2. Gary Neville

Gary Neville belongs to an elite group of players who have skippered the Reds to the Premier League title.

Following on from Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Eric Cantona and Roy Keane, Neville realised a lifelong dream as he became the fifth United captain to lift the Premier League trophy following the Reds' record ninth triumph at the end of the 2006/07 campaign.

Neville himself had missed the final stages of the campaign, having suffered ankle ligament damage just 11 minutes into the visit of Bolton to Old Trafford on 17 March 2007. The same injury kept the Reds’ skipper out for most of the

2007/2008 season but even when unable to influence matters directly on the pitch, you can be sure his presence is felt in the dressing room and from the stands. Nobody wants United to win more than Gary Neville.

The defender, who has made more than 500 appearances in a United shirt, was handed the armband during the 2005/06 season following Roy Keane’s departure. Being one of United’s most consistent and committed performers since establishing himself in the side in 1994/95 at the expense of Paul Parker, Neville was a natural choice.

He enters every game refusing to contemplate defeat, and the fans love him for it. His heart-on-his-sleeve approach doesn't endear him to everyone, however - notably the football authorities. His badge-clenching, fist-pumping celebration following Rio Ferdinand’s last-minute winner against Liverpool at Old Trafford in January 2006 saw him charged with improper conduct by the FA and fined £5000.

“Are you meant to smile sweetly and jog back to the halfway line?” he said. "People want footballers to be whiter than white. Do they want a game of robots?"

There was no such censure for Gary’s next high-profile celebration - at the 2006 Carling Cup Final. He

lifted his first trophy as captain and collected the one domestic medal that had eluded him in his career. The Reds had not won the competition since April 1992, when Gary was in the famous youth team that also spawned David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

Ever since those days, Neville's character, drive and determination hasn't altered one bit. "His performance level and drive has never changed," says Sir Alex. "It's more obvious in Gary because he never had the talent of Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes, but he had determination to make sure he was always in the team.

"He also showed determination to come back after a year and a half out with injuries. We all had concerns that maybe he wasn’t going to come back - at his age, it isn’t easy. But he’s been absolutely fantastic. It’s a demonstration by Gary that he’s never going to give in. He’s an amazing man."

It's that level of respect that earned the Bury-born right-back a one-year contract extension in February 2009. Neville is as loyal a servant as you could hope to have, and in an age where players rarely stay put for long he is among a dying breed of one-club men. "United is the only club I've ever wanted to play for," he says.


Vocal and single-minded, the Reds skipper has all the attributes and characteristics of a great leader of men; Gary gives his all in every game, demanding the same from his team-mates. No excuses.