6-time PL winner with United sheds light on hilarious event after classic CL tie with Real Madrid

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville has shared a humorous story from a crucial Champions League tie against Real Madrid. United career Neville played 383 times for Manchester United, making his debut in the 1994-1995 season. The defender also won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and a Champions League with the Red Devils. The Englishman moved to Everton in 2005 and would go on to play over 300 times for the Merseyside club. He was made captain of the side in January 2007. Neville was capped regularly for England and played 59 times for the Three Lions, receiving his last cap in 2007. Post-playing career Upon retirement in 2013, he moved into coaching. He started out as a head coach in 2018 for the England Women’s team. He then had spells as head coach of Inter Miami and Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer. In May this year, he left Portland after two and a half years. Madrid story Speaking to The Times (via The Sun), Neville revealed an embarrassing moment for himself after a Champions League tie in 2003. He explained, “there’s a story I occasionally tell against myself about something that happened after a game against Real Madrid in 2003.” Neville reminded the reporter that he had played the match as a second-half substitute in a 4-3 win for Manchester United over the Spanish club. He explained, “after the game I was keen to swap my shirt for one of theirs. This was a brilliant Real team, after all. A side that boasted Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Roberto Carlos, not to mention some other incredible players.” Unfortunately, the Spanish dressing room did not quite hold Neville in the same regard, according to what happened next. Neville explained, “my shirt was handed in for an exchange in their dressing room, and after about five minutes their kitman came out and handed it back.” The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.