Jonny Evans

Jonathan Grant Evans (born 3 January 1988) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Leicester City and the Northern Ireland national team.

Jonny Evans
Evans playing for Northern Ireland in 2019
Personal information
Full name Jonathan Grant Evans[1]
Date of birth (1988-01-03) 3 January 1988[2]
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Leicester City
Number 6
Youth career
2004–2006 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2015 Manchester United 131 (4)
2006 → Royal Antwerp (loan) 11 (2)
2006–2007 → Sunderland (loan) 18 (1)
2008 → Sunderland (loan) 15 (0)
2015–2018 West Bromwich Albion 89 (5)
2018– Leicester City 117 (5)
National team‡
Northern Ireland U16 6 (0)
2004–2005 Northern Ireland U17 8 (1)
2006 Northern Ireland U21 3 (0)
2006– Northern Ireland 100 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:21, 8 October 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:04, 27 September 2022

Evans started his career at Manchester United and progressed through the club's academy. He went on loan to Royal Antwerp and Sunderland to gain first-team experience before making his Manchester United first-team debut in the 2007–08 League Cup.[3] He became a regular first-team squad member the following season, and played almost 200 matches for Manchester United in an eight-year spell; however, he fell out of favour at the club under manager Louis van Gaal and left for West Bromwich Albion. When West Brom was relegated three years later, Evans signed for Leicester City.

Evans is the second-most decorated player in Northern Irish football history.[4][5] He has played 100 matches for the Northern Ireland national team, and was ever-present in the team's run to the round of 16 at UEFA Euro 2016.

Club career

Manchester United

Evans was scouted while playing for Greenisland F.C., the same club that his brother Corry and Craig Cathcart played for before moving to Manchester United.[6][7] At the age of nine, he was invited to attend the Manchester United Centre of Excellence in Belfast, before being invited for a trial in Manchester a year later. Rule changes within The Football Association at the time meant that clubs were limited to players who lived within 90 minutes' travel of the club, so Evans' opportunities were limited. However, his family soon relocated to Manchester, allowing Evans to train with Manchester United full-time. He progressed through Manchester United's academy, featuring in two of the club's three games during the 2006 summer tour of South Africa, as well as domestic friendlies against Celtic and Preston North End. Evans also made a surprise appearance in the Amsterdam Tournament against Ajax. He spent the first half of the 2006–07 season on loan at Manchester United's Belgian feeder club Royal Antwerp, alongside fellow youngsters Darron Gibson, Danny Simpson and Fraizer Campbell.[8]

Sunderland loans

In December 2006, Evans agreed to join Sunderland on loan until the end of the 2006–07 season,[9] with Manchester United and Antwerp team-mate Danny Simpson joining on a similar deal in the January transfer window. The pair helped Sunderland clinch the Football League Championship title, with Evans winning the club's "Youth Player of the Year" award at the end of the season. Although manager Roy Keane was hopeful of re-signing Evans on loan following promotion to the Premier League, it was confirmed in June 2007 that Evans would be staying at Manchester United to push for a place in the first team.[10]

On 4 January 2008, Evans rejoined Sunderland on loan for the second time, and was immediately drafted into the first team squad.[11] Evans played the full 90 minutes in his first game, losing 3–0 to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup. Evans was criticised for granting Wigan the second goal of the game, for which he lost the ball on the edge of his own box, resulting in a deflected own goal by Paul McShane.[12] His half-season with Sunderland was generally successful, however, and the team avoided relegation.

2007–2011
Evans in 2009

Evans made his Manchester United debut on 26 September 2007 against Coventry City in the Football League Cup which ended in a 2–0 defeat. He then appeared as a late substitute for Gerard Piqué in a UEFA Champions League match at home to Dynamo Kyiv on 7 November 2007 to secure Manchester United's qualification to the knockout stage of the competition. He subsequently made his first Champions League start on 12 December 2007 against Roma.

Evans made his league debut for United against Chelsea on 21 September 2008, filling in for Nemanja Vidić who was unavailable due to suspension. The game ended 1–1.[13] In December 2008, Evans made two substitute appearances for Manchester United at the FIFA Club World Cup, including one in the final after Nemanja Vidić was sent off shortly after half time. Evans continued to deputise throughout the rest of the season, appearing in a number of league games and in the League Cup final.

