37-year-old Manchester United veteran Evans retired and stayed in the team as Manchester United player loan and promotion director. Manchester United official website editor Adam Marshall wrote an article saying that Manchester United needs people like Joni Evans.
Manchester United official website editor article↓
The fans-loved defender decided to retire at the age of 37, ending his career in the club's youth training camp and winning Roy Keane's favor. Keane has loaned him to Sunderland twice.
When Evans returned to Old Trafford with Premier League experience, he won three league titles for his childhood club and helped the team win the Champions League in 2008.
The only thing he failed to win during his first time was the FA Cup, but not only did he achieve that at Leicester City, he also came on as a substitute in the 2024 FA Cup final to help Manchester United beat Manchester City. Unfortunately, Robin Olson performed well against Aston Villa, which became Evans' last official game.
Evans's achievements on the court were impressive - 107 times for the Northern Ireland national team, proving that he is one of the best players in the country. Despite this, players like him have never really left Manchester United. His calmness and tenacity make him the heart of any defense, and this quality is appreciated.
Returning to "home" was a fairy tale ending for him. Even though he is approaching the end of his career, he still has a great performance. In the post-match interview, his speech always resonated with fans. Evans himself is also a Manchester United fan and knows the significance of representing this great club.
He often spends time interacting with fans, signing and taking photos, and is deeply rooted in Manchester United's culture and is cherished by everyone. He was very supportive and friendly to the staff at both times at Old Trafford, exceeding the performance a first-team player deserves.
Although Evans no longer plays on the court, his experience and personality will continue to help Manchester United at the Carrington base. As someone who has experienced this journey in person, he knows the pressure of wearing the Red Devils jersey, so the role of loan and path director is perfect for him. After all, his loan experience at the Stade of Light is one of the most successful temporary transfers in club history.
Evans' stay in the team is undoubtedly positive news. His friend Tom Heaton also renewed his contract and stayed with the team. While some people keep calling for change, relying on those who understand and understand club culture is a wise move.
Manchester United is a unique club, and characters like Evans are at their core.