Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has been sacked by La Liga side Valencia, with Pako Ayestaran to take charge until the end of the season.
Although Valencia won just three out of 16 matches under the Englishman, the timing of the news did come as a surprise. The Valencia appointment was Neville’s first job as the manager of a football club and those who claimed that Neville had made a poor decision were proved right.
Gary Neville sacked by Valencia!! added insult!! Former Liverpool manager Pako Ayestaran, 53, will take charge for the rest of the season.
— bob brown (@007PUK) March 30, 2016
Neville had previously been a pundit on Sky Sports’s Monday Night Football show along with Jamie Carragher. As such, after he was sacked by Los Che, his return to television punditry was widely speculated across social media.
Gary Neville has lost his job with Valencia. Always looked a brutally difficult first job. Sure he’ll bounce back in the stand or studio.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) March 30, 2016
When you realise Gary Neville could be back on Monday Night Football. pic.twitter.com/YvFz5bmLW1
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) March 30, 2016
So for Gary Neville the Sky was the limit?
— Martin Wickham (@Martin_Wickham) March 30, 2016
Gary neville sacked. Get back behind the desk and start criticising other managers. The good old days
— Habz (@habz_1) March 30, 2016
Being sat in the Sky Sports gallery as the Gary Neville sacking was announced was brilliant.
— Benji (@Mr_IBenjamin) March 30, 2016
Gary Neville what a man!! Replaced himself on @SkySportsNewsHQ so they don’t feel bad. #Respect
— Joash (@joashraul) March 30, 2016
Valencia sacks Gary Neville in time to be a pundit for the #Elclasico. How would he handle his second coming after the beautiful time he had
— Fingertrickz Beatz (@fingertrickz) March 30, 2016
There was even talk of Aston Villa (who are doomed to get relegated this season) being the perfect club for the 41-year-old to take charge of as a rookie manager. However, this Villa fan seemed to be completely opposed to that idea.
Gary Neville keep the hell away #avfc #AstonVilla
— Nick Heaven (@NickHeaven82) March 30, 2016
Some Manchester United fans seemed quite irked by the fact that Neville got the sack before their own manager Louis van Gaal.
Gary Neville. Another manager better than Van Gaal to be sacked before him.
— Shawtime. (@Sir_Spearson) March 30, 2016
Meanwhile, this Valencia fan fondly recounted some of the best highlights of the ex-Manchester United man’s tenure as Los Che boss.
Gary Neville – Valencia CF 2015-16 Highlights pic.twitter.com/UqNofCJ56H
— Álvaro Estévez (@alv_estevez) March 30, 2016
Some fans even seemed to have a go at Spanish football pundit Guillem Balague.
Guillem Balague on the Gary Neville sacking @GuillemBalague pic.twitter.com/PXGxbAeayA
— Mb. (@GriezLad) March 30, 2016
Things that lasted longer than Gary Neville at Valencia: Reebok pumps, Zubaz pants, wallet chains, frosty tips, soul patches & Silverchair.
— Max De Luca (@MaxZenPower) March 30, 2016
All in all however, Bleacher Report perhaps summed up Neville’s predicament most accurately.
Gary Neville: He’s not the hero Valencia need right now. pic.twitter.com/yMAM1uuecQ
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) March 30, 2016