Evans confirms retirement with new Man Utd role

Jonny Evans, a former Northern Ireland defender, has retired from the game and will lead Manchester United’s loan and pathway division.

The 37-year-old also spent two spells with the Old Trafford giants, two of which included playing for West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City in the Premier League, and two loan spells at Sunderland.

Evans, who made 241 appearances for United, graduated from their academy and won three Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the FA Cup, and two League Cups.

I’ll be forever grateful to the managers, coaches, staff, and of course, my team-mates, with whom I’ve had the honor of working for 20 years in the sport of football.

Manchester United claim that in his new role, he will work with director of football Jason Wilcox to promote player development and train young talent for the first team. He will also lead on loan moves for the club’s young players.

I am aware of the crucial role that loans can play in a player’s development because I have personally used them. Evans continued, “I’m excited to help further the development of the pathway to our first team and the legacy of young players flourishing at Manchester United,” he continued.

United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, described Jonny as the ideal role model for his young players.

Each of them will benefit greatly from his understanding of what it means for Manchester United as we continue to develop top talent capable of playing for our first team.

Evans left Old Trafford in 2015 after being replaced by Erik ten Hag as manager, but he made a comeback eight years later.

Evans was a key player for Leicester’s FA Cup winning campaign in 2021 before signing a one-year deal with the club in 2023 and winning the 2024 FA Cup before agreeing to extend his contract for a further season.

Between 2006 and 2024, he captained his nation 15 times and won 107 international caps.

His first appearance in Northern Ireland was as an 18-year-old in a memorable 3-2 victory over Spain in Belfast in September 2006, and his final appearance was in a 5-1 friendly defeat against Mallorca in June 2024.

He announced his retirement from professional football two months later.

The Euro 2016 squad that included Evans was a member of Michael O’Neill’s.