Manchester United's meritorious former player Phil Jones recently talked about his goals on the road to coaching in an interview with the club's official media. During his 12 years with the Red Devils, Jones has played 229 times for the team. After the end of the 22-23 season, Jones left Manchester United after his contract expired, and Jones announced his retirement in March 2024. Phil Jones said: "That's no secret. When I finished my career, I had a tough time. I had to retire due to injuries. It was not my own decision when I decided when to stop playing. I love football and I love everything related to football."

33-year-old Jones has obtained the UEFA Class A coaching certificate and is completing the highest level of UEFA Professional Coaching Certificate. As part of the transformation, Jones worked at Manchester United's youth training camp and he also helped the U18 echelon last season.

Jones said: "It was a great experience, and I worked with the then head coach Adam Lawrence and Colin Little who was still on the team. I learned a lot from both of them, such as how to arrange training, how to set training goals, and how to develop a children's training plan to make them smoothly from the youth camp to the first team and make sure to have a succession plan for the team.

"I really enjoyed the experience and was very excited about it." This is the career I want to pursue and it is also a passionate thing for me. So, let's wait and see what the future will be like. ”

The youth team lost to the city's rival Manchester City echelon at a slight disadvantage in the Premier League U18 league, and they won the championship a season before.

Speaking of the group of young players he has worked with, Jones said: "Even if football is aside, they are all very good boys, eager to learn, improve and develop, both at the individual and team level. There are some players with very good skills. I looked at them and recalled when I was in Blackburn youth training camp. I really wish I could have the same abilities they are now.

"They are promising, there are no issues with the level, and I know a few guys who have already trained in the first team last season. Now Darren Fletcher is working there, and I believe he can drive the players to go all out and play at their best. Hopefully, in the future we can see some of them in the first team."

Speaking of the change in the transition from a player to a coach, Jones said: "I don't feel that I'm stressed about returning to the field, I'm ready for the challenge, just like when I was a player. I'm very ambitious and as a coach I want to keep that ambition, I really think I'm ready for the challenge.

"I've been through hard training in understanding how the youth camp works and the connection between the youth camp and the first team." Moreover, I don’t think there is a right or wrong choice in choosing a coaching career. If a first-team coach position appears or a similar opportunity comes to me, I will definitely consider it seriously. ”