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Former Manchester United star and Salford City owner Gary Neville appointed Valencia Head Coach
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Valencia CF have made a surprise move by today appointing Gary Neville as Head Coach until the end the season.
He will officially take charge of the first team on Sunday 6 December ahead of the UEFA Champions League match against Lyon at Mestalla on Wednesday 9 December.
The former Manchester United star will join his brother Phil, who has been coaching at the club this season.
The appointment of Neville will come to a surprise as many, who since finishing his playing career has thrown himself into a number of different roles within the game.
He has been part of the coaching squad for the England senior side since 2012 under Roy Hodgson, as well as establishing himself as one of the country's top pundits at Sky Sports alongside Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football.
Arguably his biggest commitment however is his ownership of non-league side Salford City with his fellow class of '92 members Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and brother Phil.
Since they took over last year the club have won promotion and this season have reached the Second Round of the FA Cup.
Notably, they also sold a stake of the club to businessman Peter Lim, who also owns a controlling stake in Valencia, where Neville will now take charge.
Valencia CF President Layhoon Chan said: “We are delighted to have secured Gary so quickly: “He combines top level coaching experience through his role as a senior coach with the England national team and a world-class playing career with England and Manchester United”.
“Throughout his career Gary has always shown great leadership both on and off the pitch. He is hugely respected in English football and it was his personal qualities which persuaded us that he was the right choice to lead Valencia until the end of the season."
Gary Neville said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be given this opportunity with Valencia. Valencia are a huge football club of immense standing and I know from my time as a player the passion and dedication of the Valencia fans.
“I am really looking forward to working with the club’s talented group of players and am excited about the challenge ahead.”
A press conference with Layhoon Chan and Gary Neville will be held on Thursday afternoon, 4 p.m. at Mestalla Stadium.