Phil Jones: I want to take back the narrative of my Manchester United career

Over 200 Premier League appearances, 27 England caps, a top-flight champion with Manchester United and the owner of winners’ medals in the FA Cup and Europa League. Phil Jones’ career should be commended. Instead, he became the butt of too many jokes in the latter years of his playing days.

When he retired from professional football earlier this year, Jones barely made the announcement public. In fact, it only came to light because he was asked on a live on the radio about his playing status. It was in keeping with Jones’ approach to dealing with the public eye in the final chapters of his career, which were sadly blighted by injury.

He even turned down a testimonial as his time with United came to a close in 2023. After eight appearances in the final three season, Jones wanted a muted farewell.

But as he approaches the next stage of his working life, Jones is punching back. He recently spoke of his pride when reflecting on his achievements as a player, in response to a fan who claimed it was a ‘shame’ about his career.

“That was me standing up for myself and having respect for myself, saying, ‘No, this stops now.’ I’ll tell you how my career went,” he told the High Performance podcast.

After a career that ended largely in the shadows, Jones is now embracing a more extrovert persona. On Wednesday, he was among a number of celebrities to attend the CUPRA Pro Am Padel Tour 2024 in Manchester. The 32-year-old was gregarious, laughing and joking with fellow former professionals, social media influencers, padel players and even a few journalists who mingled at the edges. He took time to chat to Manchester World in between games and reflected on a career in football that most could only dream of.

“The biggest thing I'll say is that when you play football, it's hard to have a voice,” he explained. “It's difficult for players. I think that's why sometimes there's a bit of a fractious relationship between journalists and players because you want answers but we can't give them.

“So I wanted to take the narrative of what I thought I had in my career. It was difficult the way it finished; it wasn't the way I wanted it to end. It was difficult with my knee and I struggled for many years with my knee towards the end and battled right to the end. 

“I'm proud of my career, proud of what I did. When I was a little boy, I could only dream about what I've done.”

It was over a year between Jones leaving United and his first public appearances, when he began to reshape the perspective of his playing days. First it was a podcast appearance, then a guest speaker on BBC 5 Live, before a first-person piece on the broadcaster’s website.

Now’s he becoming a regular face on comfy pundit chairs and recently spoke to Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel. But why did it take the best part of 15 months to hear from him after calling time on his stint at Old Trafford?

“I needed time. I knew the last couple of years I was really struggling, so it's hard to deal with mentally and physically, especially with a family. But no violins, football is football and people pick up injuries.

“I had a great career and I loved every minute of it, and hopefully now I can pave myself a career for another future in coaching and management.”

Jones’ route to management has already started. Having completed his A Licence, the ex-United man is pencilled in for his Pro Licence in the new year and has experience working with United’s Under-18s. “I love coaching. I love being on the grass with the young lads. That's my ambition.

“Ultimately, I want to go into management. I think that I've played under a lot of good managers, and I'd like to think that I've taken a little bit from all those managers and players I've played with. You never know, and I am going to give it a good crack.”

In the meantime, Jones should be able to squeeze in a few more games of padel, the country’s fastest growing sport. Jones joined the likes of Adam Peaty, Jill Scott and Katie Zelem in Manchester city centre on Wednesday, with celebrities paired alongside professional players in a light-hearted but completive tournament.

“It’s everywhere now. It’s a good sport,” he said, after losing to Joleon Lescott and his partner. “He’s done me with two no-look shots!”

“It’s more technical,” Jones added. “I played tennis a lot and it’s less about what wanting to smash it, more taking the pace off the ball and slicing. It takes some getting used to. There’s more technical and tactical that goes on. “

CUPRA is the proud sponsor of the Pro Am Padel Tour 2024. For more information visitwww.cupraofficial.co.uk.