The homegrown hero is the focus of a new City Studios documentary, which looks at his remarkable trajectory from joining the Club as a six-year-old to becoming a first-team star.
Available now on CITY+, we speak to Phil’s friends, coaches and team-mates that have helped him along the way.
OUR PHIL DOCUMENTARY | WATCH NOW
Closing in on 300 appearances for the Blues, Foden already has an incredible haul of success including six Premier League titles and the Champions League trophy.
Last season, he was recognised as being the best footballer in the Premier League and is loving every moment of being at the Etihad.
“I have a special connection with the fans, especially growing up here and playing in every age group,” he says.
“You never know what the future holds but I’m happy here and there is nowhere better.”
Still 24, it’s now seven years since he broke into the first team as a substitute in the Champions League victory over Feyenoord.
There has been so many magical moments to look back on already, including big milestones such as his first goal for City.
That came in the League Cup victory over Oxford United in a 3-0 win in September 2018 when he casually struck the final goal to the delight of City fans in the stadium and watching around the world.
“I can’t describe that feeling when the ball went into the back of the net,” he says.
“It was everything that I’d been working for.
“All those hours I’d put in playing football - in my head, it all paid off when I scored that goal.
“There were so many emotions running through my head in that celebration, as you could probably tell.”
Plenty of big goals have followed since and there would be another huge one in that 2018/19 season when we were in a head-to-head battle for the title with Liverpool where any slip-up could be fatal.
Just days after being knocked out of the Champions League by Tottenham when Raheem Sterling’s injury-time winner was ruled out by VAR, Spurs returned to the Etihad in the Premier League.
OUR PHIL DOCUMENTARY | FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED
With emotions raw after such a draining defeat, Pep Guardiola rotated his squad with 18-year-old Foden coming into the starting line-up.
And he made the crucial breakthrough with a diving header from Sergio Aguero’s clever assist as City snatched the three points.
“Coming off the back of the Champions League defeat to Tottenham, we had them not long after and it was a massively important game in the Premier League,” he recalls.
“It was so hard to bounce back from a game like that. Everyone saw the way we celebrated, everyone thought we’d scored and it got disallowed.
“To play against the same team not long after is never easy.
“I can remember seeing the teamsheet and the manager had put me in and thinking: ‘Wow! This is a massive game. I have to step up here and try to help the team.’
“The way we handled ourselves in that game was brilliant and we got our revenge in a way because we went on to win the Premier League.
“I still think that’s one of the most important goals I’ve scored. That did a lot for me, it gave me confidence and I came out of my shell a little bit more.”
Watch the City Studios documentary Our Phil on CITY+ now.
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