Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville believes that the BBC threw his brother, Phil, ‘into the lions’ den’ during his punditry career before he retired from broadcasting.
Upon retiring in 2011, Gary decided to turn to punditry and started his career on the now-famous Monday Night Football programme on Sky Sports, in which he gave a somewhat awkward interview with then-Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini.
Now regarded as one of the best pundits in the game, Gary regularly works for Sky as both a studio analyst and a co-commentator on the biggest games in the Premier League.
Before choosing the path of management, Phil, too, opted to enter the world of broadcasting after retiring in 2014, and was snapped up by the BBC ahead of the World Cup in Brazil.
The ex-United and Everton star was drafted in to provide co-commentary on England’s opening fixture with Italy on BBC One, but drew over 400 complaints from viewers for his ‘monotone’ delivery on air.
The Neville brothers’ former international team-mate, Michael Owen, was another who was criticised for his commentary skills early on in his media career, while at TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport), and Gary has expressed his view on how the pair were treated by their respective broadcasters.
Gary Neville has hit out at the BBC for their treatment of brother, Phil, during his media career
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Phil Neville’s first foray into broadcasting was at the 2014 World Cup where he was criticised
Speaking on Stick To Football, brought to you by ARNE, he said: ‘I thought it was scandalous the way he [Owen] was treated in his early media career, the way people commented on it. Co-commentary is the hardest thing to do.
‘This happened with my brother. Where they put him in his first game, the BBC put him in his first game in the World Cup, England versus Italy with 20 million people watching.’
Commentary is something that Gary Neville has continued to do more frequently with Sky during his 14 years with the company.
These days, Gary is often in the commentary booth more often than he is analysing Premier League teams’ performances in the studio.
However, when he first joined Sky, the former United full-back was afforded time by the company as he struggled to get to grips with the role. This is something he doesn’t believe his brother, Phil, was given.
Gary continued: ‘Sky, with me, when I first joined… it’s still the worst thing I do now, co-commentary, it’s the toughest thing I do. They put me on eight games, 10 games, that were like, Fulham against Blackburn. I remember doing that game on a Sunday.
‘Not a lot of people are watching but it beds you in, it eases you in. Villa against [Manchester] City, which wasn’t a big game back then. I did loads of games on MUTV.
‘They [Sky] put me on a big game in March, it took them eight, nine months of trialling me and testing me and feeding back to me and being harsh on me by the way.
Neville, 48, has not worked in media since 2018 and is now Portland Timbers head coach
‘I remember once in January saying, “This is not for me”, to the producer. He said, “Stick at it, but you need to be more conversational, more yourself”.
‘I had loads of advice. To give Michael Owen Premier League games on TNT first up, and to give Phil that World Cup… honestly, you are throwing a lamb into the lions’ den.’
Phil has not worked in media since 2018, when he became Lionesses head coach, where he stayed for three years.
He has gone on to manage David Beckham’s Inter Miami, and is now head coach at MLS side Portland Timbers.
