Phil Jones reflects on Man United career after retirement, Harry Maguire offers supportive message

Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones has reflected on his career openly during a recent podcast appearance.

Jones, 32, was forced to retire from playing football due to an accumulation of injuries throughout his career.

Signed from Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2011, Jones would pick up silverware in his very first game with United coming from behind to beat Manchester City 3-2 in the Community Shield.

Jones’ abilities were so impressive that following the Red Devils’ 2013 Premier League glories, then-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson would declare that Jones could be “our best ever player.”

Broadcasting his retirement in August of this year, Jones’ announcement led many to speculate about the legacy he could have had if injuries had not denied him a lengthier spell at the top.

Spending over ten years at the club, Jones’ career would still hit a series of highs including an impressive trophy cabinet.

Jones, who is now targeting a full-time coaching role, looked back on his time as a player, dispelling the idea that he had anything less than a great career.

“Someone said to me, ‘Oh, it’s a shame about your career, Phil, but it’s lovely to meet you’… I said, you what?” Jones explained on the High Performance podcast.

“What do you mean, mate. I’ve been at United for 10 years, won the Premier League, played over 200 games for United, played in two World Cups, won the Europa League and FA Cup.

“And you’re trying to turn around to me and say, ‘shame about your career’ like no mate, it doesn’t work like that.

“That was me standing up for myself and having respect for myself, that… ‘no, this stops now.’ Like, I’ll tell you how my career went.

“Of course I would’ve liked to play more, but I’ve lived the dream. 99% of people would snap their right hand off now for their kids to come through and have the career I had.”

A video posted by High Performance of Jones’ appearance on the show has drawn over 630 thousand views on Instagram, with many, including current United defender Harry Maguire, leaving comments of support.

Writing from his social media account, Maguire would say of Jones, “Top man. Top player.”

Phil Jones made 229 appearances for United, the 99th most of any player in Red Devils history. During his time with the club, he won five major honours.

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