Staff : First Team : Gary Neville

Gary Neville belongs to an elite group of players who have made more than 500 appearances for United.

The defender played his landmark match during 2005/06, the same campaign which saw him named club captain following Roy Keane’s departure. Being one of United’s most consistent and committed performers since establishing himself in the side in 1994/95, Neville was a natural choice.

He enters every game refusing to contemplate defeat. The fans love him for it. His heart on his sleeve approach doesn't endear him to everyone, however – notably the football authorities. His badge-clenching

celebration following Rio Ferdinand’s last-minute winner against Liverpool at Old Trafford in January 2006 saw him charged with improper conduct by the FA and fined £5000.

“Are you meant to smile sweetly and jog back to the halfway line?” he said. "People want footballers to be whiter than white. Do they want a game of robots?"

There was no such censure for Gary’s next high-profile celebration – at the 2006 Carling Cup Final. He lifted his first trophy as United captain and collected the one domestic medal that had eluded him in his career. The Reds had not won the competition since April 1992, when Gary was in the famous youth team that also spawned David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

His aim is to follow Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Eric Cantona and Roy Keane and be the fifth Reds skipper to lift the Premiership trophy. Vocal and determined, he'll give his all to achieve it, demanding the same from his team-mates. No excuses.

Position: Defender
Appearances: 540
Goals: 7
Joined United: 08 Jul 1991
Transfer Fee: None
Previous Clubs: None
United Debut: 16 Sep 1992 v (H) Torpedo Moscow
International England