Jones on his Academy work and next steps

The 33-year-old made 229 appearances for the Reds over a 12-year stay with the Reds, but was forced to retire a year after he departed Old Trafford, having dealt with injury issues throughout his career.

"Listen, no secret, when I finished, it was obviously difficult because I had to retire through injury," Jones told MUTV. "It wasn't me deciding I wanted to stop playing football.

"I love football, I love being in and around it, I love everything about the game."

Having been forced to curtail his playing career earlier than he'd have liked, Jones embarked on the next best thing: coaching.

He's already completed his UEFA A Licence coaching badge, and is currently in the process of finishing his UEFA Pro Licence, the highest level available. As part of that transition, the former defender spent time with the Academy, helping out with our Under-18s last season.

"Brilliant," Jones replied when asked about the experience. "I worked alongside Adam Lawrence, the [then] manager, who was terrific, and Colin Little, who's still there.

"I was able to learn off Adam, learn off Col, in terms of how they set sessions up, what they're going after in sessions and learn about the development programme with these kids so they transition from Academy to first team, and what that looks like when they get there, and having a succession plan for them.

"I really enjoyed it and it's something I'm really excited about. It's what I want to go into, it's what I feel passionate about. So, like I said, let's see what the future holds."

Jones worked with an extremely talented group under Lawrence, who has since departed the club, with that age group only just pipped to the U18 Premier League title by our crosstown rivals Manchester City, having lifted the trophy the season prior.

Asked about those players he worked with, the former England international said: "Football aside, they're great lads who want to learn, who want to develop and get better, as individuals and as a team as well.

"But, you know, there's some technically very, very good players in there. I watch some of them, and I can only look back from when I was in the Blackburn Academy coming through, and I'd have loved to have the ability that some of those lads have.

"Really promising, really bright," Jones continued. "I know there are a few lads who have been in and around and trained with the first team last season.

"Darren Fletcher's there now, so I'm sure he's got them all firing on all cylinders and getting the best out of them, so yeah, hopefully we'll see some of them in the first team in the future."

That time spent with the Academy has been invaluable to Jones in his transition from playing to coaching, and he is now weighing up his next steps carefully.

"I don't feel like I'm under any pressure to get back in," the ex-Red admitted. "But on the flip side of that, I'm ready for a challenge and I'm eager, just like I was as a player.

"I'm ambitious, and I want to be ambitious as a coach. I feel like I'm ready for that challenge.

"I've done my hardship in terms of understanding that Academy way, and the link between the Academy and the first team.

"But I don't think there's a right or a wrong way [into coaching] either. If a first-team coaching role came up, or something along those lines, I'd definitely consider it."

Phil Jones was speaking as part of the Pro Am Padel Tour 2025 (@proampadeltour), which concludes with the national final in London on 14 October.