Gary Neville recently opened up about just how modest his first contract was with Manchester United back when Sir Alex Ferguson was at the helm. You know, the legendary right back joined the Red Devils as a young apprentice right after finishing school at just 16. Over the years, he racked up an impressive 602 senior appearances, making him the fifth most capped player in the club’s history. He made his first team debut back in September 1992. By the 1994-95 season, his hard work and no-nonsense professionalism had earned him the starting right back position. The rest, as they say, is history! But before all that success, Neville had to sign a pretty humble first professional contract, just like every other academy player hoping to make it big. He shared on the Stick to Football podcast, sponsored by Sky Bet, that he and eight other players were handed the same deal when they first came on board. "At Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson gave us all the same [first professional] contract. It was all the same," Neville recalled. He went on to explain the specifics: "He gave us a £4,000 signing on fee, £210 a week in the first year, then it went up to £230 in the second year, £250 in the third, and finally £270 in the fourth year." And get this: "We all got a Honda Prelude, and we all had the same contract – there were eight of us in total." Neville wisely decided to use that first paycheck to jump onto the property ladder. His first home cost him £160,000, and he had to put down a 10% deposit. "Honestly, your own house is the best investment you could make," he said. "When I got that money with my first contract at United, buying a house felt like a huge step. I mean, it was a £160,000 place, and I put down £16,000 as a deposit. At the time, it felt like a big risk." He added, "So there you are, saving up for this signing on fee, and then you think, ‘Okay, I’m putting it into a house, but I’ve got to manage the mortgage for four years.’" It's wild to think about how those early decisions set the foundation for his future!
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