How Man Utd legend Gary Neville went from Old Trafford to Dragons Den with new £400M skyscraper development
GARY Neville went from dizzying football heights at Manchester United to launching an extraordinarily successful business career.
The 48-year-old, who made 400 appearances for United, retired from football in 2011.
PAGary Neville went from dizzying football heights at Manchester United to launching an extraordinarily successful business career[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationGary Neville is behind the £400 million, five star St Michael’s scheme in Manchester[/caption]
Capped 85 times for England, the defender became a pundit – but he didn’t stop there.
As he enters the Dragon’s Den as an adviser, The Sun takes a look at the footballer-turned-entrepreneur who has carved out an inspiring business empire off the pitch.
Branding his approach to life as “relentless”, Neville has thrown himself full tilt into a wide-range of opportunities.
At one point, this amounted to a whopping 66 businesses.
One of them, unsurprisingly, is an investment firm called ‘Relentless’.
Set up in 2015, it specialises in ventures around the Manchester area.
He left the venture in 2019 and in February sold his controlling stake in the company for a reported fee of £200m.
But he remains heavily involved in Relentless Developments, the body behind the £400 million, five star St Michael’s scheme in Manchester.
When complete, two towers will stand.
The first is £150 million No 1 St Michael’s, which will boast nine floors of office space and global restaurant brand Chotto Matte on the rooftop.
SKYSCRAPER
Two food and drink outlets will reside on the ground floor, BusinessLive reported, and it’s one year from completion.
The £250 million phase two of the scheme is a monster 41-storey tower housing a 162-bed, five-star international hotel.
There will also be 217 residences and an additional 75,000 sq ft of office space.
Speaking of the plans back in July, Gary said: “This is the biggest thing I’ve ever done.
“There are still some hard yards to run on this project but it is a big day.”
But St Michael’s is not the first development project Gary has undertaken, alongside ex-teammate Ryan Giggs, he is also the brains behind the five star Stock Exchange Hotel.
Named after the Manchester Stock Exchange building it is based in, a one night stay can cost up to £1,000-a-night.
GG Hospitality, a second firm set up with Ryan Giggs, is another of Neville’s ventures.
‘EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCES’
Its brands include the Stock Exchange hotel, and haunts Cafe Football and Hotel Football, based next to Man United’s stadium Old Trafford.
The events and catering wing promises to “deliver exceptional experiences” for those wanting to throw a big bash.
Despite building an estimated £20 million personal fortune, the 48-year-old’s business interests do not end there.
He’s also involved with League Two side Salford City, perhaps his most famous investment.
He co-owns it alongside fellow members of the Class of 92′: Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, and David Beckham.
Singaporean Peter Lim, a long-term business partner of Neville, has a majority share in the team.
Gary even has an education institution named University Academy 92 – which offers degree-level courses ranging from accounting to sports and exercise science.
The academy commands annual fees of £9,250 for a three year course.
Opened in September 2019, it has 400 students registered as of August last year.
It offers “broader courses than traditional degrees”.
PA:Press AssociationThe first is £150 million No 1 St Michael’s, which will boast nine floors of office space and global restaurant brand Chotto Matte on the rooftop[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationGary is involved in a number of business opportunities with Ryan Giggs[/caption]
PANeville has entered the Dragon’s Den as an adviser for season 21[/caption]
