‘I learned more in that four months than the 14 years before’: Gary Neville reveals his time at Valencia was an ‘eye opener’ – despite being thrashed 7-0 by Barcelona – and insists players and managers should go abroad if possible
- Gary Neville spent four months in charge of Valencia in 2015 and 2016
- He was dismissed after a tough run at the LaLiga side and has not managed since
- But he insisted it was an ‘eye opener’ and views it as a good learning experience
Gary Neville has admitted his time at Valencia was an ‘eye opener’ and has encouraged other British stars to play or manage abroad.
Neville was a shock appointment for the LaLiga side in December 2015, having previously worked as England assistant manager and as a pundit for Sky Sports after retiring.
And the former Manchester United defender suffered a baptism of fire, getting knocked out of the Champions League, going nine games without a win and losing 7-0 at the Nou Camp.
Gary Neville had a four-month spell in charge of Valencia and views it as a learning experience
![He had a tough time there, including a 7-0 defeat against Barcelona at the Nou Camp](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/04/29/12/27791268-0-image-a-34_1588158232335.jpg)
He had a tough time there, including a 7-0 defeat against Barcelona at the Nou Camp
He would be sacked in March, a period of just four months in charge, and he has not managed another team since.
But the 45-year-old insisted that even that short spell had proven to be a valuable learning experience.
He told Sky Sports: ‘I went to Valencia for four months and it didn’t go well.
‘But the lessons I learned, the experiences I had in terms of finding out about myself, I learned more in that four months than the 14 years before that.
![Neville arrived to some fanfare](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/04/29/12/27791300-0-image-m-39_1588158265322.jpg)
![But he was dismissed after just four months in charge](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/04/29/12/27791284-0-image-m-38_1588158259085.jpg)
Neville arrived to some fanfare but was dismissed after just four months in charge
‘It told me more about myself. I think any young English football player, I would encourage them to go abroad and spend some time over there.
‘Go abroad, have a different experience. I had never been out of Manchester essentially when it came to football.
‘But Valencia was an eye opener for me. Players and coaches should experience more about the world.’
![Neville has insisted the job was an 'eye opener' and more English players should go abroad](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/04/29/12/27791304-0-image-a-41_1588158285688.jpg)
Neville has insisted the job was an ‘eye opener’ and more English players should go abroad