Phil Foden

Phil Foden has been a constant presence for Manchester City for so long now that it is easy to forget just how young he still is. From the moment he first emerged as a precocious academy talent, his trajectory has felt inevitable – a local boy destined to become the heartbeat of the club he has supported all his life. What began as promise on the youth stage quickly became influence on the biggest stages in football, and before long Phil was no longer simply part of the story at City, but central to it.

His journey has unfolded in plain sight: from a fearless teenager breaking into Pep Guardiola’s squad to a generational talent trusted with defining moments in Champions League finals and title run-ins. Yet for all the medals, records and headline performances, there remains something refreshingly understated about him. He is a global star who still carries the easy warmth of the kid from Stockport, a footballer who can command stadiums while somehow still feeling entirely relatable.

That balance is what makes Phil such a compelling figure. His influence now stretches far beyond the touchlines. He moves comfortably between the worlds of sport, culture and fashion, becoming as recognisable off the pitch as he is on it. In an era where footballers are brands in their own right, he has grown into one of the most authentic personalities of his generation – quietly confident, grounded and above all, genuine.

Despite his maturity and an already overflowing trophy cabinet, there is still a sense that the story is only just beginning. With the 2026 World Cup in America fast approaching, the grandest stage of all awaits, offering the chance to elevate his legacy even further.

It was against that backdrop that SW sat down with him ahead of what looks set to be a defining year, both personally and professionally. The aim was to capture Phil in a different light – to look beyond the footballer and explore the person behind the now coveted No.47 shirt. From his growing status as a fashion figure to his life away from the game, this was an opportunity to understand what drives him, what grounds him and what excites him beyond 90 minutes on a Saturday afternoon.

For someone who has already won almost everything there is to win at club level, choosing a single career highlight might seem an impossible task. For Phil, the answer is refreshingly simple. “Probably the Champions League,” he says.

“I think as a kid, it’s always something you have in your head. It’s like a dream to win the Champions League, so to finally say that I’ve won it – yeah, it’s amazing.”

That answer speaks volumes. Amid the Premier League titles, domestic cups and individual accolades, it is the purest prize in club football that still shines brightest. For a boy who grew up dreaming of playing under the Etihad lights, lifting the Champions League trophy was more than a professional achievement – it was the fulfilment of a childhood fantasy.

Phil’s place within City’s era of dominance is already secure. He has grown up surrounded by greatness, learning his craft alongside some of the finest players of the modern game.

“I think I’ve been involved in some of the best teams to ever play the game,” he says. “Played with some of the best players. So to be part of that from a young age, yeah, it’s amazing. We’ve had some special players, like De Bruyne and David Silva. To grow up playing around them and learning from them obviously helped me when I got into the first team.”

Those influences shaped more than just his football. They helped mould his mentality – the calmness in big moments, the humility in victory and the resilience in defeat. Yet while the world sees the composed professional, at home Phil is something far more ordinary: a young father whose life revolves around family.

“Definitely,” he says when asked if his family keeps him grounded. “I feel like after a tough game, especially when you lose, going back to the kids puts a smile back on your face.”

Fatherhood arrived early in his life, and he credits it with keeping him level-headed as fame and expectation grew around him.

“It’s probably kept me grounded, to be honest,” he says. “It’s kept me in more, which has probably helped me in my career to concentrate on football. So yeah, I think it’s helped me a lot.”

Away from the training ground and the noise of matchdays, he has also found an unlikely sanctuary. In a profession enveloped by intensity and scrutiny, Phil’s escape is disarmingly simple: a quiet lake, a fishing rod and a few hours of peace.

“It originally comes from my dad,” he says, explaining where his love of fishing began. “Growing up fishing with him. I feel like because football is so fast-paced, with a lot of media attention and a lot of fans, fishing is the total opposite. It kind of takes me away from that. When I go fishing, it’s just time to switch off and maybe not think about football so much, and just relax.”

An escape from the intensity of elite sport?

“Yeah,” he says with a smile. “A bit of a switch-off.”

That contrast – between global superstar and humble young man – is part of what makes Phil such an appealing figure beyond the game itself. It is also why he has become an increasingly natural fit within the fashion world. For this SW cover he was styled in Amiri, the luxury label founded by Mike Amiri in 2014, a brand whose rise to prominence mirrors his own.

Amiri began to make serious waves at almost the same time Phil was emerging from City’s academy. Both have grown into leaders in their fields, fuelled by individuality and authenticity. It is a partnership that feels organic, a meeting of two modern success stories.

“It’s just comfy,” he says of the brand. “I just enjoy wearing it. I feel like it’s different as well, different pieces. It’s one of my favourite brands out there and, to be honest, I wear it most days.”

Fashion has become another avenue through which he can express his personality away from the pitch. Like his football, his style has matured naturally over time.

“I’m getting more interested in it now as I get older,” he says. “Things that I think look good on me. It’s just different pieces, so yeah, hopefully that keeps going.”

Growing up in the public eye has meant that every stage of Phil’s evolution has been documented. Looking back now, even he can see how far he has come.

“If I look back now at old photos, I think, ‘What was I wearing?’” he says. “But yeah, it’s definitely a lot better now. When you’re young, you don’t really care about what you’re wearing as much. When you get a little bit older, you want to look nicer and more presentable.”

In modern football, the lines between sport, culture and fashion have never been more blurred. Players are no longer defined solely by what they do on the pitch, and Phil understands the importance of showing the person behind the player.

“I think it’s important to show your personality,” he says. “I feel like now more players are doing that on social media, showing more of the fashion side and more things away from football, which is nice to see. Sometimes people follow an Instagram account and don’t really see what they’re about, so it’s good that people are now showing what they do in their spare time.”

As he moves deeper into his career, Phil remains an intriguing blend of superstar and everyman. A generational talent who still finds happiness in family life and quiet moments by the water, he has already achieved more than most ever will, yet still carries himself with the enthusiasm of someone only just getting started.

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, the world is watching – and Phil Foden looks ready to rise once again.