Former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson admits no-one paid attention to Manchester United hero Gary Neville due to his negativity.

Eriksson was appointed as England boss in 2001.

"Gary Neville is a professional moaner in everything," Eriksson told the Italian Football Podcast.

"Beckham told me during one of the first England training sessions, 'Boss, don't listen to him. He was born like that and he'll die like that. But he's a good man and he doesn't really mean what he says'. "

Since retiring from playing in 2011, Neville has since gone on to become one of the leading sports pundits, with Eriksson praising the 46-year-old's approach.

"Neville is very professional in what he is doing," Eriksson added. "But he has to say his opinion always, especially if it is something negative but he was always very, very much respecful of his team-mates and everybody knew how he was and nobody listened to him."