Phil Neville: Ex-Everton captain confirms retirementThe end has arrived for Phil Neville. After 18 years, two clubs, 692 games and 59 England caps, a trophy-laden playing career is over.
Sitting on a veranda at the Caesarea Golf Club in Netanya, where England's Under-21s are based for the European Championships, Neville – who is gaining coaching experience by observing Stuart Pearce and his staff – revealed the time has come to put his boots away once and for all.
New horizons: Coach Phil Neville in Netanya'Did you not see me training?' Neville asks. 'I was speaking to Robbie Fowler about (retirement) the other week. He hasn't officially retired. Three weeks ago, everyone in the world seemed to be retiring. I thought "I'm not jumping on this bandwagon".'
The 'bandwagon', to which he refers, has seen his close friends David Beckham and Paul Scholes call it quits, while the man who set them on their way, Sir Alex Ferguson, has headed off into the sunset. Ditto England colleagues Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen.
This has been the end of an era.
'I just wanted it to be a smooth, quiet turnover,' Neville continues. 'I didn't want that (focus). When I made a statement that I was leaving Everton, everywhere I went I seemed to be getting "oh you've been brilliant".
'I didn't like it. I didn't want to be seen as an attention seeker.
'In my heart, I knew I wouldn't be playing again – at any level. 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, Julie, she knows what I'm like. She's saying "for God's sake, don't have any more time off!"'
Ending it: Paul Scholes .......... Bowing out: Jamie Carragher...Calling time: David Beckham
End of an era: Michael Owen ......................... End of an era: Sir Alex Ferguson
End of an era: Now Michael Owen and Sir Alex Ferguson can concentrate on their horseracing interests
For some players, this moment would leave them hollow but the opposite is true for Neville.
Fresh from completing his 'A' Licence coaching badge at St George's Park, the national football centre, he is clear in what direction he will move in the future.
Over the past five years, he has spent time compiling notes, gaining experience and speaking to as many wise heads as possible in order to be prepared for moment he stepped back across the white line and into the dugout.
Ambitious and enthusiastic, Neville seized the opportunity to give up two weeks of his summer to go to Israel as part of England's coaching staff, when he was approached by Sir Trevor Brooking.
Quick learner: Phil Neville during England U21 training at Netanya
Head coach Stuart Pearce has gone to great lengths to ensure the experience has not been wasted.
On the training pitches at Netanya, the 36-year-old has been given responsibility by Pearce and he played a key role in helping raise the spirits of Manchester United forward Wilfried Zaha, who missed England's opening defeat to Italy with an ankle problem.
'Stuart has been unbelievable,' says Neville. 'I was asked by Sir Trevor to come in. Stuart has phoned me a few times since and he has met me too. He has made me feel a part of it. That takes real courage to let someone in. Tournament football gives you incredible experience.
'I have really got stuck in. The season finished on a Sunday, I did my 'A' licence for nine days and hadn't had a break. The day after, I was flying out to Israel thinking "I could do with my holidays". But I got out here and remembered how special it is to be involved with England.
'All your FA gear is in your room and even just putting on the polo shirt, I got excited. Stuart has just opened his door and said I have got free rein to be involved. The first couple of days was more about watching and listening but, since then, we have been bouncing ideas off each other.'
Influential: Stuart Pearce ............................... Influential: Sir Trevor Brooking
Influential: Stuart Pearce (left) and Sir Trevor Brooking (right) have been very welcoming
It has not, though, been a love-in.
'Every afternoon he has been having a go at me,' Neville says with a wry smile. 'For 18 years I have been having a sleep in the afternoon. He says "Why do you want your sleep?" They have started calling me "The bat"!
'We had a meeting at 10.40pm the other night. I was completely gone.'
Again there are smiles but when it comes to discussing England's future, as well as his own plans, he is deadly serious.
There has been criticism that England are technically deficient and the pool of talent is shallow but he takes issues with that.
Cynics might suggest he is towing a party line but the time he has spent with England's Young Lions leaves him well placed to offer a weighty argument.
He believes England are coming up short because those who are coming through are not being given sufficient openings.
'I watched the game in Rio and we didn't play that well in the first half,' says Neville. 'But in the second half, I thought "we could have beaten Brazil in the Maracana". (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain came on and there was excitement – we didn't have (Steven) Gerrard and (Jack) Wilshere either.
Maracana magic: England's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
'I think we're heading in the right direction. I really do. The biggest thing is to get the players playing regularly. The likes of Jack Rodwell, Henderson, Shelvey, the ones below them… Ross Barkley (at Everton), (Nat) Chalobah.
'I have seen enough of Chalobah this season at Watford to see that he could play 20 games for Chelsea next season in the League Cup, the early rounds of the Champions League. I have this philosophy – let's not stifle our players. Managers have to be a bit braver.'
Coaching, clearly, will be the next step for Neville – 'Alex Ferguson taught us that there are no short cuts (to getting into management) when we were kids' – and, wherever he goes, he will have much to offer.
Vote of confidence: Phil Neville (right) sees Nat Chalobah as an emerging star
It would be no surprise, even, if the FA found a way of tapping into his enthusiasm.
'We know what it is like to play for England, we know that it is the pinnacle of anyone's career,' Neville says.
'Forget the pressure and the circus that goes with it – you are playing for your country and that's the message we need to be getting to kids these days.'
Source: Mail
