SAD END for Phil Jones as forgotten Man Utd man finally confirms he will be Leaving Manchester United to join this club after Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to terminate his contract
The defender left United on a free transfer last year after a 12-year stint with the club and has spent the past year coaching the Under-18s. At 32, he announced on BBC Radio 5 Live on Saturday that his playing career has come to an end.
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The 27-time England international moved to United from Blackburn at 19 and was a regular starter under Sir Alex Ferguson. However, injuries reduced his appearances with the Red Devils. He played only 18 Premier League matches in the 2018-19 season and just two the following year. He was sidelined for the entire 2020-21 season and had a minimal role the next year. His last professional match was a brief appearance in a 3-0 win over Brentford in May 2022.
Jones’s Comments
“My career ended sooner than I had hoped,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “It’s definitely disappointing, but I’m choosing to see it positively. Last season, I completed my A-licence and spent some time coaching the Under-18s, which was very rewarding. I enjoyed it a lot. I’m eager to return to the field in a new capacity. I aim to pursue a coaching career and eventually lead a team. I understand the necessary steps and am both ready and motivated to achieve that.” The defender you are referring to is Phil Jones. After a 12-year career at Manchester United, Jones left the club on a free transfer last year and spent the past season coaching the club’s Under-18s. At 32, he announced his retirement from professional football on BBC Radio 5 Live, sharing his desire to pursue a career in coaching.
Phil Jones moved to Manchester United from Blackburn Rovers at the age of 19 and became a regular starter under Sir Alex Ferguson. However, injuries severely impacted his career, limiting his appearances in his later years with the club. His last professional match came in May 2022, in a 3-0 victory over Brentford. Despite the premature end to his playing days, Jones is optimistic about his future in coaching and is eager to eventually manage a team.