Manchester United icons Giggs and Neville set to buy synagogue

Long-time teammates on English football powerhouse have gone into development business and Manchester shul is next project, 'Jewish Chronicle' reports.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Former Manchester United running mates Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs plan to buy and develop an iconic synagogue in the northern English city, according to The Jewish Chronicle.
The Manchester Reform Synagogue is adjacent to an abandoned police station which the pair are set to buy and develop.
According to The Jewish Chronicle, Neville and Giggs, who have gone into business together opening hotels and restaurants around the world, will follow a 2007 plan to demolish the existing shul and build in its place a new synagogue and community center complex.
A synagogue at the site in Manchester city-center was destroyed by German planes during WWII and the current building was subsequently rebuilt on Jackson's Row in 1952.
Synagogue president Danny Savage told the Chronicle that he had been in contact with a "very keen" Neville in regard to the development plans.
"Our aim is to deliver a Jewish community center and a synagogue fit for the current generation. Our uniqueness as the only city-center synagogue make it more inclusive a community, predominantly for the Jewish community. Our hope is that it will include meeting spaces, which have been given a lot of thought,” the Chronicle quoted Savage as saying.
Giggs and Neville played together for Manchester United for nearly 20 years prior to Neville's retirement in 2011. He has since gone into football punditry in the UK.
Giggs continues to play for Manchester United, where he made his debut during the 1990-1991 season.