Gary Neville is widely regarded as one of the best Manchester United defenders ever, having enjoyed a highly decorated 19-year stint at Old Trafford, winning a staggering 26 major titles, including two Champions Leagues and eight Premier Leagues.
Over his 600 appearances for the Red Devils, Neville not only faced some of the greatest wide forwards world football has ever seen – he also visited hostile away grounds across both England and Europe.
When asked to name the British stadium with the fiercest atmosphere he ever witnessed as a player, Neville did not hesitate and picked a current Premier League ground, calling it ‘by far the most hostile’ venue he ever visited as a Man United player.
Gary Neville Praises Elland Road
gary neville
Neville, as quoted by the Daily Mail, praised Leeds United’s home ground Elland Road for having ‘by far the most hostile’ atmosphere he has ever experienced, along with Galatasaray’s stadium:
“Let’s be clear, the biggest game is Man United-Liverpool. But for atmosphere, Elland Road was by far the most hostile ground we ever played at, that and Galatasaray.
“Liverpool is the team you most want to beat because of the rivalry and the success of the two clubs but I would say, in terms of hostility, Leeds is above all of them.”
Neville visited Elland Road a total of nine times as a Man United player, with the Red Devils winning five, drawing two and losing two games.
The former England international assisted Roy Keane’s winner at Leeds in the 2003/04 season – his final Premier League visit to Elland Road – helping United secure a narrow 1-0 away victory.
Neville faced Leeds on 18 occasions during his time at Old Trafford, winning 10 games, while he played at Galatasaray’s stadium once in the Champions League.
He came off the bench for United’s goalless draw in 1993/94 and was an unused substitute a year later when the Red Devils played another 0-0 in Istanbul.
Elland Road has witnessed some of the most memorable moments in the Man United–Leeds rivalry, including the Red Devils’ 4-0 win in 1996, which marked Eric Cantona’s last visit to the ground.
United produced a dominant performance, with Eric Cantona famously celebrating in front of the home fans after scoring in the second half.
Cantona is one of the few players in history who joined Man United directly from Leeds, along with Joe Jordan, Gordon McQueen, Arthur Graham, Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith.
Leeds have also signed several former Man United players over the years, with Gordon Strachan, Lee Sharpe and Brian Greenhoff among the notable ones.