Phil Jones, a former Manchester United player, made the decision to leave the club after just 20 minutes in his first training session under Erik ten Hag. Jones, who had spent 12 years at Old Trafford, had returned to full fitness after a long-term knee injury, eager to get back to playing in the 2022/23 season. However, his optimism quickly faded following a challenging session that left him with no doubt about his future in the game.
Jones explained that the first day of training under Ten Hag was meant to be a fresh start. He was eager to get back on the pitch, having spent a long period recovering from his knee injury. But during the warm-up, which involved passing drills and a simple circuit of jogging around cones, he realized that he was no longer physically capable of performing at the level required. Despite his hope that the knee pain would eventually subside, he found himself struggling to even pass the ball with his right foot.
In an interview on the High Performance podcast, Jones described the moment: “I kid you not, I couldn’t pass the ball with my right foot. I wanted the world to swallow me up.” The frustration was overwhelming as he realized that he wasn’t able to keep up with the demands of professional football. Although he managed to complete the session by using his left foot, which he had become proficient at due to necessity, he felt the strain on his knee when he attempted to sprint. He knew he couldn’t continue.
After finishing the session, Jones approached the physio and told him, “This is my last training session.” He didn’t return to the field after that day, deciding it was time to step away from his playing career. Since then, Jones has not played football again, having officially confirmed earlier this year that he would transition into coaching. He has also explored punditry, making appearances on shows like Match of the Day as an analyst. While his career as a player may have been cut short, Jones is now focused on the next chapter of his professional life.
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