Phil Neville has confirmed he’ll leave Valencia this summer after a year on the coaching staff at Mestalla.
Neville was originally appointed as Nuno Santo’s assistant prior to the start of the season after Ian Cathro departed, and then worked with brother Gary after Nuno was sacked in December.
Pako Ayestaran, who was appointed to Gary Neville’s staff in February and named Coach when Neville was sacked in March, was this week confirmed for two more years and Phil Neville has said that’s a sign it’s time for him to move on.
“I think obviously with the naming of Pako as the manager, I think I will be leaving the club and looking for other opportunities,” he said, the Daily Mail reports.
“I am still learning, I am still young in terms of managerial experience, but the last three years I've gathered a lot of information. I just feel at the moment maybe my next job I think I'll probably want to go on my own and be my own man, back myself and my own ability.”
Neville added however that he enjoyed his 12 months in Spain and spoke highly of both the club and the competition.
“It has been one of the best experiences – and not just of my footballing career. The lifestyle, we've embraced the culture and I said to the President the other day when I spoke to him about my future, we both agreed that one day I want to go back to Valencia. It is a magical, magical city, a fantastic football club and La Liga is the best league in the world to work in,” he explained.
“I loved every minute of it. To come away from the experience with a language under your belt, with the experience that I've had this year would probably take people five years to experience.
“Three or four different managers, unrest with supporters, situations with players, playing against Barcelona and getting beaten 7-0 – these are experiences you can't buy. You can go on every course in the world that you want, but you can't buy the experience I've had this year.
“In terms of my overall development as a coach, hopefully a manager, and as a person, I cannot think of a negative about the whole situation.”
