'Red Nev' has never been afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve, and his career has been peppered with gestures and outbursts which perhaps come from the heart rather than any strategic long-term planning.

Gary Neville has announced his retirement from the game with immediate effect.

The Good

Wayne Rooney was relieved to be welcomed back to the pitch by Manchester United fans at the weekend but admits he was nervous about their reaction.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis believes his proposed referee league table is a constructive solution to potential problems - but now intends to leave officials alone.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been installed as the new manager of Molde, severing a 14-year tie with Manchester United.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis has hit out at the "abysmal" and "appalling" decisions he feels have been made against his side by referees recently and called for officials to be promoted and relegated.

Gary Neville believes Wayne Rooney's decision to stay at Manchester United was "the best outcome for all parties" and is confident the club's fans will soon forgive the England striker for questioning the Red Devils' ambition.

He is almost certainly the last of a breed, in more ways than one. It seems inconceivable that any player in future could emulate Ryan Giggs in playing for 20 years at one of the country's top clubs, let alone winning 11 Premier League titles. While too modest to admit it could never happen, he agrees that what we will certainly never see again is the emergence of a whole clutch of mainly local lads like the second wave of Manchester United babes ("Fergie's fledglings" was just too contrived a title) who made their name in the club's youth teams of the early Nineties.

Edwin van der Sar is ready to retire at the end of the season, according to Manchester United's goalkeeping coach Eric Steele.

Manchester United captain Gary Neville admits even bitter rivals Liverpool command more respect from him than certain clubs "who throw a load of money" at success.

The Manchester United captain Gary Neville has hinted that he has more respect for Liverpool – a club with whom he has waged a one-man civil war for years – than Manchester City, declaring yesterday that he could at least find "respect" for Anfield's "sense of their tradition and their history".

Nemanja Vidic has signed a four-year contract extension with Manchester United.

Manchester United captain Gary Neville accepts England sorely underperformed at the World Cup but has called on the Football Association to back Fabio Capello.