EXCLUSIVE: Moving on: He was their heartbeat for two decades, now Neville reflects on United's future

Gary Neville does a nice line in self-deprecation, happily accepting that, compared with him, the rest of his family come across as far more affable individuals.

‘I’m not much of a people person,’ he says with a wry smile before insisting it is simply a case of needing to know him better.

But then he spends the next 40 minutes demonstrating the opposite, revealing a human quality that might not seduce residents of Merseyside but may surprise those who have sometimes struggled to see beyond the combative, combustible, often snarling figure who played with such distinction at right back for Manchester United and England.

United through and through: Gary Neville now represents Manchester United in an ambassadorial role

Talking to Neville has always been fascinating. Journalists would gravitate towards him at major tournaments because nobody, particularly during Sven Goran Eriksson’s tenure as manager, could articulate what it meant to be on England’s journey better than Red Nev.

Sometimes he would answer a question with what amounted to a rousing speech. Other times he would challenge his inquisitor with the same ferocity he would tackle an opponent.

Now, however, he is more relaxed, busy applying the finishing touches to what promises to be a marvellous autobiography. Planning life with his young family in his eco-friendly house. Five months after announcing his retirement and launching a career in the media, he is also quite the charming ambassador for the club he has served for more than 20 years, providing an insight into life at Old Trafford he might not have offered had he still been playing.

He is particularly interesting when it comes to discussing Sir Alex Ferguson and the relationship the manager has with his players.

Stalwart: David Gill (left) and Sir Alex Ferguson with Neville at his testimonial

It seems he is regarded as something of a father-figure. Often tough and uncompromising, yes. But also extremely supportive. The first person United’s players go to in times of trouble, or when they feel they have reached a crossroads in their career.

Ferguson, says Neville, was the first person he went to when he started to think his 36-year-old body could not endure much more punishment.

‘I’d had conversations with my wife and my mum and dad,’ he says. ‘And I spoke to Scholesy and Ryan Giggs too, because we have shared most things over the last 20 years.

'But, professionally, the first person I spoke to was the  manager. It’s how it works at United. If you have a problem, something you need to talk about, you go and see the manager.

'And I think I was in his office for about an hour and a half that day. He told me to go away and think about it, and sent me away on holiday.

‘There’s never any problem with him in that respect. You can see him about anything. If you feel you have a crisis in your life he will make sense of it all. And he’ll look after you and make sure it is dealt with correctly.

Kiss goodbye: United legends Neville and Paul Scholes have now retired 

'Sometimes in  the media it is questioned, the way he protects his players. But they are his people. He looks after them.’

They look after themselves too. There is a hierarchy at Old Trafford. Below Ferguson a senior player who often acts as a conduit between the younger members of the squad and a manager they might still find a touch intimidating. Not least when it comes to asking for a new contract. For the past few years that player had been Neville.

‘Some players will get their representatives to go to David Gill, the chief executive,’ he says. ‘But most would go to the manager because, quite honestly, if he said you weren’t getting a new contract there’s no point taking it any further.

‘I know the manager still looks over all the young players’ contracts because I’ve done quite a few with him over the last few years for those players. It’s an experienced player role and something I did for a few years.

'When I was younger it would be Bryan Robson doing it, or Brian McClair. A young player might be nervous going to see the manager, so they come to you for help.

'I did the same. I went to see Bryan Robson about my very first contract and Brian McClair helped me, Butty and Scholesy with our second contracts. I’m not sure it’s normal at all clubs but it’s normal here.

Learning curve: United struggled in Europe during the early to mid 90s before their success in '99

‘It’s still like a family here. As big as the club is, as much as it might seem like this huge corporate entity, it has always had this family feel.

'The people here, like the manager, seem to go on forever. The faces haven’t changed in 20 years. It’s the same kitman; the same secretaries; same girls in the laundry.

‘You can talk to them about anything, and at the same time you can also deal directly with the  manager and David Gill.’

Neville will work as an ambassador for the club and, in serving the club’s commercial department, he has joined his former colleagues on the club’s pre-season tour in the US.

But he has had to cut all ties with the dressing room he once skippered because he understands only too well how United’s players view those who move on. Once out of sight, they are quickly out of mind, adhering to Ferguson’s philosophy to always look forward.

‘For a couple of matches after I retired I went into the dressing room on match days, but it didn’t feel right,’ he says. ‘I thought, “I need to get out of here”.

‘I was no longer part of the  dressing room. My job had been done. It wasn’t my place any more. It’s like a holy place. It’s their place. The team’s place and I was no longer part of the team.

Jump for joy: Neville and Fergie celebrate

'At United former players are quickly forgotten. I might have cropped up in the odd conversation but, like all players, you are forgotten when you leave. You go back a few months later and you see your peg’s gone; your name’s gone. You’re out of there.

‘When I went in the dressing room that couple of times, I felt like I was invading their space. You feel a bit insecure.

'It’s wrong because I had been here for nearly 20 years. These are my mates and we’ve experienced so much together. But it’s their space now, and you don’t want to be hanging around like a bad smell.’

From a distance, he continues to marvel at the work of Ferguson. ‘It’s a phenomenon happening in front of us, and you have to recognise that while it’s happening,’ he says.

‘It’s the same with Ryan Giggs. You never thought this club could produce another Matt Busby and a Bobby Charlton but they have. It’s amazing.

