Ex-Man Utd star Phil Jones lifts lid on heartbreaking moment he ‘wanted world to swallow me up’ and realised career over
FORMER Manchester United defender Phil Jones has opened up about the devastating moment he was forced to accept his career was over.
The ex-England international, 32, announced his retirement from football last month, more than two years after playing the last of his 229 matches for the Red Devils.
He featured just 13 times in his final four years at Old Trafford as injuries forced him to be sidelined for long periods.
Now Jones, who earned 27 England caps, has opened up about his last season at United and the exact point at which his hopes of returning to the pitch were shattered.
Speaking on The High Performance Podcast, he said: “I was really excited, Erik ten Hag had come in, a fresh start, you are out on the grass with your kit on and boots on again.
“I was feeling my knee again a little bit but I thought it has got to go away at some point, it is not just going to stay there forever.
“We were doing a drill around a circuit, you would play the ball, pass it into the net and jog around through the cones in a little warm-up.
“I couldn’t pass the ball with my right foot, a little soft pass, I couldn’t pass the ball. I wanted the world to swallow me up.
“I was thinking this manager has come in and I can’t go in 20 minutes into the session. I got through the session passing the ball with the outside of my left foot.
“I did this turn or sprint and just felt it, and I was like I can’t carry on. At the drinks break I came over to the physio and my words were ‘this is my last training session’.
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Jones' trophy cabinet
1 x Premier League
1 x FA Cup
1 x League Cup
1 x Europa League
“To this day it was my last training session.”
Jones joined Man Utd from Blackburn for £16.5million in 2011 and was tipped by Sir Alex Ferguson to become one of the club’s greats due to his all-round ability.
During his 12 years with the Red Devils, he won the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League.
He confirmed immediately after hanging up his boots that he was keen to get into coaching having already completed his badges.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “My career finished shorter than I would have liked.
“I’m glass half full. I have completed my A licence 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.”
Jones is currently an academy coach at Man Utd’s Carrington training ground.
He has also dipped his toe into punditry and was praised for his contribution to Sky Sports’ broadcast of Man Utd’s draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday.