OUT GOES SILVA IN COMES GOLD
For one brief moment as he speaks to FourFourTwo, Phil Foden is 11 years old again.
He’s thinking back to the day when he witnessed history right in front of his very eyes at the Etihad Stadium. The day in 2012 when a young fan’s dream came true. The day Manchester City became champions of England for the first time in nearly half a century, in the most dramatic fashion.
“I was directly behind the net when Sergio Aguero scored,” he says with a smile. “Then we celebrated on the pitch – I was on there at the end, with however many other people that afternoon. That was my main highlight as a City fan – it’s mad to think I play with those players now.”
Since making his first-team debut in 2017, Foden has spent almost three years learning from some heroes of that title-winning team. Aguero remains, but Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany have since moved on – and now David Silva, too: City’s player of the season in that pivotal 2011-12 campaign.
The Spaniard was Foden’s idol, and still is. At just 20 years of age, he has been handed the torch and entrusted to follow in Silva’s midfield footsteps. “When David said it was his last year, I told the board that we have Phil, so we don’t have to invest,” coach Pep Guardiola explained recently. “In the next 15 years, Phil will be an outstanding player for us. I don’t have doubts.”
Eight years ago, Foden cheered City’s title challenge from the stands. Now, he’s been given the chance to live the biggest dream of all – to play a pivotal role himself, as the Sky Blues try to wrestle back the Premier League from Liverpool in 2020-21. Do that, and he could become a crucial figure for England at the rescheduled Euros next summer.
“I WAS BEHIND THE NET WHEN AGUERO SCORED – IT’S MAD TO THINK I PLAY WITH HIM NOW”
The last three years have already proved pretty special for Phil Foden. What lies ahead could be the biggest season of his life.
ONCE A BLUE...
Such is the diminutive midfielder’s talent and technical ability, he had gained the nickname of ‘Stockport Iniesta’ even before making his first-team debut.
“Edgeley is a small part of Stockport, close to
