Gary Neville has responded to Des Lynam's sensational claim that he should become the new Manchester United manager.
Former Match of the Day presenter Lynam suggested that Neville is the ideal candidate for the job given his passion for United, his personality and his business sense.
However, Lynam's claim was widely mocked, especially given that Neville's only previous experience as a manager was his disastrous spell in charge of Valencia in the 2015-16 season.
United have failed to win the Premier League title since the retirement of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 and their struggles have continued this campaign.
Erik ten Hag was sacked in October, with Ruben Amorim being brought in to replace him.
Lynam, though, doesn't believe that Amorim is the answer to United's problems and feels that former Red Devils defender Neville should be appointed instead.
Lynam wrote in The Telegraph: 'Neville would still be the best man for the job.
'He has Manchester United blood running through his veins. He is deeply hurt by the club’s present predicament.
'He has a powerful personality and would be a strong presence in the dressing room. Oh and the money men had better watch out, Neville is an astute business man.
'My plea to him was over three years ago but as the men with their furrowed brows took their temporary residence in the United dugout, Neville has remained the best candidate, in my mind.'
Neville responded to Lynam's claim and expressed his deep respect for the broadcaster having worked with him for ITV during the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
Speaking on his podcast on Sky Sports, Neville said: 'I love Des Lynam. I met Des Lynam in 2002. My first ever punditry gig was 22 years ago. I broke my foot before the World Cup in Japan and South Korea and ITV asked me to be a pundit. I had the most incredible time, it was the moment that I recognised I wanted to go into punditry because of the people I was surrounded by.
'The fellow pundits on that panel were Bobby Robson, Terry Venables and Paul Gascoigne. I totally don't belong in that panel from the point of view of football greatness and coaching.
'What I could give them was the current understanding of what was happening in that dressing room.'
However, Neville stressed that Lynam is incorrect in his claim that he should be the next United boss.
He said: 'Des Lynam was the doyen, the God of hosts and presenters in that era. Someone with an unbelievable voice, great delivery, great humour. I always got on with Des but if you could please stop putting me forward as the manager of Manchester United it would be quite helpful.'
Neville outlined two main reasons as to why he shouldn't manage United - firstly that he doesn't want to return to coaching and secondly that he doesn't feel that he is the best man for the job.
He said: 'I understand where you're coming from, I do understand the club, I do love the club, I do believe I can communicate well.
'However, I don't want to go back into coaching number one, number two I don't believe that I'm the best man for the job by a long way.'
Neville also commented on how he was mocked by his Sky Sports colleague Jamie Carragher regarding Lynam's claims. Carragher responded to the article on X with a series of laughing emojis.
He said: 'It gives my friends and colleagues, particularly Mr James Carragher, the opportunity to giggle quite a bit on a Thursday afternoon when he sees the headline. I love Des to bits but I'm pretty sure he's not right on that one. I feel bad to tell him he's not right because he's someone with such vast experience.'
Read more 2025-01-25T23:16:26Z