'I won the Premier League, played at two World Cups!' - Phil Jones hits back at fan who claimed his career was a 'shame' as he defends legacy at Old Trafford

After signing for Manchester United from Blackburn Rovers in 2011 under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the centre-back was initially hailed as one of the most promising young defenders in English football. Unfortunately, recurring injuries hampered his progress, restricting him to only 13 appearances over his last four seasons with the Red Devils.

In the twilight of his career, Jones often faced ridicule from fans for his dismal injury record. His past achievements drowned into oblivion as the defender struggled to secure a squad berth at Old Trafford and subsequently settled into a premature retirement.

Jones recently opened up about his career in a candid discussion on the High Performance podcast, where he recalled an interaction with a fan who described his career as a "shame".

"Someone said to me, ‘Oh, it’s a shame about your career, Phil, but it’s lovely to meet you,’" Jones recounted during the interview. "I said, 'You what? What do you mean?' I’ve been at United for 10 years, won the Premier League, played over 200 games for United, played in two World Cups, won the Europa League and FA Cup, and you’re trying to tell me it was a shame?"

Jones used the moment to assert his pride in his time as a professional footballer. “That was me standing up for myself and having respect for myself, saying, ‘No, this stops now.’ I’ll tell you how my career went. Of course, I would’ve liked to play more, but I’ve lived the dream. 99% of people would snap their right hand off now for their kids to come through and have the career I had,” he explained.

Jones made 229 appearances for United during his stay at Old Trafford. He won five major trophies, including a Premier League title, an FA Cup, a Europa League title and two FA Community Shields.

Jones is currently pursuing coaching qualifications and has also enrolled in a course aimed at preparing him for a future role as a sporting director. While his time on the pitch may be over, Jones is determined to continue contributing to the sport he loves, albeit from the backroom.