Phil Foden

At 23 years old, Phil Foden has this physical status:

Philip Walter Foden (born 28 May 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the England under-21 team. Foden's breakthrough into professional football came in 2017 when he won the FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball award following England's successful Under-17 World Cup campaign.

He made his debut for City during the same year and in December was named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.

Foden has since made over 30 appearances for the club, winning six honours including becoming the youngest recipient of a Premier League winners' medal.

In 2019, he won a second Premier League and became the club's youngest-ever goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League, and is the youngest English player to both start a match and score in the knockout stages of the competition.

Personal life

Foden is in a relationship with Rebecca Cooke and has a son, Ronnie, born in January 2019. In April 2021, the couple announced that they were expecting their second child, a daughter who was due in late summer or early autumn 2021.

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Club career

Foden, who was born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, was a Manchester City boyhood supporter. In July 2016, he joined the club at the age of four and accepted his Academy scholarship. He was privately educated at St Bede's College, and Manchester City paid for his tuition fees. Foden was included in the matchday squad for the Champions League group stage match against Celtic on December 6, 2016, but he was an ineffective substitute in the 1–1 home draw.

Foden was included in Manchester City's pre-season tour of the United States, where he played brilliantly in a 0–2 loss to Manchester United and also began in a 4–1 win over Real Madrid in July 2017.

Foden made his Manchester City debut on November 21 in a Champions League match against Feyenoord, the 75th minute for Yaya Touré, after being on the bench for several weeks in the 2017-18 season. He became the fourth-youngest English player to play in the Champions League (17 years 177 days). Foden started as the youngest English player in a UEFA Champions League match on December 6, 2017, defeating Shakhtar Donetsk 2–1. He was also the first player born in the year 2000 to start a match. In a 4–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on December 16, 2017, he made his Premier League debut as a substitute, with a 4–1 victory over a win over Tottenham Hotspur, who was in the 83rd minute for lkay Gündo.

Foden came as a late replacement for Sergio Agüero in the EFL Cup Final on February 25, 2018, assisting City in a 3–0 victory over Arsenal at Wembley Stadium. In a 4–0 victory over Basel, Kieran Richardson set a new record of becoming the youngest English player to begin in a knockout match in the Champions League, breaking Kieran Richardson's record to become the youngest English player to start in a knockout match. He became the youngest player to receive a Premier League champion's medal on May 13th. In the 2020 edition of Guinness World Records, they lauded him for his achievement.

Foden was part of City's starting line-up for the FA Community Shield on Friday, playing 75 minutes as well as assisting Agüero's first goal of the season in a 2–0 win over Chelsea, marking Foden's third winners' medal of the calendar year. City beat Oxford United 3–0 away in the third round of the EFL Cup on September 25, 2018, with Riyad Mahrez assisting him and later scoring his first senior goal in injury time.

Foden scored his first home goal at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, neting the second for the City against Rotherham United in the third round of the FA Cup, with a score of 7–0. Foden was back on the scoresheet three days later as he helped City defeat Burton Albion 9–0 in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-finals. Foden scored his first Champions League goal against Schalke in the second leg of the last-16 tie on March 12, 2019, defeating the City 7–0 (both aggregate). By doing so, he tied the club for the highest winning margin in the tournament's knockout phase. He made him Man City's youngest-ever goalscorer in the Champions League and the youngest English goalscorer to score in the knockout stages of the tournament, aged 18 years and 288 days. In a 2–0 victory over Cardiff City in the first month of the season, he made his first league appearance for the club since Daniel Sturridge in 2008. Pep Guardiola, the city's manager, told reporters that Foden will be a key Manchester City player "for the next decade."

In a 1–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on April 20, Foden scored his first Premier League goal. He became the third-youngest player to play for the club in the Premier League after doing so, after Micah Richards and Sturridge. Man City ended the season with a domestic sweep of all trophies, with Foden playing a more prominent part in the squad.

Foden won the FA Community Shield against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on August 4, 2019, his seventh appearance on the sport. He scored in the penalty shoot-out, determining the winners. Manchester City defeated West Ham United 5–0 at the London Stadium, six days later, in his first Premier League appearance of the season.

Foden scored his first goal of the season in the UEFA Champions League on match day 2 of the group stage on October 1st. Foden had the second most significant chances (6th in the UEFA Champions League group stage), just behind Lionel Messi (7).

Foden made his first Premier League appearance of the season on December 15, 2019, giving him an assist against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in a 3–0 victory for the citizens.

Foden played in the EFL Cup final on March 1st, his sixth major award and eighth trophy in his career as Man City defeated Aston Villa 2–1. He was also named man of the match, thereby making him the youngest recipient of the Alan Hardaker Trophy.

After the COVID-19 pandemic had put the season on hold, Premier League football returned on June 17th. Foden was on the scoresheet as City defeated Arsenal three times at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City defeated Burnley 5–0 in a Premier League brace and scored in consecutive league games for the first time. Liverpool, the newly crowned champions of Manchester United Kingdom, were welcomed to the Etihad on July 2nd, 2020. As City defeated 4–0, Foden scored and assisted in the match.

Foden started the 2019-20 Premier League season on July 26th with a 5–0 victory over Norwich City, securing Manchester City's finish second position on the season. However, the occasion was marked by Foden's idol David Silva's departure after ten years with the club. "Training has been quicker, and it has been amazing working with Silva, who is my idol." I try and learn from him and learn from him, and then try and do the same things." Foden was expected to take over from Silva with Pep Guardiola, who said that Manchester City "trust" Phil Foden to replace him.

