Phil Foden has already established himself as one of English football’s most elite and decorated players but there is still plenty more to come.
Thanks to careful nurturing from Pep Guardiola, in the face of foolish criticism, Phil Foden has grown from a scrawny teenager to one of Manchester City’s most important players.
Foden helped the Blues win a remarkable treble triumph last season but is already enjoying an even better campaign on a personal level this year.
His immense talent is far from a secret but what about his height, his girlfriend, why he has the number 47 tattooed on his neck and his love for fishing?
Here is everything you need to know about City hero Phil Foden as we answer all of your frequently asked questions.
READ MORE: Who is Man City’s best-paid player? All weekly and yearly wages for the 2023/24 season
How old is Phil Foden?
Phil Foden was born May 28, 2000, in Stockport, Greater Manchester.
As of April, 2024, he is 23 years old.
Phil Foden height and weight
Phil Foden stands at 5 feet 6 inches tall ( 171cm) and he weighs 70kg, according to TNT Sports. He uses his slight frame to his advantage as a low centre of gravity helps him glide by opponents on the ball.
What is Phil Foden’s middle name?
Phil Foden’s middle name is Walter.
Phil Foden salary
Phil Foden is one of Manchester City’s best-paid players and earns £225,000 per week. He has been on this contract since signing his last extension in October 2022.
He earns an annual salary of £11.7m before tax and is reportedly the club’s sixth highest-paid player behind Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and John Stones.
His current Man City contract does not expire until June 30, 2027.
Who is Phil Foden’s girlfriend Rebecca Cooke?
Rebecca Cooke is the long-term partner of Phil Foden and, according to The Sun, they are ‘childhood sweethearts’ who have been together since they were teenagers.
Not much is known about Cooke, who keeps out of the limelight, but the pair have two children together.
A son, Ronnie, was born in January 2019 when Foden was 18 years old followed by a daughter in July, 2021.
Speaking to City’s in-house media, via The Sun, at the time of his first child’s birth, Foden said: “I was there for the birth. I walked out of the room, gave it a little tear and then went back in like nothing happened.
“I’m not one for crying in front of people. I like to be on my own, but I was there in the room, watched it happen and it was a special moment. Your life changes.”
Phil Foden Instagram and X
Phil Foden has an official Instagram account with 10.7m followers. His three pinned posts are photos of him lifting the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies from 2023’s treble triumph.
He also has an X account with 1.5m followers.
Phil Foden’s nicknames
Phil Foden has two nicknames he’s referred to by supporters and even his teammates.
The Sniper
Phil Foden has started marking his goals with a trademark celebration which sees him go on his knees and mimick shooting a sniper rifle.
That’s because his teammates have started calling him ‘The Sniper’ and Kyle Walker explained the reasoning behind the moniker.
Speaking to Sky Sports after Foden scored twice against Manchester United this season, Walker said: “We call him ‘The Sniper’ because he likes to shoot.
“He likes his shots, so you know when he comes in on that left foot he has got the quality, the calmness and composure to pick his spot.”
The Stockport Iniesta
City fans soon started drawing comparisons between boy wonder Foden and Andres Iniesta after he broke into the first team.
Supporters were wowed by Foden’s playing style and likened him to the legendary Barcelona playmaker.
However, it’s a nickname Foden never really understood. He told Esquire in 2022: “It’s a nice compliment but I’ve no idea why. He was just too good.”
How old was Phil Foden when he joined Man City?
A local lad, Phil Foden grew up as a Manchester City fan and joined the club at the tender age of four.
He rose through the academy’s ranks, signed a scholarship in 2016 and made his first team debut on November 21, 2017, in the Champions League against Feyenoord.
Phil Foden stats
Foden may have won a treble last season and the Champions League for the first time but he’s enjoying an even better campaign this time around on a personal level.
With a significant chunk of the season to go he has already smashed his best-ever return of goal contributions and the number will likely grow even higher.
Phil Foden Man City stats
Phil Foden England stats
Phil Foden trophies
Despite his tender years, Phil Foden has already won all there is to win in club football at City.
Major honours won
- Champions League – 2022/23
- Five Premier League titles – 2022/23, 2021/22, 2020/21, 2018/19, 2017/18
- FIFA Club World Cup – 2024
- UEFA Super Cup – 2023/24
- Two FA Cups – 2023, 2019
- Four League Cups – 2021, 202, 2019, 2018
- Two Community Shields – 2019/20, 2018/19
International trophies
- Under-17 World Cup – 2017
Individual honours
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament – 2017
- FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball – 2017
- BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year – 2017
- Alan Hardaker Trophy – 2020
- IFFHS Men’s World Youth (U20) Team – 2020
- UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season – 2020–21
- Premier League Young Player of the Season – 2020–21, 2021–22
- PFA Young Player of the Year – 2020–21, 2021–22
Why has Phil Foden got a 47 tattoo?
Phil Foden has a tattoo of the number 47 on his neck. This matches his iconic shirt number, the only one he has ever worn for City.
Young starlets usually wear a high squad number when they first break into the first team but tend to upgrade to a more prestigious one once they’re in the side.
Though Foden was offered the No.10 by Sergio Aguero in the past, he has always opted to keep No.47.
That’s because he wears it to honour his late grandfather, Ronnie, who died at the age of 47, and why he has the tattoo.
Speaking of Aguero’s offer in 2022, Foden said, via TalkSport: “The ten shirt is such a big number in the club, but I just have a thing with 47.
“I’d like to create my own legacy and keep that number.”
Phil Foden’s love of fishing
Away from the pitch, Foden loves to spend time at the lake fishing. He is an accomplished fisherman capable of reeling in some absolute leviathans out of the depths.
Speaking to City’s in-house media on his love of fishing, Foden said: “I was probably about six or seven and my dad had a fishing rod of his dad’s and said we should go and try it out.
“I fell in love with it and we ended up going every weekend. I still remember my first catch. It wasn’t very big, I was just learning, but it’s the excitement of when you get one for the first time.
“I think that’s the buzz that makes you want to go again, but it’s also a chance to chill and relax and to spend time with my dad.
“I think it’s really good after games when you have to rest your legs and I just find it really enjoyable.
“I generally love all types of sport, but I don’t do any others apart from fishing. I do like darts, but I don’t really play.
“We have a dartboard when I’m with England and a few of the lads say I’m a natural. We don’t really compete, but sometimes I hit a 180 and they’ll be gobsmacked.”
Phil Foden’s blonde haircut
Phil Foden tried a striking new look in 2021 by dyeing his usually dark, brown hair a bright, peroxide blond.
This was for England’s Euro 2021 campaign, in which Foden helped the Three Lions reach the final where they lost on penalties to Italy.
The bold new look instantly earned comparisons to England legend Paul Gascoigne’s iconic haircut at Euro 96.
He said, via the Independent: “I’ve had the same haircut for ages now so I thought I would try something new and woke up this morning with a lot of comparisons to Gazza and Eminem.
“It was my own thing and people have turned it into something else.
“I remember watching highlights on the TV of Gazza, unbelievable player.
“The full nation knows what he means for the country and what he did. I wouldn’t be too bad if I try to bring a bit of Gazza on the pitch.”