A to Z Goal of the Day series: N is for Phil Neville

REDS SPELL

Although never first choice in one position like Gary, Phil thrived on his ability to play anywhere in defence and midfield. With the exception of his debut campaign and 1996/97, he made at least 30 appearances a season for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, helping United to six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and one Champions League title in 1999, when he was memorably one of the first of the Reds’ ecstatic substitutes to mob Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after he’d netted the winner at the Nou Camp.

POST-UNITED CAREER

Phil departed Old Trafford in 2005, at the age of 28, and joined up with David Moyes at Everton. He made his Premier League debut for the Toffees against United and went on to become a significant part of Moyes’s overperforming Blues side, playing largely in central midfield as the Merseyside club regularly qualified for the UEFA Cup and made it to the 2009 FA Cup final. Phil captained the Blues at Wembley on that day, and remained skipper until his retirement in 2013.