This week, football fans were stunned to hear that Phil Foden had left Germany midway through the Euros 2024 tournament.
The FA confirmed in a statement that the 24-year-old midfielder from Stockport has flown back to the UK for a "pressing family matter" and The Mirror understands he is returning home for the birth of his third child with long-term girlfriend Rebecca Cooke The statement read: “Phil Foden has temporarily left the England camp and returned to the UK for a pressing family matter.”
Foden is hugely proud of his family and roots and putting them first ahead of football. The couple already share two children, Ronnie Foden, 5, and True Foden, 3, and recently shared wholesome photos of their baby shower ahead of the arrival of baby number three.
His son Ronnie recently said on social media that the family were expecting a new arrival. Ronnie, has become a star himself, regularly joining his dad on the pitch for trophy celebrations, posing for photos alongside Erling Haaland and sat on his dad's shoulders.
Here, we take a look at the reason why Phil decided to tap out of the Euros, his family life, and his thoughts on fatherhood...
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Why did Foden leave the Euros?
Phil Foden has flown back to the UK ahead of the birth of his third child (Getty Images)It is not yet known when Foden will return to Germany but the hope is that he will be back for Sunday’s last 16 and in the build-up to the game.
Foden, who plays his club football for Manchester City, had played for Gareth Southgate's team against Slovenia on Tuesday. The forward is understood to have left the camp following Tuesday's match in Cologne, where a goalless draw ensured England finished top of their group.
Southgate's team aren't back in action until Sunday, giving the midfielder to return in time for the round of 16 match in Gelsenkirchen. Their opponents for the round of 16 tie will be determined after the conclusion of Group E and Group F on Wednesday. Premier League player of the season Foden started all three of England's group games. He played the full 90 minutes against Serbia, before being withdrawn in the latter stages of the draws against Denmark and Slovenia.
England will be keen to get him back when time allows because Foden has just enjoyed the best season of his life, winning a fourth consecutive title and being voted Premier League Player of the Year as well as the Football Writers’ Association award.
Love story
Phil's young family is growing (philfoden/Instagram)Earlier this year, proud parents Phil and Rebecca pulled out all the stops for their baby shower party, which featured a flurry of blue and white balloons and a huge LED sign that read 'baby Foden'. Foden and Rebecca are childhood sweethearts, having their first baby when they were both just 18 years old.
Man City's midfielder, Phil, reportedly first crossed paths with Rebecca at a teenage party in Stockport. Since then, she has been spotted cheering him on at numerous matches and mingling with England's WAGs at major tournaments like the Euros and World Cup. Rebecca, believed to be around 24 and also hailing from Stockport, keeps a low profile and hasn't revealed much about her career.
Fatherhood
Phil is a proud dad to two kids, with another imminently on the way (instagram)On the other hand, Foden is known for his family-oriented nature and shared an endearing reaction to becoming a father for the first time.
He confessed to City's website: "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. There's no free time," and added that he had "enjoyed every minute of it."
He credited fatherhood with helping him stay "focused" and told Esquire, which featured him on its 2022 cover: "There's so much going on out there for a young footballer like myself. The hardest thing is being in bed early and ready to train the next day when there's all these distractions around. I think that's where the dedication comes in."
Phil Foden's son, Ronnie, is only five but he's already got a staggering four million followers on Instagram
Rebecca is pregnant with the couple's third child (INSTAGRAM)Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola recently opened up about Foden becoming a dad again. At the time, he said he thinks being a father and settling down will help the player's maturity on the pitch. Guardiola said: “I would love him to go in sixth gear in every single action but afterwards you are less precise, you lose the ball all the time and that is not effective.
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“You have to reduce the time so you know the moments when you have to be more aggressive and calm. But it’s a question of time. He can improve a lot and has improved a lot from the beginning of the season and from the previous seasons. Maybe with the third kid that is coming for his family, that will help him.”
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