Kevin Phillips

At 50 years old, Kevin Phillips has this physical status:

Kevin Mark Phillips (born 25 July 1973) is an English former professional footballer. A former forward, Phillips was the Premier League top scorer in the 1999–2000 season with 30 goals for Sunderland, a tally which won him the European Golden Shoe.

He remains the only Englishman to win the trophy.

He also had spells at Watford, Southampton, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City, Blackpool, Crystal Palace and Leicester City.

Personal life

Phillips is married to Julie. They have four children: Millie, twins Toby and Tia, and Alfie.

Phillips' cousin-in-law is Labour politician Jess Phillips.

Source

Club career

Phillips was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. He began his football career as a student at Southampton, where he spent six years, four as a schoolboy, before being hired as an apprentice in 1989. Phillips was considered too young to play up front and was playing at right back, in which position he made two reserve team appearances in 1990. He struggled to make the grade at Southampton and was fired by boss Chris Nicholl, and he returned to Hertfordshire, where he signed for non-League semi-professional side Baldock Town in 1991.

He was initially a defender at Baldock Town until an injury issue culminated in manager Ian Allinson playing Phillips as a striker, scoring twice in his first game in his new role. In December 1994, Watford was signed for a total £10,000, plus four additional payments of £5,000.

Phillips stayed in the squad during the second half of the 1994-1995 season and played regularly until suffering a foot injury in March 1996, which kept him out for a year. Watford was recalled from Division One in 1995-1996, and by the time Phillips returned to the team, they were in the top half of Division Two and finished 13th. Phillips signed for Sunderland in July 1997 for a fee of £325,000, with the possibility of more than £600,000.

Only after being relegated from the Premiership, Phillips signed for Sunderland. The club was in mid-table and Phillips had four goals going into the Division One season. Phillips set or equalized club records by scoring in seven consecutive matches and nine consecutive home matches, becoming the first Sunderland player to score 30 goals in a season since the Second World War. In the third round of the FA Cup at Rotherham United, he had a four-goal haul as well as two goals in the play-off season. Phillips was injured after scoring Sunderland's second goal in the play-off final, but he missed the remainder of the 4–4 draw with Charlton Athletic, who lost 7–6 on penalties. Phillips later referred to the final as his "most frustrating day in football," but also as the best match he had ever participated in.

As Sunderland rose to the top of the Division One table in the first weeks of the 1998–99 season, Phillips scored eight goals in the first weeks of the season. He was out for nearly four months after suffering a broken toe in a League Cup tie against Chester City in mid-September, but his goalscoring resurfaced immediately after his return, with a "screaming volley" away to Queens Park Rangers. Phillips was promoted to Sunderland in April after scoring four of Sunderland's five goals against Bury in an away game, and he finished the season with 23 goals from only 26 league games and 25 goals in all competitions. His form earned him an international call-up for England, and he made his debut in the starting eleven against Hungary in a friendly against Hungary.

Phillips will struggle to get more than six goals at the higher level in the run-up to the 1999–2000 FA Premier League season. Phillips, a veteran striker, scored his sixth goal against Derby County on September 18th, the first of a hat-trick, and was named Premier League Player of the Month for October. His goal tally stood 20 by mid-January and 30 by the season's end, earning him not only the Premier League Golden Boot but also the European Golden Shoe Award – the first Englishman to win the latter in 2021 – but he was unable to win the latter but not in a UEFA Cup place.

Phillips scored his 104th goal for Sunderland in January 2001, breaking the club's post-war goalscoring record. Phillips continued to fail both physically and academically: he scored only once between mid-January and May, and was chastised by fans and local press alike as the season progressed. Sunderland finished seventh and missed out on UEFA Cup qualification, with 18 goals in all competitions, 14 in the league.

Phillips' contribution to Sunderland's 2001–02 season was down by 13, of which 11 were in the league. After three straight spot-kicks were saved, he relinquished his penalty-taking duties, but his goal on the final day of the season, in a 1–1 draw with Derby County, was enough to guarantee 17th spot and Premier League permanence. Despite a groin injury that necessitated surgery after the 2002 close season, he played the last months of the season.

Phillips "pledged his future" to Sunderland ahead of the 2002–03 season, despite the fact that he had submitted a transfer request in August amid widespread interest from clubs like Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Tore André Flo and Marcus Stewart, two strikers, were sent by manager Peter Reid, who told Phillips that he was no longer a first choice. Phillips did appear in 32 of the 38 league games but scored only six goals as the club was relegated with just four victories and what seemed to be Premier League record lows of 19 points and 21 goals. In January, a second transfer request was turned down, but Phillips revealed that the club's ability to minimize its spending due to relegation would have to be canceled at the end of the season, and that he would be leaving. He had played in 235 games for Sunderland and scored 130 goals in an average of better than a goal every two games.

Following Sunderland's relegation from the Premier League, Phillips went to Southampton in August 2003, despite taking a substantial cut in his salary.

