PHIL JONES felt the harsh reality when he had to leave the WhatsApp groups.
That is when it really dawned on him that his playing career for Manchester United and England had come to an end. It was so brutal at first he could not even watch a game of football.
Jones, now 33 and hoping to move into a managerial career, went to two World Cups, won a Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League during 12 injury-ravaged years at Old Trafford.
But the joy of playing and determination to win never left him and that was why it was so tough when he had to say goodbye to team-mates after finally announcing his retirement last summer.
Jones said: "Believe it or not, it was quite emotional, the most simple thing. You’ve been on the WhatsApp for years and banter and you're sending people pictures and all sorts. You press guys would have a field day!
"I remember sitting in the bedroom going, ‘Lads, it’s been a pleasure and blah, blah, blah. Some I have played with a lot, some I have only just met, but it’s been an absolute pleasure. I wish you all the best and I'll be your biggest supporters’. It was a tough moment. Then you take yourself off. I mean it's Phil Jones has left. You've got to give yourself 10 minutes after you do it just to see the responses.
"Do you know what? I gave it a minute and there was no response to that. 'God, no one cares'. But that's it. It's football. Things move so quick and people come in. I played with people for six years, I'll never see them again. I'll never speak to them.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583504377/1742433353/articles/zbRDjalHPAt2mgpFkpsys/6413424767.jpg]
"It was tough. I couldn't watch a game of football. I've never been that guy. I consider myself to be very humble and I've not changed since I was a kid. But to watch a game of football straight after, I would look at games and think, 'I can do that.
I'm better than that'.
"I found myself getting bitter towards the game and that's not who I was, but I needed that time to reflect and come to terms with what happened and how it happened. I look back now, I'm in a great place. I know exactly what I want to do, where I want to be." That place is on the road to being a manager. He is taking his UEFAĂ Pro Licence exam and has already done some coaching at United's academy.
Jones knows what it takes to have to shoulder high expectations. Sir Alex Ferguson famously said he could be one of United's all-time greats. Sir Bobby Charlton, left, ...
That is when it really dawned on him that his playing career for Manchester United and England had come to an end. It was so brutal at first he could not even watch a game of football.
Jones, now 33 and hoping to move into a managerial career, went to two World Cups, won a Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League during 12 injury-ravaged years at Old Trafford.
But the joy of playing and determination to win never left him and that was why it was so tough when he had to say goodbye to team-mates after finally announcing his retirement last summer.
Jones said: "Believe it or not, it was quite emotional, the most simple thing. You’ve been on the WhatsApp for years and banter and you're sending people pictures and all sorts. You press guys would have a field day!
"I remember sitting in the bedroom going, ‘Lads, it’s been a pleasure and blah, blah, blah. Some I have played with a lot, some I have only just met, but it’s been an absolute pleasure. I wish you all the best and I'll be your biggest supporters’. It was a tough moment. Then you take yourself off. I mean it's Phil Jones has left. You've got to give yourself 10 minutes after you do it just to see the responses.
"Do you know what? I gave it a minute and there was no response to that. 'God, no one cares'. But that's it. It's football. Things move so quick and people come in. I played with people for six years, I'll never see them again. I'll never speak to them.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583504377/1742433353/articles/zbRDjalHPAt2mgpFkpsys/6413424767.jpg]
"It was tough. I couldn't watch a game of football. I've never been that guy. I consider myself to be very humble and I've not changed since I was a kid. But to watch a game of football straight after, I would look at games and think, 'I can do that.
I'm better than that'.
"I found myself getting bitter towards the game and that's not who I was, but I needed that time to reflect and come to terms with what happened and how it happened. I look back now, I'm in a great place. I know exactly what I want to do, where I want to be." That place is on the road to being a manager. He is taking his UEFAĂ Pro Licence exam and has already done some coaching at United's academy.
Jones knows what it takes to have to shoulder high expectations. Sir Alex Ferguson famously said he could be one of United's all-time greats. Sir Bobby Charlton, left, ...
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Daily Express (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 20, 2025