Gary Neville will take his first steps in management at Valencia after being named head coach for the remainder of the season.

Since the former Manchester United and England defender retired during the 2010/11 season, the 40-year-old has become an acclaimed pundit with Sky Sports and worked as a coach under national team manager Roy Hodgson.

Now Neville will try his hand at management in Spain, having been given the reins at Primera Division outfit Valencia until the end of the season.

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“Valencia have reached an agreement with English coach Gary Neville for him to be coach of the first team until June 30, 2016,” the club said in a statement.

“Neville will officially begin his work on Sunday, December 6 ahead of the Champions League match against Lyon which will take place at Mestalla on Wednesday, December 9.”

Neville’s brother Phil has been at the club since the start of the season, working as an assistant to Nuno Espirito Santo before he left the club after a poor run of results on Sunday.

“I am very excited and feel very proud to have received this great opportunity with Valencia,” Neville told the club’s website.

“It is a huge club of immense prestige and I remember well from my time as a player the great passion and loyalty of their fans.”

Los Che have been without a coach since Nuno quit following Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Sevilla – a decision the Portuguese informed owner Peter Lim of prior to kick-off.

The Singaporean businessman also owns a 50 per cent stake in Salford City, with the rest split between Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and the Neville brothers.

Neville will continue in his role as England coach, with Hodgson saying: “I’m delighted that Gary has decided to take this excellent opportunity.”