Crewe Alexandra Jones began his career with
Crewe Alexandra, signing professional forms at the age of 17 on 20 December 1988 when Crewe were in
Division Four. The right-back settled quickly, quietly going about his defensive duties until being spotted during the
1991–92 season, accidentally, by Liverpool manager
Graeme Souness who was at
Gresty Road looking at a different player. Souness put in an offer of £300,000 which was accepted, and on 4 October 1991, a month before his 20th birthday, he became a Liverpool player.
Liverpool His debut for the Reds came on 6 October 1991, just 48 hours after he had signed on at
Anfield, with a game at
Old Trafford, where he excelled against United winger
Ryan Giggs and was named Man Of The Match in a goalless league draw. By the end of the season, Jones had won over the coach, become a regular in the starting line-up, had gained his first international cap, as well as helped the Reds to the final of the
FA Cup at
Wembley – a final that saw Liverpool beat
Sunderland 2–0. He was also named in the 1991/92 PFA Team of the Year. However, he was ruled out of England's
Euro 92 squad due to shin splints. Over the next four seasons he was a regular member of the Liverpool starting line-up and in the sides that beat
Bolton Wanderers 2–1 in the
1995 Football League Cup final and lost 1–0 to Man United in the
1996 FA Cup final. He was once more named in the PFA Team of the Year (1994/95). When Liverpool signed midfielder
Jason McAteer, who arrived in
1995,
Roy Evans converted McAteer to right-back and employed Jones on the left-side in a
wingback role as Liverpool changed from their normal
4–4–2 to an attack-minded
5–3–2 formation. After the
1996 FA Cup final, Jones was advised to take a six-month break from football due to back problems. He returned to action, but the next two seasons were plagued by injuries, and in April 1998 he played what was to be his last game for Liverpool against
Chelsea. An injury in his left knee could not be fixed, despite three operations, and at the end of the
1998–99 season, in which he had not played a game, he was released on a free transfer by new coach that year,
Gérard Houllier, who was ushering in a new era at the club to eliminate the club's
Spice Boys public image and stereotype.
West Ham United Jones joined
West Ham United, on non-contract terms, on 17 July 1999. He was named in the side that began the
Intertoto Cup third round second leg tie against
FC Jokerit, but was substituted after the first half as a result of aggravating his knee injury. This proved to be his last senior appearance, as he retired in August 1999. ==International career==