MANCHESTER UNITED legend Gary Neville was called a “little Bulgarian weightlifter” by team-mates.
The 47-year-old played for his boyhood club and became one of the most decorated players in Premier League history.
One-club man Neville won eight Premier League titles during his 19-year stint at Old Trafford.
Neville commanded respect on and off the pitch.
But that didn’t stop him from being given a cheeky nickname by the other players in the dressing room.
Man Utd stars used to call Neville a “little Bulgarian weightlifter” and “Gary Nevilleov”.
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Neville recalled his dressing room nickname while training his legs in former team-mate Paul Scholes’ new gym as a part of The Overlap.
He said: “This would have been my game as a footballer. Power stuff.
“What is it you all used to call me?”
Scholes replied: “A little Bulgarian weightlifter, weren’t it? Gary Nevilleov!”
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Neville then confirmed: “Gary Nevilleov, they used to call me.”
The ex-United captain tried coaching and management after his playing career.
He was England assistant to Roy Hodgson between 2012 and 2016.
Neville then landed his first managerial post at Valencia in Spain, but it was short-lived, getting the sack after just three months.
The former right-back then moved into punditry, and is a mainstay on Sky Sports alongside Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher.
Neville also runs a number of businesses and is the co-owner of League Two side Salford City.
He did, however, have a serious health scare last summer.
Neville collapsed at England’s Euro 2020 knockout game against Germany.
He has vowed to not slow down despite knowing “it will cost me”.
On collapsing, he told Geoff Shreeves last month: “I collapsed at England vs Germany game at Euro 2020; I had a fit on the floor.
“There were some people who saw me, I don’t know how it didn’t get out, to be honest with you.
“There was an enquiry, but they said: ‘oh no, he just fell over when they scored the goal’.”
Neville added: “Brian Kidd [Neville’s former coach] used to have this thing – ‘get your pace early, you can’t make it up at the end’ and it used to stick with me.
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“Sprint, go as fast as you can and fall on the floor earlier than trying to think you can measure it, jog and then do it at the end.
“It’s my philosophy. Go for it, just sprint, go as fast as you can and to be fair it will cost me, I know it will cost me at some point but I can’t stop. I can’t stop.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
