Phillips has to seize chance to be the main man not the forgotten man
Kalvin Phillips’ story is a sadly familiar footballing tale of risking career development for a tempting offer at a young age. Phillips is now 30. He’s become a very wealthy man but also become football’s forgotten man. Phillips has started only 26 games over the past four years at Manchester City and on loan at West Ham United and Ipswich Town - after starting 206 at Leeds United. He’s not played for England since 2023 after being a key player in the march to within a shootout of Euro 2020 glory and being voted England’s Player of the Year in 2021. He’s now on loan at Sheffield United, 17th in the Championship.
The first thing that needs saying about Phillips is that he’s a genuinely likeable individual, pretty humble, always an honest interviewee. He was quick across the Wembley pitch to console a devastated Bukayo Saka when the winger missed his penalty kick against Italy in the Euro 2020 final. It also needs stating that it is Phillips’ career and that his City move ensures his family and future generations will never want for anything. Growing up, Phillips himself was teased for having free school meals as his family couldn’t afford a packed lunch.
He’s experienced plenty of adversity. Kalvin was one of triplets, but one sister, Lacreasha, passed away very young. Phillips’ father has been in and out of prison. His mother Lindsay worked hard and sacrificed much bringing Phillips up. She worked two jobs and slept on the sofa so her four kids had room upstairs in Armley, Leeds.
Lindsay helped Phillips fulfil his dream as a professional. She fought for her son when his headmaster blocked his desire to go to Leeds on day release, and exchange Phillips once related to City club media. “I hope Kalvin realises not many make it as professional footballer,” the head emailed Lindsay. “We’d like him to stay in school and focus on his schoolwork.” Lindsay fired back, “Kalvin is going on this day release. You can mark him down as absent on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s not going to make a difference to me.” Her stance certainly made a difference to Kalvin.
He flourished at Leeds, especially under Marcelo Bielsa, a rare strong father figure type in his life, and with England under the player-whisperer Gareth Southgate. It is natural to reflect that managers, especially those with high emotional intelligence, become even more important to those lacking regular contact with their father.