Former Manchester United player Phil Jones made the tough decision to leave the club after just one training session under the management of Erik ten Hag. After 12 years at Old Trafford, Jones came to a sudden realization that he could no longer cope with the physical demands of professional football. His decision to walk away occurred within the first 20 minutes of his initial training session under the new manager, a moment that would mark the end of his long career at the club.
Jones had been battling a long-term knee injury that sidelined him during Ten Hag’s debut season. Despite this, he worked diligently to regain his fitness in hopes of contributing during the 2022/23 campaign. However, during that first training session with the new manager, it became clear to him that his body could no longer handle the rigors of top-level football.
Speaking about the incident on an episode of the *High Performance* podcast, Jones opened up about the experience that led to his decision. He recalled his excitement upon returning to training, eager to start fresh under Ten Hag’s leadership.
Jones explained that he laced up his boots with a positive mindset, ready to prove himself after his lengthy injury layoff. However, as soon as the warm-up drill began, which involved simple passing and jogging around cones, he felt his knee acting up.
Jones described his embarrassment as he struggled to pass the ball with his right foot, particularly in front of the new manager. Though he had adapted to using his left foot due to the injury, he found himself unable to perform even basic tasks like passing the ball properly. When he attempted to sprint, his knee gave out entirely, making it painfully clear that his days as a professional footballer were over.
After barely making it through the short session, Jones approached the team physio and delivered the difficult news: “This is my last training session.” True to his words, that day marked the end of his football career at Manchester United.
Since retiring from active play, Jones has shifted his focus toward coaching and has occasionally appeared as a football pundit, including on *Match of the Day*. While his time as a player ended earlier than he had hoped, Jones remains involved in the sport, using his experience to help others in a new capacity.
His candid reflection on his struggles with injury highlights the difficult realities that professional athletes often face when their bodies can no longer meet the demands of their sport.
