Overview

• Jansen says he twice declined moves to Manchester United, first choosing Crystal Palace from Carlisle to secure immediate first‑team minutes.
• He recalls a later transfer saga in which Juventus, Chelsea, Newcastle, Arsenal and United had £5m bids accepted before Blackburn secured him for £4.1m paid up front.
• At Blackburn he won the 2002 League Cup, scoring and then setting up Andy Cole’s winner against Tottenham in Cardiff.
• He was on the brink of England’s 2002 World Cup squad before being left out for defensive cover after illness cost him a key audition, and he then suffered a life‑threatening scooter crash in Rome that affected his career.
• He maintains he has no regrets about his choices and now serves on Stockport County’s first‑team coaching staff after a post‑playing spell managing Chorley.