He was only briefly a regular first-choice player for the side, as a left-back in 2000 under Kevin Keegan's management.
Keegan played Neville at left-back in Euro 2000; Neville received criticism and a large proportion of blame for England's exit, when he committed a late foul on Viorel Moldovan, leading to a penalty for Romania, which Ionel Ganea scored to win the match.