GEOFF SHREEVES has taken credit for bringing Gary Neville to Sky Sports.
The Manchester United legend, 48, hung up his boots in February 2011 after 602 appearances for his boyhood club.
PA:Empics SportGeoff Shreeves takes credit for bringing Gary Neville to Sky Sports[/caption]
PAThe 48-year-old has become one of Sky’s leading pundits[/caption]
He joined Sky Sports ahead of the following season, replacing Andy Gray as their top analyst.
Neville has gone on to become one of the most influential voices in British punditry and regularly co-commentates on Sky’s biggest Premier League matches.
His former colleague Shreeves claims to have brought the former right-back to the broadcaster.
Speaking to Lucky Block, Shreeves said: “Gary always credits me for taking him to Sky.
“It was part of my role in the old days because I wasn’t just a reporter. So the public can either thank me or blame me. Some people will be on either side of the fence there.
“Honestly, he’s a force of nature. I don’t know anybody like him.”
Neville engages in plenty of ventures outside of his Sky Sports punditry.
He launched GG Hospitality alongside Ryan Giggs in 2013.
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The former England star also launched his “The Overlap” YouTube channel, posting a series of exclusive interviews with top footballers including Harry Kane and Virgil van Dijk.
While he also takes part in his weekly “Stick to Football” show alongside Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright and Jill Scott.
Neville has coached with England and Valencia, while earlier this year he joined Dragons Den.
On his former colleague’s work ethic, Shreeves added: “I honestly don’t think he actually goes to sleep at night. He reboots like a computer.
“He doesn’t understand holidays, does he? Or weekends, he’s just constantly on it.
“He is relentless and I often get a text or an email from him at four in the morning.”
Shreeves joined Sky Sports upon its launch in 1992 but left last year after more than 30 years of service amid the broadcaster’s cost-cutting efforts.
He was reportedly offered a new contract on reduced terms, but opted to leave the company last June.
In October he joined CBS Sports, who provide football coverage in the US.
GettyGeoff Shreeves left Sky Sports after more than 30 years last year[/caption]