Phil Neal

Phil Neal

Neal in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Philip George Neal[1]
Date of birth	(1951-02-20) 20 February 1951 (age 73)[1]
Place of birth	Irchester, Northamptonshire, England[1]
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s)	Full-back[1]
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1968–1974	Northampton Town	187	(28)
1974–1985	Liverpool	455	(41)
1985–1989	Bolton Wanderers	64	(3)
Total		706	(72)
International career
1976–1983	England	50	(5)
Managerial career
1985–1992	Bolton Wanderers
1993–1995	Coventry City
1996	Cardiff City
1996	Manchester City (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Philip George Neal (born 20 February 1951) is an English retired footballer who played for Northampton Town, Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers as a full-back. He is one of the most successful English players of all time,^[3] having won eight First Division titles, four League Cups, five FA Charity Shields, four European Cups, one UEFA Cup and one UEFA Super Cup during his eleven years at Liverpool. He later returned to Bolton Wanderers as manager, leading them to victory in the Football League Trophy before spells managing Coventry City, Cardiff City and Manchester City.

Neal also had a long career with the England national team, winning 50 caps and playing in the 1982 World Cup. He would go on to be England's assistant manager under Graham Taylor.^[4]

Neal's nickname whilst at Liverpool was Zico – a reference to the Brazilian play maker and a compliment to Neal, who was known for scoring important goals throughout the club's history. His son, Ashley Neal, also became a footballer.