Jonny Evans made his 200th Manchester United appearance at the weekend with a man-of-the-match performance against Burnley. It was his first start for the club since 2015.
The Northern Ireland international rejoined United this summer on a one-year contract after being released by Leicester City following their relegation from the Premier League.
The 35-year-old has been signed primarily to provide cover for United's first-choice centre-backs, but his performance at Turf Moor shows he still has plenty to offer.
Andy Mitten fills in the gaps of Evans' eight-year odyssey back to Old Trafford.
July 2015, San Jose, California
Manchester United’s players walk from the training pitch at the start of their United States pre-season tour, with the most attention on new signing Bastian Schweinsteiger. Less is paid to defender Jonny Evans who explains to this journalist that while he’s up for doing an interview, it’s a little tricky. The man two appearances short of 200 Manchester United games, who has supported the club all his life and came through the academy with flying colours on more than one level, no longer features in the plans of manager Louis van Gaal. It’s not a good time to talk.
Van Gaal’s DNA purge on England’s most successful club felt questionable at the time and the decision to let proven winners leave on free transfers didn’t age well. It’s curious because although Van Gaal had let popular players depart because he didn't think they had the technical level required to play for United, he considers Evans one who does.
Evans, who won nine major trophies at United, moves to West Bromwich Albion a month later, joining former United teammates Darren Fletcher and Ben Foster.
That last season at United had been tough for the defender. A pass back to David de Gea was jeered by United fans who sang: "Attack! Attack! Attack!" It stung.
“There is nothing worse for a footballer than being booed or jeered by your own fans and I say that from experience,” said former United defender David May. “It hammers your confidence and I don't like to see the confidence of Jonny, an excellent player, being harmed.
“Jonny is comfortable on both sides, he uses both feet. I’ve never seen him get done for speed. He has all the attributes of being a top, top player. He was outstanding alongside [Nemanja] Vidic and [Rio] Ferdinand. He’s dead clever too.”
Evans went on to win West Brom’s player of the year and was later made club captain.
June 2016
A young face looks away from the game in wonderment towards the majority of the 15,000 Northern Ireland fans during their opening Euro 16 game against Poland in Nice. Across three tiers, they're singing what was known in English football as the "Kolo-Yaya Toure song". The fans in green have adapted it to Jonny and Corry Evans, two brothers from Belfast in Northern Ireland’s squad. Both left for Manchester United and a life in England with their family at an early age, both made it as professional footballers at big clubs, Jonny winning league titles with United.
"Jonn-y, Jonn-y, Jonn-y" they holler with their arms in the air, followed by "Corr-y, Corr-y, Corr-y" with their arms down low.
And now their younger sister Katie is enthralled by the sight of thousands of green shirted supporters singing about her big brothers. It’s a magical moment, watching her jaw drop then a smile envelop her face.
Either side of Katie sit her parents, Jackie and Dawn. They’re watching a man known in football as Jonny. To them, it’s always Jonathan and Jonathan is representing his country as they play in a major tournament for the first time since 1986. Evans keeps Robert Lewandowski, one of the best strikers in the world, quiet. He plays in all four games before Northern Ireland are eliminated by Wales in the last 16.
June 2017
Jonny Evans has only been back to Old Trafford twice and only focussed on the game. But he also went back to do a job for United when the stadium was empty. He stood there alone and took it all in.
“You forget how amazing the place is,” he said. “That was the moment it hit me that I had been lucky to play a lot of matches there.”
He’s happy at West Brom, but his mind wanders to what it would be like playing in Spain or elsewhere. And it’s a sharp mind.
“Jonny Evans was a genius,” said his former PE teacher at Ashton on Mersey school where the United youngsters mix with non-footballing students. “He got all As in his GCSE exams, including four A*s.” That made him the top performing student in the whole school.
“He came here with his brother Corry and their father asked how he’d do,” said Tarun Kapur CBE and chief executive head of the Dean Trust, whose schools include Ashton on Mersey, which young Manchester United footballers including Marcus Rashford have attended. “They’d been at a good school in Belfast. I said they would do great because they were joining an outstanding school. Jonny was studious, he treated people as he’d like to be treated and that’s how it should be.”
There’s another side to him, one who’d sing Sweet Caroline on karaoke in the voice of fellow Belfast man Van Morrison. Or, in a club quiz, was asked: “What word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it?”
