By Andreas Vou (@AndreasVou89)

After a long list of potential candidates to take over the Valencia job had been doing the rounds in the Spanish press, the man eventually chosen for the job came as a big surprise.

Gary Neville may have a massive reputation in the UK for his overwhelming success as a Manchester United player as well as his recent years as an insightful television pundit but, in Valencia, he arrives as an obscure figure with a lot to prove. 

As Nuno Espirito Santo began to lose grip of the side he guided to fourth place last season, possible candidates to replace him emerged, and there were some big names mentioned. Those heading the list were former FC Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard and ex-Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup, while even Jose Mourinho’s name was mentioned.

Any link with the latter may have seem farfetched initially but his agent, of course, is no other than Jorge Mendes, who has been the middleman for almost all of Valencia’s signings since Peter Lim bought the club last season, including the outgoing manager. 

His overall influence in the club is far too great in the eyes of the Valencia fans and therefore the appointment of a non-Mendes client is one of the positives of the Englishman being handed the job.

A major concern is that, other than his role as assistant manager of the England national team, Neville has no previous experience in management, as too is his inability to speak the language.

So why would Valencia choose Neville of all people? While Mendes, surprisingly, had no part to play in this decision, club owner Lim’s close relationship with the former England defender did. The two are business partners in Manchester-based football club Salford City, with Lim owning 50 per cent of the club while Neville owns 10, as does his brother Phil who was made Valencia’s assistant manager in the summer.

Lim is a far more business-minded man than a footballing one and his close professional relationship with Neville is undoubtedly the main reason behind his appointment.

How and why Neville got the job is one thing, staying is a different matter. Signed on a six-month deal, it remains unclear whether he is in it for the long-haul or if he has been ushered in as a stepping stone before appointing a huge name further down the line.

Of course, that all depends on what kind of an impact he has and, at Valencia, it usually needs to be an instant one. In order to do so, Neville will have to override some sizeable challenges.

British managers in La Liga have become a rarity but the most recent one must serve as an example for the 40-year-old. David Moyes took over at Real Sociedad last year yet did not last less 12 months in the job. While not the only reason for his eventual downfall, the Scotsman’s disinterest in learning the language proved to be a major stumbling block in his ability to communicate with the dressing room, which he soon lost. 

Gary’s brother Phil has shown a different attitude since his arrival in the summer; his desire more than his proficiency in Spanish has made him a popular figure within the club. Gary, clearly aware of this important factor, signaled his intentions in his press conference.

"Spanish is going to be the biggest challenge. I will take lessons every day”, before praising his brother’s language skill. “Phil's Spanish is fantastic for communicating with the players, I have to show that same level of commitment.”

A club which was at the summit of Spanish football, and so nearly Europe, at the beginning of the century has since endured a rollercoaster of emotions, and the supporters are craving some sustained success.

"The Valencia fans are known as demanding but they should be - it's a fantastic football club and it's up to us coaches and players to meet their demands," he noted in his first talk with the Valencian press.

Neville has a way with words, as demonstrated in recent years as a TV pundit in England, but rhetoric will be irrelevant once he takes over first team responsibilities. 

It all starts with a crucial Champions League game in front of those fans against Lyon on Wednesday, where a win is a must in order to progress to the knockout phase from which the first judgments of their new boss will be made. 

An unproven manager may not have been what the fans were after, but their response to the team’s gutsy 1-1 draw against Barça on Saturday gave Neville a clear indication of what is required to win them over.

Neville is known for his passion and work-rate, and if he can transmit those principles across to his talented squad, those doubts about his credentials could quickly change.