

Mark Stone
6 Posted 09/06/2013 at 01:23:48

Why is that Eugene? Do you not rate him as a coach?

Colin Glassar
7 Posted 09/06/2013 at 02:05:26

Thank Christ for that. I was always worried that Martinez might convince him to carry on playing for us for another season.

Paul Ferry
8 Posted 09/06/2013 at 02:23:30

I'll ask again, what was wrong with my 1st post. why was it cut

Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
9 Posted 09/06/2013 at 02:28:05

I think, Paul, the topic is Neville going forward, beyond his playing years.

Your post was more of a retrospective, churning once again over the subject of his playing years. Which are now over. I'm sure that's why Lyndon pulled it.

So please, let's draw a line under all of that, shall we?

Adam Fenlon
10 Posted 09/06/2013 at 02:28:16

He wanted to drift away? What does that mean?

In any case, probably a good call given his reduced effectiveness. Hope it goes well for him.

Paul Ferry
11 Posted 09/06/2013 at 02:41:57

Fair enough MK and I appreciate your feedback.

I suppose I felt that this thread was a chance to reflect on Pip's career.

But looking forwards - I bet you get more posts glancing backwards - I have respect for Pip and think that one day somewhere he will be a good gaffer, but last ...... sorry

Shane Corcoran
12 Posted 09/06/2013 at 07:19:10

Worse Paul, if previous Neville threads are anything to go by, we'll get the good riddance remarks, even though he'd already left the club.
All the best to him.

David Holroyd
13 Posted 09/06/2013 at 07:57:36

Phil Neville is going to make a good coach, I hope he stays. We cannot afford to lose his experience at the moment.

Anto Byrne
14 Posted 09/06/2013 at 10:43:31

Can he work with Marti. Will the ideology from the Moyes era be ingrained in Neville? Certainly be good value for the defense though. Happy to see him pointing and shouting from the tech area.

Conn Prosser
15 Posted 09/06/2013 at 13:13:50

I always liked Neville, so i'd like him to stay. But if he goes to Man Utd, I'll wish him well.

Eugene Ruane
16 Posted 09/06/2013 at 13:41:02

Mark Stone (415) - "Why is that Eugene? Do you not rate him as a coach?"

That's like me asking 'how do you rate me as a heart surgeon?'

Impossible to do as I'm not a heart surgeon.

And I can't rate Neville as a coach because he isn't a coach.

Might he make a good coach?

He might, in fact he might make a GREAT coach... or he could be a shit coach – I have no idea.

My reason for preferring him to ply his trade (whatever that might be) at Man Utd rather than with us is simple: I like the idea of a clean break for and with the new manager.

Moyes was with us a long time – we now have a new manager and I feel it would be better for him/us if the break was clean.

Phil Neville was very much a Moyes man (I don't say that in a derogatory way) and I feel the new manager has a better chance if he has his own men there.

That's it really.

Mark Stone
18 Posted 09/06/2013 at 15:38:41

Do you want him to get rid of the likes of Duncan, Weir and Stubbs too then?

Mark Stone
19 Posted 09/06/2013 at 15:44:01

Incidentally, I think the fact he has an A License coaching award, and he is currently coaching the England U21 team makes him a coach.

Lewis Barclay
20 Posted 09/06/2013 at 16:08:33

Pip knows what it's like to win trophies. I'd like him to stay as a coach and try and help us win a few.

Roger Helm
21 Posted 09/06/2013 at 21:11:38

If RM brings his own staff, we can't keep all the Moyes coaches - they'd outnumber the players. There'd be no room on the bus. I'd prefer to keep as much defensive knowhow as possible, so let Pip go and learn his trade elsewhere while Weir and Stubbs stay here for defensive continuity.

Tony Cheek
22 Posted 09/06/2013 at 21:10:23

Would like to see him stay and work with Martinez. But was the change of mind due to lack of interest. Did anybody at all show interest in signing him?

Eugene Ruane
23 Posted 10/06/2013 at 00:07:45

Mark Stone (559) - Well I'm not actively campaigning for that to happen but I personally wouldn't lose a wink of sleep if it did.

As for - "Incidentally, I think the fact he has an A License coaching award, and he is currently coaching the England U21 team makes him a coach"

Well fine, but if we're doing 'this plus that equals the other' then looking at the under 21s, he's a shit coach (so now I REALLY don't want him).

Dave Roberts
24 Posted 10/06/2013 at 09:29:48

He should have retired the day before the Wigan quarter-final.

Peter Cummings
25 Posted 10/06/2013 at 12:46:02

Phil Neville has been a great servant to the club but never got the full credit he deserved, probably because of his Man Utd links, so whatever his future we should all wish him well.

Norman Merrill
26 Posted 10/06/2013 at 15:09:52

Well said Peter Cummings

Gavin Ramejkis
27 Posted 10/06/2013 at 15:14:32

I think he's wasting his chances with the U21s just a small time Charlie version of the over 21 squad, he should be looking for a 2IC somewhere to cut his teeth, coaching and managing are two different beasts, he should shadow a manager before he cuts the apron strings and heads out on his own

Eugene Ruane
28 Posted 12/06/2013 at 18:03:31

According to the OS Martinez might soon be hearing..

"Moyes wouldn't do it like that"

"Moyes would have done it differently"

"Moyes hated that formation"

"Moyes preferred Rich Tea, he hated Viscounts"

Etc etc etc.

http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2013/06/12/martinez-eyes-neville-talks

Jeremy Benson
29 Posted 12/06/2013 at 18:10:22

Personally I'd like to see pip stay on as coach.

I feel some continuity is a good thing, and want to see some established staff/blues to stick around to see through the martinez "era".

Maybe thats because I just can't imagine martinez and his backroom staff still being here in 4 years time, although I hope for a successful contract.

Pip may or may not succeed as a coach, but losing his experience and professionalism is a loss.

Mark Stone
30 Posted 12/06/2013 at 23:42:37

You really are full of shite

"As for - "Incidentally, I think the fact he has an A License coaching award, and he is currently coaching the England U21 team makes him a coach"

Well fine, but if we're doing 'this plus that equals the other' then looking at the under 21s, he's a shit coach (so now I REALLY don't want him)"

Can you not just admit that being a highly qualified and practicing coach, makes somebody a coach?

Mark Stone
31 Posted 12/06/2013 at 23:45:12

And to liken the obviousness of the former with to the obscurity of the latter is impressively ignorant. Well done.

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