Former Manchester United star Phil Jones has opened up about how a life-changing phone call from Sir Alex Ferguson led him to choose Old Trafford over other top Premier League clubs in 2011.
Jones, who had been pursued by clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City, was in Dubai on holiday with his wife when he received an unexpected call.
“I never answer unknown numbers,” Jones admitted, recalling the moment that changed his career. “But my wife said, ‘you have to answer it.’ So, I did, half asleep, and a voice said, ‘Phil, Sir Alex here.’”
The legendary manager’s personal touch and interest in Jones’s life beyond football left a lasting impression. Ferguson didn’t dive straight into football talk but instead asked about Jones’s family and school grades, making the young player feel at ease despite his nerves.
But it was the final question that sealed the deal: “Phil, are you a winner son?” Jones remembered. “In my head, I thought, ‘where do I sign?’”
Having met Arsène Wenger just hours later in London, Jones knew immediately he had made his decision. “I came out and told my agent, ‘I don’t want to go, I’ve made my decision,’” he recalled.
Although Ferguson’s prediction that Jones could become United’s “best ever player” didn’t quite come to fruition, the 18-year-old’s aura and presence left Jones convinced that Manchester United was the right place for him.
Jones, who struggled with injuries throughout his career but still made over 200 Premier League appearances, went on to win multiple titles, including the 2013 Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Europa League before retiring from football in August. He now works in coaching within the Manchester United academy.