Phil Foden embodies what at first glance of a neutral football fan seems impossible at financially strong clubs like Manchester City: club loyalty, modesty, assertiveness at all levels. But the 22-year-old attacking player has proven himself since the age of eight – and has never forgotten his origins.
Calling Phil Foden a “Mancunian Guy” in a video released on Friday night of the latter’s fixed contract extension until 30 June 2027, Manchester City hit the nail on the head.
Because “Mancunian” is an ethnicon, a people group name for people born and raised in or around Manchester. And that’s Foden, born and raised in Stockport in the Greater Manchester area on 28 May 2000. But that’s not all: the boy, who has been addicted to football since early childhood, joined ManCity’s training academy in 2009 at the tender age of eight – and has remained loyal to the club ever since.
In clips of Foden’s still-young career posted by the Citizens on Twitter, for example, the youngster is seen performing cheeky tricks, great passes and precise finishes in various youth games. It is easy to see why City have always held this player in high regard. It also ironically asks whether, at the time, a “Stockport guy”, a young boy from suburban Manchester, really had what it takes to play big football in the Champions League.
Foden overjoyed: “It’s a dream come true “
The answer: not only that. Foden has developed into a permanent force in the attacking game since his first squad nomination in December 2016 under the currently still installed head coach Pep Guardiola in the Champions League match against Celtic Glasgow (1-1, here still without an appearance). Since 2017/18, the Englishman has been an integral part of the Skyblues’ senior squad (making his debut on 21 November 2017 in a 1-0 win over Feyenoord Rotterdam in the top flight) – and now has 106 Premier League appearances to his name (30 goals), 39 Champions League appearances (ten goals), plus 18 caps as an England international (two goals).
Now the club has extended the contract, which originally ran only until 2024, until 2027 with the valuable homegrown player, who despite this already fairytale career, for example, with eleven club titles (four championships), shall always remain modest.
“It’s hard to put into words how happy I am to have signed this contract,” Foden was quoted as saying by the club after his signing. “It’s a dream come true. It’s an honour to be part of this football club. I dreamed one day as a kid to score my first goal for this club.” There have now been many in many games – and more are surely on the way. This season alone, Foden is already on six goals in just nine league games – including a treble in the superb 6-3 City derby win over United, which has cemented him the nickname “Mancunian Guy”, at least in the sky-blue part of Manchester.
Subtle gestures from Foden
However, Foden doesn’t forget the place where it all started for the 22-year-old professional when it comes to such achievements in the big spotlight. “I still have family around Stockport, go there sometimes for a visit – and the kids there are often overwhelmed to see me. It’s a funny feeling, after all, I used to be one of those kids, was just like them. Now they look up to you.” That’s why Foden always wants to give something back to them, he says, which is why he plays football at his old haunts from time to time: “I played here when I was growing up. It’s good to play with the kids there and see a smile on their faces. “