‘You can’t appreciate the determination, spirit, will and talent that the manager possesses to do  what he does. At 70 years of age. You hear managers of 40 talking about pressure.

‘This guy is managing the biggest club with the most expectation; the greatest amount of pressure; the biggest crowd. Everything is huge in this club. And yet he still has the same fight and determination, and he doesn’t really look like he’s aged one bit. It’s incredible.’

With the arrival of Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David de Gea, Neville sees another great Ferguson team emerging; a team that will meet the challenge laid down by Barcelona in last season’s Champions League final.

‘I think last year a new team was evolving without people realising,’ he says. ‘Rafael, Fabio, Smalling, Hernandez, Nani coming on massively. And this year you’ve got Jones, Young, De Gea. That’s eight players.

'And at the same time you’ve seen the likes of myself, Edwin van der Sar, Owen Hargreaves and Scholes move away. John O’Shea and Wes Brown too.

‘That’s six what I would call stalwarts, real core players, so this is definitely a period of transition.

‘After the Champions League final the manager would have been thinking he needed to build a team that, over the next three years, can compete with this Barcelona team.

‘We have been there before, in ’96 with Juventus. People tend to forget what it was like then. They had been to two or three European Cup finals. They were battering us. For the first two years they took us to school.

'In ’94 and ’95 there were some sobering experiences in Europe: Barcelona; Galatasaray. Then we got to ’96 with Juventus. But by ’99 we had caught them.

‘And that’s what will happen now. Barcelona won’t be there for ever. You’ll see Real Madrid, Manchester United and other teams improving to get to their standard.’

‘What you saw in that final was an absolutely brilliant team  performance: one of the best teams you are ever likely to see.

‘We’ve been in that position where we’ve been superior to other teams. But other teams catch up. Chelsea overtook us for a couple of years. Arsenal did too. There will be a positive response here too.’

Success story: Neville lifts one of his many Premier League titles with Ryan Giggs

He sees so many similarities between now and the 90s. ‘People talk about the ’99 team like it just happened that year. But that team evolved over three or four years.

'This team is evolving now. The 2008 team didn’t just happen, and that was a team that was as good as the ’99 team. Beating Barcelona, beating Chelsea in the final.’

Ferguson, he says, is ‘the  master at delivering teams’ and taking new players to the next level. ‘Look at Yorke and Stam,’ he says. ‘Look at Smalling and Hernandez; Vidic, Evra, Rio, Rooney and Carrick.

‘I think Ashley Young could be an example of that. I think  people will be talking about how cheap United got Phil Jones a year from now.

‘Ashley Young is around  better players now. No  disrespect to those he has worked with before but he will get the ball more often, in  better areas, delivered to him better. And he will be playing with better finishers. It will make him better. At the same time United demand more from you as an individual.’

Now United are demanding something rather different of Neville. In his role as an ambassador he has to promote the major tour sponsor, DHL.

He does so by revealing how useful the express logistics company can prove when United players are on tour. Apparently they like to shop for more than they can squeeze into their kit bags. ‘Anything,’ says Neville, ‘from handbags to large pieces of furniture.’

I suggest he has a greater calling. That he has long appeared destined for a major role in football rather than a job as a pundit for Sky and a United schmoozer.

‘From what I’ve seen, players who have gone straight into management haven’t had a lot of success,’ he says. ‘It’s tough, particularly for British managers.

‘I want to take a year or two to see how I feel about things. I want to stay involved in the game. I want to stay involved with the club.

'But what I don’t want to do is take on the next major challenge in my life 10 minutes after finishing as a player. I don’t want to jump straight from the roller-coaster to the waltzers.

England days: Neville skippering his country as they crash out of World Cup 2006

‘I’ve made a conscientious decision that doing the media work keeps me watching the big games while the ambassadorial role keeps a connection with this place, because I love it here. I’ve been here all my life.

'Will I one day want to be a manager? You mentioned the PFA. Maybe something like that will come along that I’m interested in doing. But what I don’t want to do is dive straight in without a break.

‘Will this satisfy me, stimulate me? I’m looking forward to it actually. I’m looking forward to watching 40 to 50 of the best games in the Premier League and the Champions League. I’m looking forward to doing the work with United. I think it’s a sensible decision I have made.’

It is, and he is very impressive in both roles, but this is a guy who can continue to make a contribution. Perhaps as a  manager but maybe with the PFA or the FA.

One only has to listen to him on player loyalty. Or on those recent comments from Scholes, who suggests the England team are undermined by the personal agendas of players motivated only by self-promotion.

‘It’s easy for me to say I was loyal because I led the perfect existence here,’ he says. ‘I was in a sporting utopia, playing for a team that is 20 minutes away from where I grew up, a team I supported as a kid, and playing with my best mates and my brother and winning  trophies every year. Why would you leave?

‘But I can’t judge other players. There is a small minority you could probably describe as mercenaries. But most players are just looking for what’s best for them and their families, the same as anyone in any other walk of life.

‘The only difference is the fact that footballers get criticised for it, and for the money they earn, when tennis players, Formula One drivers and golfers are never even questioned. No one ever mentions how much they earn. I think it’s because football is still seen as this working-class game and people can’t accept the money involved.’

And Scholes? ‘I would agree with him,’ he says. ‘I think there’s a lot of self-protection and I think most of the players who have been around England for the last 20 years would recognise what he’s saying.’

And if they don’t like Neville for saying it too, you get the feeling he’s unlikely to be too bothered.