Foden began his second UEFA Champions League knockout tie against Real Madrid on August 7, assisting his team in winning 2–1 (4–2 on aggregate) and advance to the quarter final, where Man City will be left out of the tournament. With 38 games played, he finished the season with 8 goals and 9 assists in all competitions.

Foden started his season against Wolves on match-day 1 of the Premier League season, defeating the Wolves 3–1 on a 3–1 triumph on September 21, 2020. In a 1–1 draw at the London Stadium on October 24, he scored his second league goal of the 2020-21 season. He equalized just six minutes after replacing Sergio Aguero at halftime, pivoting successfully to convert a cross from teammate Joo Cancelo. Foden scored his first UEFA Champions League goal of the 2020-21 season in Greece against Olympiacos on November 25, a smart finish from inside the box after a dazzling Raheem Sterling cut back. For the eighth consecutive season, City's victory in the Champions League secured their passage to the round of 16 for the eighth straight season.

He scored a goal and contributed to Liverpool's 4–1 away victory over Liverpool on February 7th, his team's first victory at Anfield since 2003. Manchester City defeated 3–1 away at Goodison Park on February 17th, extending their lead in all competitions to 17. Foden scored in Merseyside once more. Foden was on the scoresheet in both legs of City's Champions League quarter-final match against Borussia Dortmund, securing their promotion to the last four of the competition.

Foden won the man of the match award and scored against Aston Villa at Villa Park on April 21, 2021, extending Man City's advantage to 11 points. Foden's 14th goal in all competitions this season, and his seventh in the Premier League, was in the 2020–21 season. Foden claimed his ninth trophy with Manchester City after they defeated Tottenham 1–0 in the EFL Cup Final, just four days later, with Foden winning his ninth trophy with the EFL Cup Final, with Foden playing the full 90 minutes. Foden made history by defeating Paris Saint-Germain 4–1 on aggregate, with Foden assisting Riyad Mahrez in the second leg. Manchester United defeated Leicester City 2–1 on May 12 for Foden's third premier league title in four years. Foden made the first UEFA Champions League final in the club's history. Man City lost by 1–0, Foden's first defeat in a final in his senior career. He was named in the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season and won Premier League Young Player of the Year when being nominated for both PFA Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year, earning the latter award.

Foden's injury before the Euro 2020 Final resulted in him missing the Premier League season, not being involved against Tottenham, Norwich, and Arsenal, and Arsenal, while Leicester being an unused replacement against Leicester. In a 6–1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers, he got off, scored, two assists, and named man of the match. Foden scored his first goal of the Premier League season against Liverpool. In the first leg of a Champions League match against Club Brugge KV, he was named man of the match and will face Club Brugge in the second leg of the match. Foden was voted man of the match by beating Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League, earning him the title of man of the match. He also scored the winner and was named man of the match against Brentford, but he missed Arsenal's next game due to health issues.

Foden scored twice in two games against Norwich and Sporting Lisbon on the 12 and 15 February respectively, respectively. He once more was named man of the match against Everton. Foden scored against Real Madrid 4–3 in the Champions League's semi-finals, but Real Madrid beat Manchester City 3–1, knocking Manchester City out of the competition. He was also involved in City's incredible comeback against Aston Villa on the final day, winning the Premier League title over Liverpool.

Foden scored 14 goals, nine in the Premier League, including nine in the Premier League. He also received the PFA Young Player of the Year award, as well as the Premier League Young Player of the Season for the second year in a row. In addition, Foden was nominated for PFA Player of the Year and the 2021–22 Ballon D'Or award.

Foden scored his first hat-trick in a 6–3 home win over Manchester United on October 2, 2022. Foden, who is a student at the University of Manchester, agreed to a three-year deal, which will keep him at the City until 2027.

International career

Foden scored in the final of the 2017 European Under-17 Championship in May 2017, as the England under-17s suffered a penalty shoot-out loss at the hands of Spain.

Foden earned a lot of buzz in October and the final of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, also against Spain, after England defeated the competition. He was voted the best player of the tournament.

In 2017, he received the FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball award, attracting increased media coverage and widespread newspaper coverage.

Foden was included in England's 23-man squad for the 2019 European Under-21 Championship on May 27th, his first for the U21s, in Cesena's first victory over France.

Foden was included in the England senior squad for the first time on August 25th, 2020. In a 1–0 away victory in the UEFA Nations League tournament, he made his international debut against Iceland on September 5th, 2020. Foden, alongside England teammate Mason Greenwood, was barred from the England squad for violating the team's COVID-19 isolation policies by taking at least one visitor to their team hotel in Iceland on September 7th. Foden's behaviour was condemned by Manchester City.

Foden scored his first and second goals for England during a UEFA Nations League match against Iceland at Wembley Stadium on November 18, 2020.

Foden was named in the 26-man squad for the newly rescheduled UEFA Euro 2020 on June 1st. He joined the squad at a later date due to his participation in the UEFA Champions League Final this year. Foden reported that he had dyed his hair blonde on June 8th, comparing him to former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne, who also had a similar haircut for Euro 96. In a press conference on the same day, Foden said that "the whole world knows what he means to the country and what he did," so it won't be too bad if I try to bring a bit of Gazza on to the pitch."

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