Gary Neville’s ‘hardest ever’ Premier League opponent served two-year soccer ban

Gary Neville was once asked to name his toughest ever Premier League opponent – and his answer served a two-year footballing ban after hanging up his boots

Gary Neville’s toughest ever Premier League opponent served a two-year footballing ban.

The Manchester United icon was once asked to name which Prem star caused him the most problems. And his answer was quick: Arsenal’s Marc Overmars (who turned 52 on Saturday).

Neville explained: “Directly for all the battles against Arsenal over the years, I have to say (Marc) Overmars. Those battles for four or five years were a massive problem.

“Particularly at Old Trafford, massive pitch, (Emmanuel) Petit dropping in – we saw Petit last week at Crystal Palace, I said to him ‘you kept dropping that ball, just drifting it over my head’ and he’d just be darting inside.”

Overmars was an icon at the Gunners, and he won the Premier League and FA Cup double in 1997/98. It was that season he opened up the scoring at Old Trafford after putting on the burners past Neville.

Overmars scored Arsenal’s winning goal at Old Trafford that season, outpacing Gary Neville in the process before tucking the ball past Peter Schmeichel for the only goal of the game.

After hanging up his boots, Overmars moved into the boardroom with Ajax – who he had turned out for between 1992 and 1997.

Overmars quit his role at Ajax in February 2022, admitting to “unacceptable” behaviour after it emerged within the club that he had sent inappropriate messages and photographs to several women who worked there.

And after an investigation, Overmars was banned from any position in Dutch football for two years over the incidents, with one year suspended. The KNVB then asked Fifa to turn the domestic suspension into a global one.

“We have a duty to report this sanction to Fifa’s disciplinary committee … which has decided to take over the suspension as of 16 November 2023.” the KNVB said.