Gary Neville is best known for his football skills, so it’s no wonder people were surprised when he made a guest appearance on the Dragons’ Den panel.
In this series, the dragons join forces with Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Sara Davies, Steven Bartlett and Touker Suleyman as one of them. Although he is widely known as a football player, Neville has proven himself in the business world over the years.
On joining Dragons’ Den, Neville said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Dragons’ Den, even if it’s for a very short period of time on a temporary contract. I’m used to being the interim coach. I’m going to be a coach of character, personality, motivation, determination, hard work and a “To give you everything you could want in a team player.”
Football pundit Neville previously told Dragon Stephen Bartlett while appearing on podcast Diary of a CEO in 2022 that the word entrepreneur “gives me a little goosebumps”. But the former footballer has built a portfolio of work that has earned him a place in the position. study room.
We take a look at some of their business successes…
real estate development
Neville entered the world of property development when he was 21, but he remains just as passionate about it even now. He was a player for Manchester United at the time, so he kept this a secret from football boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who notoriously wanted all his players to focus solely on sport – something David Beckham also talked about in his latest Netflix docuseries Beckham.
In an earlier interview, Neville told the BBC in 2018: “He would see it as a distraction.” The football legend, who went to great lengths to keep it secret, recalled making secret calls in the shower to prevent Ferguson from hearing. “I accepted that I needed to rest physically, but I needed mental stimulation,” he explained why he pursued property development while playing as a football player.
Neville’s latest property developments include the £200 million St Michael’s development in Manchester.
Ruthless
In 2011, Neville announced his retirement from football. Just a few years later, in 2015, he would launch his Relentless investment business. Neville said the word relentless sums up his own personal approach to life and business. Wanting to make his mark on the world as much more than a football player, he said: “I didn’t want to be known just as a former Manchester United player and I didn’t want to think that my days of success, the days of achieving things, would be like that, they were over.”
GG Hospitality
In 2013, Neville teamed up with former Manchester United teammate Ryan Giggs to establish GG Hospitality. For all his experience traveling the world, the former footballer had a vision and had his heart set on bringing world-class concepts to his hometown of Manchester. It was this feeling that encouraged him to establish GG Hospitality.
Hotel Football
Football friends Neville and Giggs opened the doors of the luxury Hotel Football on Sir Matt Busby’s road in 2015, with impressive views of Old Trafford, one of the most famous stadiums in the world. It remains one of the few hotels in the world with a five-a-side pitch on its roof.
Neville shed light on how he achieved goals in 2017’s Hotel Football. He told The Caterer: “We wanted to prove ourselves as hospitality operators and I think we did that. “We stayed away from corporate brands and it was the right decision.
“We’ve made it more personal by establishing our own management company. The hotel’s football references are subtle, not in your face. We welcome families, business people and football fans for matchday experiences.”
Exchange
Caught up in the bug of creating luxury hotels, Neville and Giggs had a new project in mind. II on Norfolk Street in 2019. They opened the Stock Exchange hotel, a 40-room five-star boutique hotel located in a Grade II-listed building.
It offers private suites, a penthouse and event spaces for businesses. It is a building steeped in history as the Manchester Stock Exchange first opened its doors in 1906 and its last trading took place in 1979.
The Man Behind the Curtain
Food and drink enthusiast Neville was so impressed by his first experience at Michael O’Hare’s restaurant The Man Behind the Curtain in Leeds that he wrote an investment proposal on the back of his receipt. The former football player invested in the restaurant in 2016.
By then the restaurant had been successful for two years and first opened its doors to customers in 2014. He had left a huge mark on the food and beverage industry, earning three AA Rosettes as well as a Michelin star within a year. Michelin chef O’Hare was appointed Creative Director of GG Hospitality in 2016.
Salford City F.C.
Elsewhere, the Class of 92 – Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville – bought a stake in non-league football club Salford City FC in March 2014. Fast forward ten years and this is now a Second Division Club.
Neville explained why Salford FC is important to him as he buys a stake in the club. “I made my debut for Manchester United at Salford when I was 11 and I will never forget how much that meant to me,” he said in 2014. “Salford City FC represents those early years for me – the commitment, the hunger, the enthusiasm, the desire and the dedication. “It’s the spirit of football and I’m very excited.”
Businessman Gary Neville’s Dragons’ Den experience
And for all his wealth of experience in the business world, Neville admitted he wasn’t prepared for the length of the pitches on Dragons’ Den. About taking part in the BBC programme, Neville told The Mirror: “The thing that really stood out for me was the length of the pitches. “It really was an endurance test; the amount of concentration required was something I hadn’t considered before.
“I think it’s becoming more and more normal for the younger generation in particular to want to change career paths, and I think it’s important to have agility and flexibility in life. But it’s also important to be bold and bold enough to do that, which means you’re inherently brave and take risks.”
Neville also shared an insight into how dragons have close ties off-screen, too. He explained that the dragons would dine together after each day of shooting. He added: “They had built this incredible team spirit together. I knew they would get along like people on TV shows, but I didn’t expect it to be such a close team.”
What did TV bosses say?
TV bosses explained why they decided to cast Neville and Good American chief executive Emma Grede as guest dragons on the programme. BBC Studios Executive Producer Samantha Davies said: “It’s hugely exciting to bring a fresh, new dynamic to the Den through Guest Dragons in our 21st series.”
He added: “Gary and Emma are both masters in their field and it will be great to see their different styles and perspectives on the business. But our current Dragons won’t just sit back and let them grab all the best opportunities so viewers can enjoy their usual time on the Den.” They can expect competition and arrogance.”
Sarah Clay, BBC Commissioning Editor, says: “Viewers have so much to look forward to in series 21, with the first Guest Dragons, a new group of brave entrepreneurs and, as always, five formidable Dragons. It’s great to see. Each new season is full of inspiration and surprises.” “How popular the series continues to be with viewers.”