The footballing genius, grounded by the love of his family: How Man City's Phil Foden, 23, stays 'down to earth' thanks to his childhood sweetheart, a very 'feisty' mother and the kids he dotes on - four years after a night in Iceland almost ruined it all By James Tozer Published: 15:36 BST, 20 May 2024 | Updated: 18:37 BST, 20 May 2024 e-mail 29 View comments Nicknamed the 'Stockport Iniesta', Phil Foden is the young football genius with the world at his feet. He confirmed his rise from footballing prodigy to fully-fledged global superstar with two brilliant goals to fire Manchester City to the Premier League title. At 23, Foden is now the youngest player to win the League six times and is a doting dad to two young children from his relationship with his childhood sweetheart, Rebecca Cooke.
But the route to glory and acclaim hasn't always been an easy one for the £200,000-a-week midfielder who was raised on a Stockport council estate. After making his senior international debut against Iceland in Reykjavik in September 2020, Foden and team-mate Mason Greenwood invited a beauty queen and her cousin back to their hotel – in breach of strict Covid quarantine rules. Both were fined £1,400 by local police and kicked out of Gareth Southgate 's squad, with Foden issuing a grovelling apology.
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden is kept grounded by his childhood sweetheart Rebecca Cooke (pictured together at their baby shower) Foden's girlfriend Rebecca cheered him on at yester.