Phil Jones has announced that he has quit from professional football. The former center-back for Manchester United and England also said that he wants to become a coach.

Since September of last year, the 32-year-old has been working as a teacher for the Red Devils’ under-14 and under-18 teams, working with head coach Adam Lawrence.

The defender often showed how versatile he was by playing at full-back or in midfield when needed. He played 229 times for the club over 12 years but was hurt a lot of the time.

Jones was on the team that won the Premier League in 2012–13, the last season managed by the famous Sir Alex Ferguson. He left the club after 27 years and went on to win the Europa League, FA Cup, and League Cup over the next ten years.

That being said, the famous Premier League defender, whose strange way of defending often made fans laugh, has finally retired. He told BBC Radio 5 Live about it during an interview.

“My job ended earlier than I would have liked,” he said.

“The glass is half full for me.” After getting my A license, I want to go out and teach people who are tougher than me.

I want to be in charge of a team one day. I’m set on making it happen.

Jones hasn’t played in a game since the end of the 2021-22 season when he helped his team beat Brentford 3-0.

The defender moved from Blackburn to Old Trafford in 2011. He also played 27 times for his country’s team, three of those games being in big tournaments.

In the 2014 World Cup, England and Costa Rica played to a scoreless draw. In the 2018 World Cup, England lost to Belgium twice, once in the group stage and again in the third-place play-off. 

Soon after the 2023–24 season began, Jones revealed that he had signed up for a PFA global football sports directorship course and was working on his coaching badges, which included the work at United.

He wrote on social media, “Start of a new journey,” and posted a bunch of pictures of himself coaching United youth teams.

“I’m excited to start the global football sports directorship course at the PFA business school and learn more about the game. At the same time, I’m still working hard at the club that gave me so much to get my A license and badges.”

“Can’t wait to begin.”

Last year, people close to United said there were no plans for Jones to become a permanent member of the coaching team.

Old Trafford’s academy works with former players on a daily basis, which gives the young players a chance to work with more experienced ex-players.