At the beginning of the 2010–11 football season, Evans became a regular fixture in the United team, partnering Nemanja Vidić in the centre of defence in the absence of the injured Rio Ferdinand. On 19 March 2011, Evans injured Bolton Wanderers and United States international Stuart Holden with a tackle which left Holden out for six months which eventually got worse and caused him to be slidelined for 22 months. Despite Evans being given a straight red card for the tackle, Manchester United went on to win the game 1–0 with a Dimitar Berbatov goal.[14]

2011–2015

Before the start of the 2011–12 season, Evans was handed the number 6 shirt after Wes Brown was transferred to Sunderland.[15] On 14 August, he wore his new shirt number for the first time in United's opening day 2–1 win at West Bromwich Albion, he came on for the injured Nemanja Vidić in the 52nd minute at The Hawthorns.[16] On 23 October, he was sent off in United's 6–1 defeat against Manchester City after bringing down Mario Balotelli in a last-man challenge.[17] Evans made his 100th appearance for the Red Devils on 30 November, playing the full 120 minutes as United lost 2–1 to Championship side Crystal Palace in the League Cup quarter-final.[18] On 18 March 2012, he scored his first goal for United after opening the scoring in the 5–0 league win at Wolverhampton Wanderers.[19] Evans missed the final three games of the season with a foot injury.[20]

Having undergone surgery to repair an ankle injury at the end of last season, Evans was unable to start pre-season training until early August, but there was speculation that he might be playing Manchester United's second game against Fulham.[21] Evans scored his second goal for the club in a 3–0 away win at Newcastle United on 7 October 2012, thumping home a header from a Robin van Persie corner kick. On 23 October, Evans scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League and first at Old Trafford in a 3–2 victory over Braga. He scored the equalising goal at 2–2, scrambling home from a corner kick. Evans netted his third goal of the season on 24 November 2012 in a 3–1 win, heading in the equaliser against Queens Park Rangers at Old Trafford from a corner.[22] On 21 December 2012, Evans signed a new contract with United which would keep him at the club until June 2016.[23] Evans scored his third league goal of the season and fourth overall on Boxing Day in a 4–3 win against Newcastle United, tapping home after Javier Hernández's shot had been saved by Tim Krul.

In a match against Newcastle in March 2015, Evans was charged by the FA with having spat at opposing striker Papiss Cissé. He denied the charge and said: "I would like to make it clear that I did not spit at Papiss Cisse. Having woken up this morning, I am shocked to have seen the media coverage from last night's match." However he was still banned for six games on 7 March, Papiss Cissé for seven.[24]

West Bromwich Albion
Evans in 2017

Evans signed for Premier League club West Bromwich Albion for an undisclosed fee on 29 August 2015.[25] He made his debut for the club on 12 September 2015 in a 0–0 draw against Southampton.[26] On 2 January 2016, Evans scored his first West Brom goal in a 2–1 victory over Stoke City.[27] On 15 May 2016, before the final game of the season, Evans received Players'Player of the Season award of West Bromwich Albion on his primary campaign for the club.[28]

He had to wait a long time for his next goal, which came in a 3–1 win over Watford on 3 December 2016.[29] His next goal came in a 2–1 loss against Swansea on the final game of the season.[30]

In July 2017, following the departure of club skipper Darren Fletcher to Stoke City,[31] Evans was confirmed permanent captain by head coach Tony Pulis.[32] He scored his first goal of the season on 30 September 2017 in a 2–2 draw against Watford, an alike header of the one he scored ten months earlier against the same opponent.[33] His second goal of the season was against Brighton at home on 13 January 2018, which brought his side's first league win in the space of five months and 20 games.[34]

Leicester City

In June 2018, Leicester City activated Evans' relegation release clause in his contract with West Bromwich Albion for £3.5 million. He signed a three-year contract.[35] He made his Leicester debut in a 2–0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 18 August 2018.[36] He scored his first goal for the club in a 4-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on 23 February 2019.[37]

Evans made his 400th appearance in English football on 12 July 2020 and scored an own goal in a 1–4 defeat away to AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.[38]

Ahead of the 2022–23 season, Evans was appointed as captain following the departure of previous captain Kasper Schmeichel.[39]

International career

Despite having not yet made his senior debut for Manchester United, Evans was called up to the Northern Ireland squad for the first time in September 2006, making his debut in the memorable 3–2 victory over Spain.[40] Evans has since retained his place in the squad and has made over 60 appearances. On 28 March 2009, Evans scored his first international goal in a 3–2 win over Poland in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, volleyed home from close range.[41]

On 28 May 2016, Evans was included by national team manager Michael O'Neill in Northern Ireland's final 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016.[42] This was the first time Northern Ireland had ever been involved in the finals of the competition, and their first major tournament since the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The team eventually reached the last 16, being knocked out by Wales in a 1–0 defeat.[43] Evans participated in all four games Northern Ireland played in this tournament.

