SM
Oman vs. Qatar: 12 hrs 35 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Five things you may not know about England star Kalvin Phillips

:Headline: Five things you may not know about England star Kalvin Phillips:
The Leeds midfielder starred in his country's Euro 2020 opener against Croatia.
Sports Mole

Kalvin Phillips won rave reviews for his performance for England in their 1-0 win against Croatia in their opening Euro 2020 match.

The Leeds midfielder capped an impressive display for Gareth Southgate's side by setting up Raheem Sterling's decisive second-half goal.

Here, the PA news agency looks at five things you may not know about Phillips.

Bielsa polishes rough diamond

Phillips, right, made 10 Championship appearances for Leeds during 2015/16 after making his debut towards the end of the previous season (David Davies/PA)

Phillips, 25, progressed through Leeds' academy and was handed his first-team debut by former boss Neil Redfearn in a Championship defeat to Wolves in April 2015. He was one of several homegrown players to become a first-team regular during Garry Monk's tenure, but came into his own under current boss Marcelo Bielsa and was rewarded with his first England cap against Denmark in a Nations League game last September. He made his ninth appearance for the Three Lions against Croatia.

Not just a 'stopper'

Bielsa transformed a combative young midfielder with a keen eye for a shot on goal into one of the country's best young defensive midfield players, but Phillips proved a revelation in England's opening Group D match at Euro 2020 against Croatia as boss Southgate chose to play him in a more advanced role. Dubbed "the Yorkshire Pirlo" by Leeds fans, that nickname was picked up by the tournament's Twitter account after Phillips showed he is much more than a holding player, timing his run in the build-up to Sterling's winner to perfection and cutting inside before laying on a beautifully-weighted assist.

Working-class hero

Phillips was born in Bramley as one of triplets – one of his sisters died as a child – and joined Leeds' academy from local side Wortley Juniors as a 14-year-old after being spotted at a tournament. He had turned up to watch his friends play and was drafted in to make up the numbers. He is fiercely proud of his working-class background and in an interview earlier this year said: "As a family, we're very close and my mum's always told me: 'Don't ever think you're better than you are. Be grounded and proud of where you're from'."

Loyalty rewarded

Phillips celebrates Leeds' promotion to the Premier League with Jack Harrison, left, and Helder Costa (Tim Goode/PA)

Aston Villa made a reported offer in excess of £25million for Phillips after Leeds lost out to Derby in the Championship play-off semi-finals in 2019. Leeds chief executive Angus Kinnear later revealed Phillips had made an "absolutely crazy financial decision" to stay at Elland Road and sign a new five-year deal in a bid to win Premier League promotion with his boyhood club. Unfazed by the leap to the top flight, the Yorkshireman's star has continued to soar and his value today is in the region of £50m.

Driven to make a difference

Phillips, right, takes a knee in support of the fight against racism before England's friendly with Romania (Lee Smith/PA)

Phillips revealed in November last year that his father, Mark, was serving a prison sentence at Wealstun, which is close to Leeds' Thorp Arch training ground and that they speak twice a month. Phillips has paid tribute to his mother, Lindsay, for the selfless role she played in raising him, his brother and two sisters. Away from the pitch he has been vocal in his support for the Black Lives Matter movement, claiming he feels responsible as a prominent black footballer to actively help in the fight against racism.

body check tags ::

amp_article__451297 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-06-14 10:19:43:
html db last update - 2021-06-14 10:19:43 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Share this article now:
EM
Read Next:
Gareth Southgate hails "positive step" as England beat Croatia
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Kalvin Phillips Marcelo Bielsa Gareth Southgate Raheem Sterling Neil Redfearn Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Gareth Southgate hails "positive step" as England beat Croatia
"City and Pep haven't adapted": Is Guardiola's job in danger?

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd22155232112148
2Leeds UnitedLeeds22136341152645
3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Liverpool 'dealt Pulisic blow' as Milan take decisive action

1

L'

Latest Mount, De Ligt updates: Man United injury, suspension news vs. Wolves

2

LM

Potential Chelsea exit? Barcelona 'offered chance' to sign forward

NEW

3

PC

"City and Pep haven't adapted": Is Guardiola's job in danger?

4

&A

Heading the other way? Chelsea readying £49.8m bid for Milan 'revelation'

5

HT

Valencia 'meet release clause' in bid to appoint Championship manager

6

V'

Ederson replacement: Man City identify Serie A goalkeeper as transfer target?

7

ER

Are Liverpool the most "complete" side in the Premier League?

8

AL

Amorim points finger at Rashford's team over bombshell interview

9

AP

Hamstrung: Which Arsenal games will Saka miss through injury?

10

HW


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .