Phil Jones hopes to become Manchester United’s Coach One Day; shares his dream in a heartfelt interview
Phil Jones has been a popular name in the football circuit, a player who has worn the Manchester United jersey for over a decade.
As a 19-year-old teenager, Phil was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2011 to join the Manchester United, one of the oldest and most popular sporting clubs in world football.
Soon after his joining, Jones won the Premier League title in just his second year. This by far remains his career’s best moment as a true United fan and player. He won the title in 2012-13 before injuries derailed his career, and now Phil is associated with the United Under-18 group in the capacity of a coach.
He never quite had the luxury of telling his story, the way he would have wanted to. Unfortunately, recurring injuries never allowed the former Blackburn Rovers player to prove his potential and mettle as a football freak.
Since the 2014-15 season, Jones was sidelined for long periods, and his worst injury on the knee saw him being out of action for more than 450 days continuously.
At the prime age of 32, the Englishman retired from his playing career that may have promised professional greatness but left him battling for recovery at regular intervals.
“For young players who suffer injuries early on, it’s difficult, but it has to be the right people around them and the right coaches to help them with those emotions and take them through the journey. Football is full of peaks and drops, so yes, it’s very important.” He shared in his interview with the Hindustan Times, on his recent visit to Chennai.
Jones’ own journey was filled with both. He was touted as England’s next great centre-back, as he had the inherent leadership quality in him, which his coach and many teammates also saw but his body did not.
Recurring bone and muscular issues saw him miss multiple matches at a stretch. He was mocked and often misunderstood but he never stopped trying and his perseverance helped him come out of the difficult period.
“When I finished, I was unsure where I wanted to go. I wanted to be in football, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was,” Jones says. “I was allowed to go back into the club (Manchester United) to work with the U18s and help them out. It’s something I really enjoyed doing.”
Last season, Jones completed his coaching license and later enrolled himself in the prestigious UEFA Pro License course with the Football Association, which is the final step for elite-level coaching in whole of Europe.
Even as he navigates a new chapter in his life post-retirement, Jones remains emotionally connected to his roots with Manchester United. With his former team getting ready for an important Europa League quarterfinal, Jones is hopeful that his team would escape through and make it to the next round.
With United hanging in the 13th spot in the Premier League presently, Phil deeply understands what hope can do for the players in the dressing room. Manchester United has lost his old charm and the stakeholders need to make basic infrastructural changes, so that the attention can be gathered, and the club gets its losing pride back.
Jones, who was in India recently to attend the finals of the third edition of ‘Road to Old Trafford‘ event in Chennai, urged the passionate United fans to stick with the club during these difficult times.
Ever since he decided to don the coaching cap, Phil Jones has been associated with the United Under-18s on a non-contractual basis. He now makes use of this platform to help youngsters realize their dreams and make their careers.
By: Tulika Agarwal
