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Former Manchester United player Phil Jones has announced his retirement from football at the age of 32. Although he was recognized as an exciting player for the future in his early years, Jones didn't reach the heights he might have hoped for.
After two years with Blackburn Rovers, playing 40 games for the club, Sir Alex Ferguson signed him for Manchester United in 2011. The legendary manager had only words of praise for the former defender after he joined the club, expressing at the time (via Mirror):
"I was convinced we had to get him (Jones) after he played against us in the 7-1 game. When they lost the fifth goal, he was the one out there giving them all stick. That impressed me."
However, the impressive qualities the defender showed could hardly be recognized as he struggled with injuries. He played just 229 games for the Red Devils in all competitions since 2011. After 2019, he played just six Premier League games, unable to get back into full form. He eventually left as a free agent last summer and opted to delve into coaching in United's youth teams.
He's now announced his retirement, and he is looking forward to coaching full-time, as he explained in a conversation with the BBC. The former Manchester United defender said (via talkSPORT):
"My career finished shorter than I would have liked. [I'm] glass half full. [I have] completed my A license and I want to get out there and challenge myself in coaching. Ultimately I want to take charge of a team. I am determined to get there."
He further added:
"I did everything I could [to return to playing] but with so many rehabs I was coming back from, it has an effect on you and your family."
After regular injuries throughout his career, Phil Jones notably had a serious knee injury that kept him out of contention for 454 days. It spanned from June 2020 to September 2021, and he never truly found his place in the Manchester United starting lineup after that point.
Manchester United defender Phil Jones had only 27 caps for England
It was hardly any surprise when Phil Jones was called up to the England squad by Fabio Capello after his move to Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson. Jones was seen as an exciting defensive prodigy, but he was unable to impress regularly for the Three Lions, mostly due to injury.
Aside from 17 friendlies for England, he did little else, failing to make a single appearance in any edition of the Euros. However, he did play in five European qualifiers and two World Cup qualifiers.
He participated in the 2018 FIFA World Cup as well, playing two full matches and helping the Three Lions reach the third-place play-offs. He also made a single appearance in the 2014 World Cup, as England crashed out of the tournament in the group stage.
