Manchester United legend Gary Neville has named the one former teammate who was underrated in his eyes, despite Roy Keane believing that he was world class.
Gary Neville spent his entire remarkable playing career at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson after breaking into the club’s first team in the 1990s.
The former Manchester United defender was one of the famed ‘Class of ‘92’ members who enjoyed incredible success at the Red Devils.
Neville made a whopping 599 senior appearances for United during a prolific spell at Old Trafford and was also club captain after Roy Keane’s departure in 2005.
The 49-year-old lifted eight Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, three FA Cups and three League Cups under United legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
Neville called it time on his illustrious playing career in 2011 before going on to establish himself as a leading face in punditry for Sky Sports.
Neville names most underrated player
Gary Neville shared the pitch with a roster of talent at Old Trafford, including Manchester United legends Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, the former England and United right-back felt that club legend Denis Irwin was the most underrated player he played alongside.
Signed from Oldham Athletic in 1990, Denis Irwin is widely regarded as one of the best left-backs in United’s history after a remarkable spell at Old Trafford.
The 58-year-old Irishman excelled as a left-back at United and Irwin was capable of playing on either flank as a full-back.
Irwin was also proficient from free-kicks and penalties, with Sir Alex Ferguson even once claiming that he would be the only “certainty” in his all-time United XI.
Speaking on the United legend, Neville told The Overlap’s newsletter: “Denis Irwin. Not because people don’t think he’s good, it’s just they don’t realise how great he was.”
What did Keane say about Irwin?
Denis Irwin lifted seven Premier League titles, a Champions League, a European Cup Winners’ Cup, two FA Cups and a League Cup during his legendary spell at United.
The former Republic of Ireland international, who left Old Trafford in 2002 and signed for Wolves, played alongside Roy Keane for both club and country.
Keane has spoken highly of fellow Cork native Irwin and claimed the criminally underrated ex-United left-back was a world-class player for him.
“My God, imagine if Denis Irwin was playing now,” he told Sky Sports in 2019.
“He could play left-back, right-back, get you a goal, knew how to defend, never injured, a brilliant guy in the dressing room.
“Denis would be world class to me – and he’s a Corkman!”