Neville's one stint in management was a disaster at Valencia.
He recalled, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, "I've never said this publicly, but I remember getting the Valencia job in December, and Dan Ashworth rang me and said this was the perfect move for me to be on that next step for when Roy Hodgson decided he wanted to leave the England job, for me to take over.
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"I always remember that phone call and him saying this was the perfect opportunity, but I look back now, and it was right that I failed in the job because I didn't put the work in.
"With how my work ethic is now, I needed to fail to have that slap in the face moment, for me to get back to it, which is where I am now."
Ashworth is now being lined up by United as their director of football.