Former Leicester City captain Jonny Evans recently revealed that he contemplated retirement during the team’s unfortunate downfall in the Premier League last season.
Evans, who was plagued with injuries throughout the campaign, was unable to contribute to Leicester’s efforts as they were relegated to the Championship. Despite receiving a contract extension offer from the club during the summer, he surprised everyone by making a sudden move back to Manchester United.
The experienced defender endured a six-month absence on the sidelines due to a lingering calf issue, which followed a series of foot and hamstring problems in the previous two years. As Brendan Rodgers and later Dean Smith struggled to keep Leicester afloat, Evans could only make 14 appearances.
However, since rejoining Manchester United, Evans has experienced a resurgence and has been included in the starting lineup for two of their last three matches. Under the guidance of Erik ten Hag, he has performed exceptionally well, effectively dispelling any thoughts of retirement.
“There was a period last year when I started questioning whether it was time to hang up my boots,” Evans admitted. “I had reached a point where injuries kept hindering my progress, and every time I returned to play, I faced setback after setback. Despite receiving reassurances from many individuals that retirement wasn’t imminent, I needed to prove it to myself, and I believe I have been able to do just that.
“After completing each match, I gain more confidence in my abilities and think, ‘I can do this, I can keep going.’ Sometimes, you have to confirm it to yourself. I am grateful that I have successfully gone through this process, and I currently feel in a great place mentally and physically.”