He made his debut on August 16, coming back as a replacement for Leicester City and scoring with a long-range shot in a 2–2 draw. The ball ricocheted in off his goal at White Hart Lane on September 20th, preventing him from an attempted clearance by Tottenham Hotspur's Anthony Gardner. The equalizing goal was scored in a 1–1 draw with Steaua Bucharest in the UEFA Cup First Round, which was followed in mid-week. Phillips was kicked out in the final minute of a bad-tempered 1–0 loss to Middlesbrough on Saturday after he kicked out Boro defender Franck Queudrue.

Phillips continued to fail for over three months before his fourth goal of the season was scored in a 2–1 win over Leeds United on January 17, 2004. Phillips netted ten more goals in the final four months of the season, including two goals in the matches against Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Manchester City, extending his good form. Phillips' 2003-2004 season saw 13 goals in total, down from 37 appearances.

Gordon Strachan had resigned in March 2004 to be replaced by Paul Sturrock, who was fired shortly after the 2004–05 season, but Steve Wigley had only been in charge for three months before his arrival of Harry Redknapp from local rivals Portsmouth in December. Phillips had been playing under four managers under the same name for more than a year.

Despite frequent changes in bosse, Phillips continued to score regularly in his relationship with new signing Peter Crouch. In 2004,-05, he played ten league goals, two of whom were in a 3–3 draw with Fulham on January 5th. Despite Phillips' success, the team ended at the bottom of the table and was relegated after 27 years in the top flight. Phillips departed Southampton after two years and 22 league goals to join Aston Villa in a £1 million contract on June 29, 2005.

On June 29, 2005, Phillips agreed to a two-year deal with Premier League club Aston Villa for a sum of £1 million. He scored just four minutes into his Villa debut, but then returned from injury to seal Villa's first Premier League victory over Birmingham City in seven attempts. Phillips shared front-man duties with Juan Pablo ngel and fellow new signing Milan Baro, but his season was marred by sickness and injuries, in which he only scored five goals. He started his season with Villa in 2006, but he signed for West Bromwich Albion of the Championship on August 22 for a £700,000 fee.

Despite strong support from Sunderland, where his former strike partner Niall Quinn had recently joined West Bromwich Albion and became both chairman and boss. A reluctance to move his family and home for the third time in three years was cited as a significant factor in his decision. In his first season with West Brom, he scored 22 goals, two in a 5–1 victory over Ipswich Town and two in a 7–0 victory over Barnsley, the second in a 7–0 victory in the play-offs. Phillips scored twice in the first leg of the play-off semi-final against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and he was the only goal of the second leg to guarantee their passage to the final, where they lost 1–0 to Derby County.

He missed six weeks of the 2007–08 season due to a knee injury suffered in early November, but regained his goalscoring form in his return to win the Championship player-of-the-month award for December. Phillips scored his 200th League goal in a 1–1 draw with Crystal Palace on March 13, 2008, and Albion boss Tony Mowbray characterized him as "a natural goal-scorer with a strong sense of direction and vision." Fans of West Bromwich Albion dressed up as superheroes in honor of Phillips, who is referred to as "Super Kev"; Albion won promotion to the Premier League as champions after losing the match 2–0. Phillips has received numerous honors over the years. Since scoring 24 goals from 30 starts and finishing as the Championship's second top goalscorer, he received Player-of-the-Year awards from both the West Bromwich Albion Supporters Club and the club itself. He was named National Player of the Year at the annual Football League Awards, ahead of Andy Gray of Charlton Athletic and Michael Kightly of Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Jonathan Greening of PFA Championship Team of the Year, alongside colleagues Paul Robinson and Jonathan Greening.

Phillips was granted a one-year deal if he made 19 or more league appearances when his deal with West Bromwich Albion came to an end at the end of the 2007–08 season. He turned down the bid and signed a two-year deal with Birmingham City, which was recently relegated from the Premier League. He made his debut against Sheffield United on the first day of the 2008-09 season, starting as a replacement and scoring a stoppage time winner in a 1–0 victory. Phillips continued his scoring streak with goals in his next two games, against Southampton and Barnsley, "lashed in a stinging low drive" against Reading that earned him the club's Goal of the Season award, and he finished the season with 14 goals in all competitions. In a 2–1 win over Reading on the last day of the season, Birmingham's return to the Premier League after just one season in the Championship. His 14th had taken a two-goal lead.

Phillips, a 36-year-old boy, knew he'd be playing a lesser role at the top of the game. Birmingham set a record nine consecutive games with the same starting eleven in a season when boss Alex McLeish depended on consistency in team selection, winning a season-wide record of nine consecutive matches, but he came on as a replacement in 17 games. He scored only four goals, but the club's highest finish in more than 50 years was achieved thanks to four goals. He came off the bench twice to win the game, and Arsenal defeated Manchester United State 11-0 down on Friday, despite Bacary Sagna's 92nd-minute goal.

