Gary Neville presented as new Valencia first team coach

Top Spanish football club Valencia on Thursday presented Gary Neville as their new first team coach.

The former Manchester United and England defender, who is the assistant to England coach, Roy Hodgson, will take over first team duties at Valencia's Mestalla Stadium until the end of the current season following the resignation of Nuno Espiritu Santo on Sunday.

Although he has no experience as a first team coach, Neville is experienced in the game as a result of his time at Manchester United, where he had a great teacher in Sir Alex Ferguson, and England where as well as working with the national team, he is also a highly respected TV commentator.

"I've been sitting in a TV studio for the last years talking about coaches, now I have to stand up," he said explaining his decision to swap a studio for the stadium.

Although he only has a deal to the end of the season, Neville said his family would be moving over in the New Year as "the only way to approach any football job is to think of it as permanent job. Decisions will be long-term, not just 6 months,"

He said he was pleased with the quality of the squad but added that "confidence was an issue ... that is something that happens at all club," and also confessed that if it were a Spanish coach going to work in England, he would be skeptical.

"I have to prove to Valencia fans that I can do this job and doubts, reservations and concerns will only be removed by winning matches," he admitted.

Gary's younger brother Phillip Neville was Nuno's assistant coach and he will now work alongside his brother.

"I don't see any problems with that: if Phil wasn't here, I'd want him here. He's diligent, hard working and talented," he said of his brother.

Valencia face FC Barcelona on Saturday but Gary will debut in the dugout next week for Valencia's must win Champions League tie at home to Olympique Lyon. Endit