Gary Neville named head coach of Valencia

Gary Neville will take his first steps in management at Valencia after being named head coach for the remainder of the season.

Since the former Manchester United and England defender retired during the 2010/11 season, the 40-year-old has become an acclaimed pundit with Sky Sports and worked as a coach under national team manager Roy Hodgson.

Now Neville will try his hand at management in Spain, having been given the reins at Primera Division outfit Valencia until the end of the season.

The move will see Neville link up with brother Phil, who has been coaching at the Mestalla since July and assisted interim coach Voro.

"I am absolutely thrilled to be given this opportunity with Valencia," Gary Neville said in a statement on www.valenciacf.com.

"Valencia are a huge football club of immense standing and I know from my time as a player the passion and dedication of the Valencia fans.

"I am really looking forward to working with the club's talented group of players and am excited about the challenge ahead."

Los Che have been without a coach since Nuno quit following Sunday's 1-0 loss to Sevilla - a decision the Portuguese informed owner Peter Lim of prior to kick-off.

The Singaporean businessman also owns a 50 per cent stake in Salford City, with the rest split between Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and the Neville brothers.