'Club Best Centre-Back' – Jonny Evans' exit shocked Manchester United legends Sir Alex Ferguson and Rio Ferdinand
The defender returned to United after an eight-year hiatus, but many believe he should not have left in the first place.
On Wednesday, with 20 minutes left in the friendly match, a 35-year-old Manchester United defender challenged the spirited Lyon striker to a roaring applause around Murrayfield.
Jonny Evans made his first appearance for the club in eight years and the tackle in the Scottish capital was a real step backwards and inspired memories of a bygone era. The Academy graduate returned to Carrington to stay fit after dropping his contract at Leicester City while also looking for a new club.
His next move is likely to be a return to Manchester United. The short-term contract he signed has not been specified, but it is speculated that it will only last until preseason.
"I think it's a good idea to help each other — Jonny can exercise his health, he can help us improve [our] level," Ten Haag said explaining his decision.
"Of course, I've known him for a long time and I know his location is right here, in Manchester. We welcomed him to come and train with us, to work out and then I said that not all the players were there and the internationals were resting.
"We know he's an experienced player, but also a very good guy, with a lot of personality and I think he also has a lot of authority and he can help young players, especially in moments like this. So it's good for all parties. ”
Evans' character has been praised by many who have played alongside him and is seen as the perfect pro, except for a slightly greyish stain on his coffee book.
In March 2015, Evans was credited with spitting at Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse, who then felt as if her spit was directed at him. The referee did not notice the incident at the time, but Evans was later suspended for six games.
"I woke up this morning and I was shocked to see the media coverage of last night's game," he said the day after the game. "I want to clarify that I did not spit on Papis Cisse."
The incident put Evans in the head, who started just 14 games under Louis van Gaal in 2014/15.
After making 198 appearances for the senior team, winning one Champions League, three Premier League titles, two League Cups, three Community Shields titles and one Club World Cup, he eventually left West Brom.
Evans impressed with his breakthrough performance in 2007/08 and has therefore been considered a solid option, but injuries and instability have hampered his momentum. However, in the 2011/12 season, he was at the peak of the wave and Sir Alex Ferguson was full of praise for the Northern Irishman.
In April 2012, he said: "There is no doubt that he played with the help of Leo [Ferdinand's] experience and is now arguably the best defender in this country. ”
"I think his form depends on playing regularly and Rio de Janeiro has helped him as well. I don't know what the fans think, but I never had any doubts about Evans. He's been our top player this year. ”
Nemanja Vidic was sidelined due to injury and Evans came on, setting the record for United's most appearances in a single season (40) of the season. That season is remembered at Manchester United for all sorts of wrong reasons, the last day of the Premier League.
The following year, Ferguson withdrew from the Premier League trophy and Evans made 31 appearances this season, all of which was redeemed. However, an erratic tenure coupled with ongoing injuries led him to drop the rankings over the next two years, with the likes of Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones becoming top picks.
In August 2015, the team paid £8 million to move to Hawthorn, which proved to shock several former Manchester United heroes.
Two years after Evans left, then-Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill revealed a conversation with Ferguson in which he said the Scotsman was shocked by the decision to allow Evans to leave.
"In September after Euro last year [2016], there was a coaching meeting in France where Ferguson talked about it and he said to me publicly that he couldn't believe Van Gaal had sold Johnny from Manchester United because seeing his experience he felt that Jonny would spend his entire career at Manchester United, or definitely in the later stages of his career. ”
O'Neill himself added: "When I look around the Premier League and see English centre-backs, I don't see anyone better. I look at Gary Cahill at Chelsea and Chris Smalling at Manchester United – Jonny Evans is as good as they are. ”
Reports at the time suggested that others within the club were also baffled by Evans' seemingly easy exit. In June, Rio Ferdinand – his former centre-back partner, Ferguson praised Ferdinand for having a positive impact on his good form in 2012 – expressed his thoughts.
"Jonny Evans was one of the biggest taunts of leaving at the time," he said. "He should not be allowed to leave the club.
"When we all left, he was the best centre-back at the club. Smalling has had a great career, don't get me wrong, but Jonny Evans is a better player, 100%. ”
Perhaps Solskjaer is the one to criticize the move in the most blunt way, as he was the Manchester United manager when he commented in 2021.
"Of course, you know, Jonny Evans should be a Manchester United player now," he said ahead of his move to Leicester City in 2018.
"But sometimes football takes you somewhere else, like a change in management. I'm sure Johnny has feelings for Manchester United and we have feelings for him. So it's good to see him play so well and we have to keep going. ”
At the time of his departure, there were rumours of a rift between Evans and Louis van Gaal, but the player was quick to respond to those rumours.
"I don't have to leave, but it's a new challenge and I feel like I'm ready at that point in my career, it's what I need," he said shortly after arriving at West Brom.
"I'm learning about the situation, how things are going, I have to make my own decisions. I think he's a very good coach and over time he'll get it right.
"I've really learned a lot in my year as coach with him that I'll continue throughout my career. I didn't wait for Van Gaal to give me a decision or make a decision for me.
'But this opportunity arose between the club, Manchester United and myself and I agreed that maybe moving on was the right thing for me.'
In fact, after Van Gaal was sacked in 2016, Evans regretted Van Gaal's departure. He said: "I am happy that Van Gaal won the FA Cup. I think he's a very good coach and I'm happy to see his team win something.
"Seeing him leave in some way makes a lot of players feel sad, especially young players. He brought a lot of young players into the team and gave them opportunities. He's very brave and very good at doing that. ”
However, Evans did not have carte blanche over Van Gaal. In explaining his departure from Manchester United in 2017, he again referred to a man who felt he should not be kicked out of Manchester United.
"Manchester United ended up making a lot of decisions very quickly," he told The Telegraph.
"I'm not saying this on my own behalf, but I was surprised that Michael Keane was sold at the time. I was surprised that I was in his position and came through the Manchester United Academy. ”