Gary Neville's record in management in Spain's La Liga with Valencia read something like this: 16 games, four wins, a lot of goals conceded and not very encouraging. While we don't have the luxury of giving his role as a Sky analyst a numerical value, we would say his stint with Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football was exceptionally good.
Neville obviously agrees because he has given up the ghost on his career in the dugout following that hopeless spell at Valencia followed by England's desperate effort in France, which resulted in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Iceland with Neville as coach, as he rejoins Sky's team as an analyst for the upcoming season.
"I am delighted to be rejoining Sky Sports and can't wait for the start of the new football season, especially as there will be a variety of new programming on the channel," he told Sky on his return.
"It is important for me that my role will be slightly different, and I am looking forward to the challenge of working on some new, creative and exciting projects."
Neville, one of the best right-backs to ever play in the Premier League, might be just taking the chance to rebuild his confidence, reassess his options and allow the dust to settle on his battered reputation but there is a distinct possibility that he is better off in a studio than on the sideline.
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