The NYPD said Jones, 25, from near Southport in Liverpool, died in hospital after he was stabbed in the stomach, neck and had his ear cut off near Union Square.

Police also released footage of surveillance footage showing a pony-tailed Hispanic man wearing a dark jacket who they believe could be connected to the murder.

The Liverpool Echo reports Jones’ parents were listening to Liverpool playing Stoke City when his brother, Philip, received a Facebook message for the family to contact New York police.

‘We got through to the officer who was dealing with the case and once he confirmed who I was he just told me that Michael had been murdered,’ Michael’s father Perry told the Echo.

‘We are just stuck in shock, really, that this is real, this is happening to us. You think you’ll wake up and it’ll be a dream,’ Perry said outside the family home.
 

Jones coached players aged seven to 13 in the youth scheme for MLS club the New York Red Bulls and was due to return to the UK after his fourth season there.

 A spokesman sent the club’s ‘most heartfelt condolences to Michael’s family, friends and loved ones’.

‘He was a tremendous individual, a fantastic coach who loved soccer and a terrific friend for many of us,’ the spokesman continued.

A bunch of long-stem roses have been laid where the young man’s body was found a pool of blood.

The New York Daily News reports footage showed Jones fighting to end after an argument with the knife attacker.

The New York city medical examiner said the coach ultimately died from repeated stab wounds in the torso, including one which punctured his heart.

No arrests have been made.

Image via Spencer Platt/Getty Images)