Phil Jones is a former English professional football player who spent most of his career playing for Manchester United. Jones was considered one of the brightest prospects in English football when he signed for Manchester United in 2011. He was a versatile defender known for his physicality, aerial ability, and versatility. However, his career was plagued by injuries, leading to him being sidelined for long periods. This article will look at Phil Jones’ career and his injury problems.
The Early Years and Move to Manchester United
Phil Jones was born on February 21, 1992, in Preston, England. He began his football career at the Blackburn Rovers academy, where he quickly made an impression with his defensive skills. He made his professional debut for Blackburn in 2009 at 17 and quickly established himself as a regular in the team.
In June 2011, Jones was signed by Manchester United for a transfer fee of £16.5 million. The versatile defender was highly rated and was expected to be a long-term solution to Manchester United’s defensive woes.
A career at Manchester United
Jones began his Manchester United career brightly and was quickly established as a regular in the team. He played a crucial role in Manchester United’s title-winning campaign in 2012-13, forming a solid partnership with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at the heart of the defence.
Over the years, Jones played in various defensive positions for Manchester United. He was used as a right-back, centre-back, and defensive midfielder. Despite his versatility, Jones was never able to establish himself as a regular in the team due to his persistent injury problems.
Injuries
Jones’s career at Manchester United was hampered by a series of injuries that kept him out of action for long periods. His first significant injury came in 2013 when he suffered a concussion during a training session. Later that year, he suffered a knee injury that ruled him out for two months.
Jones experienced another knee injury in 2015, which sidelined him for six months. He returned to the team, only to suffer another knee injury the following season, which kept him out of action for three months.
Jones’ injury problems continued to plague him, and he could not play more than ten games in a season from 2017 to 2021. In January 2021, he underwent surgery to correct a persistent knee problem, which was expected to keep him out of action for a few months.
Retirement
On February 2, 2022, Phil Jones announced his retirement from professional football. In a statement released by Manchester United, Jones thanked the club and its fans for their support throughout his career. He cited his persistent injury problems as the reason for his retirement, stating that he could no longer perform at the level required for top-level football.
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