“Short,” replied Evans.
West Brom and Leicester 2015-2023
Arsene Wenger twice tries to sign Evans for Arsenal. West Brom twice price him out of a move. He had an even bigger admirer, Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Evans moves to Leicester City in 2018 and plays five seasons of Premier League football there and 152 games. When he comes up against his old teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese can’t stop smiling at the man marking him.
Champions in 2016, Leicester are relegated in 2023 and Evens is gutted. He loved it there and felt a little complicit in the Foxes being relegated because of his injury that limited him to only 14 games last season.
June 2023
In the year he made his 100th appearance for Northern Ireland, Jonny Evans is without a club. His career has been a successful one and he’s now 35. He has no concrete offers to join another club, just a few enquiries. He wants to continue playing at club level and for Northern Ireland but with all his age and injuries last season, there are no suitors.
With players returning for pre-season, Evans goes into training at his local club, Manchester United. It makes sense. He was highly regarded. He hadn’t cost the club a penny; he understands Manchester, understands United – but he’s only there to get fit and be ready in case an offer comes in.
Erik ten Hag sees value in having him around as cover. The coaching staff like the person, too. A one-month contract is offered and Evans travels on the pre-season tour. Money is not even a consideration. He’d have earned more being a steward at Old Trafford.
Evans’ status increases and he’s offered a one-year contract. Few expect him to play many games, though he plays pre-season matches against Lyon in Edinburgh and Wrexham in San Diego. He’s played 495 competitive professional games as the season starts. How many more will there be?
September 2023
Injuries to Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw mean Evans is selected to start his 200th United game at Burnley away. He’s told he’s playing the day before and felt no nerves as he’d felt pre-season, only excitement. He feels good, he feels ready.
It goes well. Evans celebrates a goal, but VAR cuts it short. Then, Evans lifts a ball over the Burnley defence which goes into the path of Bruno Fernandes, who volleys home for United’s best game of the season. No wonder he is named man of the match.
“That was great,” he says after. “That was my 200th game for Manchester United, I never thought I would ever reach that figure – it was one of the best nights of my life.”
On Tuesday night, Evans played for United at Old Trafford for the first time since 2015. As the Stretford End sang his name, he moved forward and headed a cross towards goal. It was saved, but this has been a good week for Jonathan Evans.
Man United v Palace ratings
Sri Lanka v England
First Test, at Galle
England won by 211
Second Test, at Kandy
England won by 57 runs
Third Test, at Colombo
From Nov 23-27
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'
Rating: 3/5
Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro
Writers: Walter Mosley
Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
MATCH INFO
Delhi Daredevils 174-4 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians 163 (19.3 ovs)
Delhi won the match by 11 runs
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Everything Now
Arcade Fire
(Columbia Records)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Meydan Racecourse racecard:
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes Listed (PA) | Dh175,000 | 1,900m
7.05pm: Maiden for 2-year-old fillies (TB) | Dh165,000 | 1,400m
7.40pm: The Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) | Dh265,000 | 1,600m
8.15pm: Maiden for 2-year-old colts (TB) | Dh165,000 | 1,600m
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) | Dh265,000 | 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh190,000 | 1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh190,000 | 1,600m.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Company profile
Name: Oulo.com
Founder: Kamal Nazha
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2020
Number of employees: 5
Sector: Technology
Funding: $450,000
The years Ramadan fell in May
South Africa squad
Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada.
More on Quran memorisation:
WHAT IS GRAPHENE?
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Results
UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets
Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey
7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
The five pillars of Islam
The years Ramadan fell in May
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
TOUR DE FRANCE INFO
Dates: July 1-23
Distance: 3,540km
Stages: 21
Number of teams: 22
Number of riders: 198
The biog
DOB: 25/12/92
Marital status: Single
Education: Post-graduate diploma in UAE Diplomacy and External Affairs at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: I love fencing, I used to fence at the MK Fencing Academy but I want to start again. I also love reading and writing
Lifelong goal: My dream is to be a state minister
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
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The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
Favourite country: UAE
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
More coverage from the Future Forum
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Zayed Sustainability Prize
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
MATCH INFO
Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Second leg:
Monday, Azizi Stadium, Tehran. Kick off 7pm
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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