Jonny Evans is ‘set to stay at Man United as he closes in on new role’

Jonny Evans is set for a return to Manchester United less than a month after leaving the club.

The former defender announced his retirement at the end of last month, bringing an end to a glittering Old Trafford career that spanned two spells and yielded three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup.

The 37-year-old bowed out as one of the most decorated Northern Irish footballers in history and represented his country 107 times at senior level. 

Evans is set to take his first steps in his new career and is in advanced talks with United over a staff role that will make the most of his knowledge of youth development. News of him potentially securing a coaching role at the club after his retirement was first reported in Man United Confidential in April.

United are keen to retain Evans, who offered advice to young players and gave insight into United’s heritage after returning to Old Trafford in 2023. 

Evans is being eyed up for a role in bridging the pathway between the academy and the senior team. The former defender is set to fill the vacancy left by loans manager Les Parry – who departed for NEOM SC in Saudi Arabia last November. 

The position will see Evans identify appropriate clubs to place young players and keep track of their progress during their stints away from Old Trafford. 

With Evans no longer at the club, United will head into the coming campaign without a player that played during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign at the club for the first time since 1974.

After impressing scouts whilst playing for his local side Greenisland, Evans began training with United’s academy as a youth before signing for the club after relocating to Manchester.

Evans’ first taste of senior football came on loan at Belgian side Royal Antwerp during the 2006-07 campaign where he was joined by fellow United starlets Fraizer Campbell and Danny Simpson.

A short loan in the Championship with Sunderland followed before Evans returned to Old Trafford.

During that time the young defender featured in two early round matches of the 2007-08 Champions League campaign that United went on to triumph in, becoming the club’s first Northern Irishman to get a winner’s medal since George Best in 1968.

With United’s defence anchored by the incomparable pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand at the time Evans continued to struggle for first-team minutes and again went on loan to Sunderland.

Following his return, however, Evans would become a consistent feature for United, regularly deputising in the heart of defence.

Evans would go on to claim three Premier League titles at Old Trafford, including during Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season at United.