After it was announced that Phil Jones will be departing Manchester United at the end of the month, he wrote a touching letter to the team’s supporters.
The former England international joined Old Trafford as a teenager after leaving Blackburn Rovers.
Jones could have developed into United’s “best ever player,” according to legendary club manager Sir Alex Ferguson, but injuries swiftly wrecked his career and limited him to just six Premier League appearances in the club’s last four seasons.
The 31-year-old defender’s departure from the Red Devils was confirmed on Friday, May 19; his contract was set to expire in June.
Jones then addressed fans on social media and wished manager Erik ten Hag, his staff, and the club the best of success.
“I thought about how to best present my words to everyone and felt that I wanted to talk directly to the fans who have supported me throughout my time at Manchester United,” he said at the outset. “Leaving a club is never easy. When I was only 19 years old, I had already done this with Blackburn Rovers, but I had no idea what lay ahead.
“My experience working for United has been nothing short of amazing. I always wanted to demonstrate my abilities more, therefore I made the decision to leave Blackburn. I had represented my boyhood team and had accomplished a dream, but I was driven to prove to everyone my supreme ability. I felt driven to continue that at a club that could compete for anything because I had this burning desire inside of me. I received offers from a couple places, but I kept waiting for United to call.
“One day, while I was on vacation, Sir Alex’s phone rang. That day, I left my vacation early since I was eager to meet him. I was eager to sign and, most of all, I was eager to begin. I was only interested in playing for one team going forward. It was an honor to wear this garment once, to display this badge, and to stand in for everyone involved.
“I wished I had more time to play. I wished I could have contributed more to the many teams I played with. I will sincerely state that I did everything within my power. I complied with all of the medical staff’s requests. In my pursuit of realizing my dream and getting the chance to play on the field for Manchester United, I never shied away from a challenge.
“I had some challenging days away from my family, rehabbing and healing alone, healing away from the training field, where I was itching to return. I’ve already stated that I struggled to even communicate to my team members since I felt bad for not being able to assist them. I felt betrayed that my family couldn’t see me on game days, and you worry that you’re disappointing other people.
“In life, things occasionally occur that we don’t like, but we must learn to accept them and find peace in the knowledge that we done everything in our power to overcome the difficulties. We can only really do that in your life and profession.
“The path may be bumpy and divert your attention. It’s about overcoming obstacles and continuing. I’ll apply this lesson to my upcoming struggles in preparation for whatever comes next. At the biggest club in the world, I realized a dream. I competed in important competitions for England. I received awards at United, most notably the Premier League during Sir Alex’s final campaign.
It’s not the time to be depressed. For my family and I, this is a moment to reflect on the past and be grateful for the opportunity to work for United. Not many individuals get the chance to play for this club, to always be a part of its history, and to be able to look back with such pleasant recollections, I can always say to my family and friends.
I send my best wishes for the future to Erik, his team, and all the players. He’s creating something here, and I’ll be keeping an eye on it, encouraging him, and hoping above all else that he can keep making the advancements we can all already see. I would want to express my gratitude to all of the staff at Manchester United, where I have made friends for life.
But above all, I want to thank my family for supporting me through everything. The biggest one goes to my wife and our two stunning daughters. I have no words to express my gratitude for your support. We have remained a unit, and I am eager to see what the future holds.