He signed a one-year contract extension ahead of the 2010–11 season, but he was unable to begin due to injuries. He went on to make five league appearances, but it was in the League Cup that he made his major contribution. Brentford, Phillips, a footballer from the United States, scored a stoppage-time equalizer and converted his penalty in the shootout, which saw Birmingham advance to the quarterfinals. Birmingham defeated Arsenal 2–1 to advance to the final, where Phillips earned his first winners' medal in a cup tournament, even as an unreserved substitute. Birmingham finished 18th in the league, so were relegated to the Championship, and Phillips was one of several players to leave the club before their contracts came to an end.

Phillips signed a one-year contract with Football League Championship side Blackpool on July 10, 2011. In Blackpool's 2–1 league victory over Peterborough United on his home debut on August 14, he scored both of the team's goals. In a 2–2 draw away from Brighton & Hove Albion, he scored twice more a few days later, including a last-minute equalizer. Phillips scored his only goal of the game against Millwall within three minutes of being a replacement on Friday. He came off the bench to score late equalizing goals in three league games, two of which Blackpool won and two others tied, and in his first match for three months, he scored a 93rd-minute penalty against Sheffield Wednesday in the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in three months. Phillips won their first goal of the season with 17 goals in all competitions, and celebrated their goal of the season for his equalizer against Cardiff City. Phillips took the ball down on his chest, chose his position, and scored with utmost skill and precision."

Phillips held the option to extend his Blackpool contract for another year, but he scored just twice from 18 appearances before falling back to Championship rivals Crystal Palace.

Phillips signed on loan to Crystal Palace until the 2012-13 season, on the last day of the January 2013 transfer window. In the 2–1 win over Charlton Athletic, he was 1–0 down prior to his introduction, and he scored his first goal for the Eagles against his former club Watford at Vicarage Road on Monday. Palace were trailing after he came off the bench, 2–0 down with half an hour remaining, and Phillips equalized as the team fought back to draw a 2–2 draw. In a 4–2 victory over Hull City, Phillips' hat-trick made him the youngest scorer in Palace history, with eight minutes on either side of halftime. This is also the club's fastest ever hat-trick in the league, defeating Dougie Freedman in 11 minutes in a 5–0 victory over Grimsby Town exactly 17 years ago. He appeared as a substitute in the play-off final and converted an extra-time penalty to ensure Palace's promotion to the Premier League at the expense of former Watford. Phillips had agreed to a one-year contract with Palace in July 2013, according to Steve Parish of the Croydon Advertiser.

Phillips had signed Crystal Palace on a one-year contract, according to the club's news on July 20th.

Phillips will leave the club by mutual consent in January, according to the club's 31 December 31.

Leicester City confirmed on January 15, 2014 that they had signed Phillips on a short-term deal until the end of the season. The striker made his international debut against Leeds United on January 18, 2014, replacing Jamie Vardy as a replacement for Jamie Vardy, who gave the opportunity for fellow England international David Nugent to score the winning goal of the game. Phillips scored his first goal for the club against AFC Bournemouth on February 1, 2014, kicking winger Anthony Knockaert's cross. In the 3–1 victory over former club Blackpool on March 15, 2014, Phillips' second goal for Leicester, his first at home, was achieved. He revealed on April 28th, 2014, that he would withdraw from football at the end of the 2013-2014 season. Phillips played his final game of the season against Doncaster Rovers on May 3, 2014, and was released in the 65th minute. Leicester was already champions.

Coaching career

Following his release from football, Phillips was given a coaching job and stayed at Leicester City as an assistant first team coach for the club's first season in the Premier League.

Phillips was appointed as an assistant coach to Paul Clement of Derby County on September 17, 2015.

Phillips joined Stoke City as the first-team coach to Gary Rowett in June 2018. He left Stoke on January 8, 2019.

Phillips was named as the manager of South Shields, the Northern Premier League's Premier Division club. Despite being the favorite to win the league, South Shields finished second and lost in the play-off semi-finals to Warrington Town in Phillips' first season as manager.

International career

Phillips made eight appearances for England between April 1999 and February 2002, but failed to score. He made his international debutant selection by manager Kevin Keegan for the friendly match against Hungary. Phillips had a chance to score in the first half, but the keeper's legs were struck by his shot. Phillips was recalled by fellow debutant Emile Heskey in the 74th minute.

Phillips failed to score in a 2–1 victory over Malta in the final warm-up match before the Euro 2000 tournament, with the BBC describing him as having "that barely brave look of all fringe players who have been left precious little time to impress." Despite this, Phillips was chosen by Keegan as part of the England squad for Euro 2000, but he remained an unused replacement.

In his last game for England, he appeared as a half-time replacement in a friendly against the Netherlands on February 13, 2002, when he had a chance to equalize when he coerced keeper Edwin van der Sar into an error; van der Sar then produced a point-blank save from David Beckham's follow-up.

Source