Jonny Evans

Infobox Football biography
playername = Jonny Evans


fullname = Jonathan Grant Evans
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1988|1|2|df=y
cityofbirth = Belfast
countryofbirth = Northern Ireland
height = convert|6|ft|2|in|m|2|abbr=on
position = Centre back
currentclub = Manchester United
clubnumber = 23
youthyears = 2004–2006
youthclubs = Manchester United
years = 2006–
2006
2007
2008
clubs = Manchester United
→ Royal Antwerp (loan)
→ Sunderland (loan)
→ Sunderland (loan)
caps(goals) = 01 (0)
14 (2)
18 (1)
15 (0)
nationalyears = ?
2006–
nationalteam = Northern Ireland U-21
Northern Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 03 (0)
11 (0)
pcupdate = 18:19, 21 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 13:31, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

Jonathan Grant "Jonny" Evans (born 2 January 1988 in Belfast) is a Northern Irish football central defender who currently plays for Manchester United in the Premier League. Evans started his career at Greenisland FC, where he was spotted by Manchester United scouts. He progressed through Manchester United's football Academy to play in several foreign tours in the summer of 2006. He then went on loan to Royal Antwerp and Sunderland before rejoining Manchester United in the summer of 2007. Evans made his Manchester United first team debut in the 2007–08 League Cup and has also played in the UEFA Champions League. However, in January 2008, he was again farmed out to Sunderland for further first-team experience.

Career

Evans was scouted while playing for Greenisland FC, the same club that his brother Corry and Craig Cathcart played for before moving to Manchester United. Evans 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. Evans spent the first half of the 2006–2007 season on loan at Manchester United's Belgian feeder club Royal Antwerp, alongside fellow youngsters Darron Gibson, Danny Simpson and Fraizer Campbell.

underland

In December 2006, Evans agreed to join Sunderland on loan until the end of the 2006–07 season, [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/6217433.stm |title=Sunderland clinch Evans loan deal |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2006-12-29 |accessdate=2007-12-19 ] 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 Premiership, it was confirmed in June 2007 that Evans would be staying at Manchester United to push for a place in the first team. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/6726865.stm |title=Evans delivers Sunderland blow |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-06-06 |accessdate=2007-12-19]

On 4 January 2008, Evans rejoined Sunderland on loan for the second time, and was immediately drafted into the first team squad. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/7171301.stm | title=Evans heads to Sunderland on loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-01-04 |accessdate=2008-01-04 ] Evans played the 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. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7163974.stm |title=Sunderland 0-3 Wigan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-01-05 |accessdate=2008-01-06 ]

Manchester United

Evans made his Manchester United debut on 26 September 2007 against Coventry City in the Football League Cup. Unfortunately, his debut 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.

On 21 September 2008, Evans made his league debut for United against Chelsea, filling in for Nemanja Vidić who was unavailable due to suspension. The game ended 1–1. [cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7613923.stm| title=Chelsea 1-1 Man Utd| publisher=BBC Sport| last=McNulty| first=Phil| date=2008-09-21| accessdate=2008-09-23]

International

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. Evans has since retained his place in the squad. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/5321964.stm |title=Northern Ireland 3-2 Spain |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2006-09-06 |accessdate=2007-12-19 ]

Personal

Evans' 17-year-old younger brother, Corry, is a Manchester United Academy midfielder.

Evans attended Belfast High School in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, before moving to Ashton-on-Mersey High School in Manchester once he had been signed by Manchester United. He holds nine GCSEs, all A* or A grades. [cite web |title=Manchester News - Jonathan Evans |work=Latest News |publisher=Greenisland F.C. |url=http://www.greenislandfc.com/latest_news.htm |accessdate=2007-12-19 ]

On 19 December 2007, BBC News Online reported that Evans had been arrested in connection to an alleged rape that occurred at the hotel where Manchester United's Christmas party was held, with a Greater Manchester Police spokesman being quoted as saying: "A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape this evening after presenting himself to police. He remains in custody for questioning." He had been bailed until 23 February 2008. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7151624.stm |publisher=BBC News Online |title=Man Utd star bailed in rape probe |date=2007-12-19 |accessdate=2007-12-19 ] . On 8 March 2008, it was reported that Evans will not be prosecuted for any offence. [cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL141856920080314|publisher=Reuters |title=Man United defender Evans won't face rape charges |date=2008-03-14 |accessdate=2008-03-14 ]

References

External links

*soccerbase|44583|Jonny Evans
* [http://jonnyevansnews.blogspot.com Jonny Evans Blog]

Persondata
NAME=Evans, Jonathan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Evans, Jonny
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=1988-01-02
PLACE OF BIRTH=Belfast, Northern Ireland
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=