His second international goal came eight years after the first one, on 4 September 2017, scoring a backward header against Czech Republic. The game finished a 2–0 victory to his side and consolidated their good form in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. Northern Ireland reached the playoff stage of the qualification, seeing the best chance of returning to the competition for the first time in 32 years. However, in the first leg they suffered from a controversial penalty decision made by Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan, he deems Evans' young brother Corry handled the ball and booked him for that so he would miss the second leg, where the ball clearly struck Corry's shoulder. Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill said it was the worst decision he had ever seen in a game he had been involved in.[44] The game ended as a 1–0 defeat to them and a goalless draw in the second leg three days later means they were officially knocked out of the competition. Evans nearly equalised the aggregate score in the injury time where his header already beat Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer, but was cleared off the line by defender Ricardo Rodriguez, who converted that controversial penalty in the first leg.[45]

Evans scored his third goal at senior international level when he opened the scoring against Belarus in Northern Ireland's second game of the qualification phase for UEFA Euro 2020.[46] On 27 September 2022, he played his 100th match for Northern Ireland in the Nations League game against Greece.[47]

Personal life

Evans was born in Belfast.[48] He was a student at Belfast High School in Newtownabbey before being enrolled at Ashton-on-Mersey School in Sale, Greater Manchester, once he had been signed by Manchester United. He holds nine GCSEs, all A* or A grades.[49]

On 19 December 2007, Evans was arrested in connection with an alleged rape that occurred at the hotel where Manchester United's Christmas party was held.[50] On 8 March 2008, it was reported that he would not be prosecuted for any offence.[51]

On 1 June 2013, Evans married Helen McConnell, a MUTV reporter, at Clough Presbyterian Church.[52] As of December 2019 the couple had three children.[53]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 8 October 2022[54][55]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Europe[lower-alpha 1] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United 2006–07 Premier League 00000000—00
2007–08 Premier League 000010200030
2008–09 Premier League 1703050702[lower-alpha 2]0340
2009–10 Premier League 1801050301[lower-alpha 3]0280
2010–11 Premier League 1302020301[lower-alpha 3]0210
2011–12 Premier League 2911010801[lower-alpha 3]0401
2012–13 Premier League 233200051—304
2013–14 Premier League 17010413100252
2014–15 Premier League 1402010——170
Total 1314120191312501987
Royal Antwerp (loan) 2006–07 Belgian Second Division 11230———142
Sunderland (loan) 2006–07 Championship 1811000——191
Sunderland (loan) 2007–08 Premier League 1501000——160
West Bromwich Albion 2015–16 Premier League 3014000——341
2016–17 Premier League 3120000——312
2017–18 Premier League 2822010——312
Total 8956010——965
Leicester City 2018–19 Premier League 2411030——281
2019–20 Premier League 3812061——462
2020–21 Premier League 28240005[lower-alpha 4]0—372
2021–22 Premier League 18100108[lower-alpha 5]100272
2022–23 Premier League 900000——90
Total 117570101131001477
Career total 381173003024435048922
  1. All appearances in UEFA Champions League, unless where noted
  2. Appearance(s) in FIFA Club World Cup
  3. Appearance in FA Community Shield
  4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League, four appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International
As of match played 27 September 2022[56]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Northern Ireland 200630
200750
200870
200951
201050
201140
201240
201360
201560
2016130
201791
201890
201982
202050
202140
202271
Total1005
As of match played 12 June 2022
Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first[56]
List of international goals scored by Jonny Evans
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
128 March 2009Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland Poland2–13–22010 FIFA World Cup qualification
24 September 2017Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland Czech Republic1–02–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
324 March 2019Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland Belarus1–02–1UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
414 October 2019Stadion Letná, Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic2–03–2Friendly
512 June 2022Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland Cyprus2–22–22022–23 UEFA Nations League C

Honours

Sunderland

Manchester United

Leicester City

References
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