The Daily Telegraph has appointed Gary Neville as football columnist.

Neville’s signing will be marked by an interview in Saturday’s paper and on The Telegraph website. His first weekly column will appear on the opening day of the Premier League season this weekend (16-17 August). In addition to sharing his opinion and insight, he will be discussing the key sporting issues with other high-profile figures in a special interview series.

The former Manchester United and England player, who retired from football in 2011, has acted as a coach for England, is co-owner of Salford City, and is a television football pundit.

Neville said: “I am delighted to join The Telegraph. I've got to think of ways of engaging with the readers like no-one has done before. Simple as that. I set myself the highest standard if I do something. What I've got to give them is something that they've not seen before. I want to do pieces that make people think differently. And that's what I'm here to do." 

The newspaper's football team can be tweeting @telefootball.