Valencia Named Gary Neville Head Coach

Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville has been named as Valencia's head coach until the end of the season. The 40-year-old, who will take charge officially on Sunday, will remain part of the England coaching set-up.

Peter Lim, Valencia's Singaporean owner, has a stake in Salford City, the non-league club co-owned by Neville. His brother Phil, who joined the Spanish club as assistant manager in July, will stay on the coaching staff.

"I am absolutely thrilled to be given this opportunity with Valencia," the new head coach said.

"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."

Neville, who has stepped down from his position as a Sky Sports pundit with immediate effect, will attend a news conference with club president Layhoon Chan on Thursday.

Chan said of Neville: "He is hugely respected in English football and it was his personal qualities which persuaded us that he was the right choice to lead Valencia until the end of the season."

England head coach Roy Hodgson said: "As far as I'm concerned, this will be an extra string to his bow and the experience he will gain working in the Spanish league can only be beneficial to our work together with the England team.

"Gary's commitment to the FA's preparations for Euro 2016 will not be in any way affected by the fact that he will be coaching abroad during the next five months."

Neville replaces Nuno Espirito Santo, who resigned after Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Sevilla, a result that left Valencia ninth in the Spanish league.