Former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville is the new boss of Valencia — his first managerial post.
Neville, who is also part of Roy Hodgson’s England coaching team, was named first-team coach at the Mestalla — where his brother, Phil, is a coach — for the rest of the season in a surprise announcement by the club yesterday.
“Valencia Football Club has reached an agreement with England coach Gary Neville to be the coach of the first team until June 30, 2016,” the club said.
Nuno Espirito Santo stepped down “by mutual consent” after Sunday’s 1-0 La Liga defeat at Sevilla left the ambitious Singapore-owned club languishing in mid-table.
Neville has worked as a media pundit and been a member of England manager Roy Hodgson’s coaching staff since retiring as a player in 2011.
He is to take over the running of the Valencia first team on Sunday ahead of their Champions League game against Olympique Lyonnais a week from now.
“We are delighted to have been able to bring in Gary so quickly,” Valencia president Lay Hoon Chan said on the club Web site.
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