Now that Phil Jagielka has called time on his career at Stoke City, MSL looks back on his long and distinguished time at Everton, where he really made his name.
Phil Jagielka has retired from football.#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/nOBQwmQKPF
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 28, 2023
The 12 year contract
Jagielka joined the Toffees from Sheffield United July 2007, in a 5 year deal worth 4 million pounds deal. He made 385 appearances for the Merseyside club in 12 years.
Career on hold
The centre back suffered ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a game against Manchester City and was unable to try and help his team win the 2009 FA Cup final against Chelsea. After that, he was forced to miss the remainder of the 2008-2009 season and more than half of the next season. He finally made his return in a UEFA Europa League match against Sporting CP in February 2010 as a substitute for the injured Phillipe Senderos.
The ascendancy to power
The man from Sale earned his captaincy at Goodison Park under the current West Ham manager, David Moyes. This was in April 2013 after another Everton legend, Phil Neville, decided to retire. Moyes left for Manchester United and was replaced by Roberto Martinez. Before the start of the 2013-14 season, the Spaniard made him captain. In that first season, he led Everton to a fifth place finish in the Premier League with his team amassing a club record 72 points.
The beginning of the end
The seasoned veteran found himself on the periphery of the Everton first team for the best part of the 2018-19 season. He only managed seven appearances in what would turn out to be his final season at Everton. Jagielka served under three different managers during that time; Marco Silva, Duncan Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti. At the end of the season, he was not offered a new deal but re-joined Sheffield United. He spent two years with the Blades, then two years with Derby and his final three years at Stoke City.
The good times:
Everton statistics and honors:
- 385 appearances
- 32,681 minutes played
- 19 goals
- 11 assists
- Premier League Player of the Month: February 2009
- Everton Player of the Season: 2008-09, 2014-15
- Everton Player’s Player of the Season: 2008-09, 2014-15
- Everton Goal of the Season: 2014-15
It has been a long journey for the former number 6 of Everton but all good things must come to an end. The final chapter of his 24 year long career closed when he was released by Stoke City at the end of last season.
In his retirement message on Instagram he said: “Being at Everton for 10, 11, 12 years became like a second family, and it made playing for this club so much easier.”
