Tragic reason why England star Phil Foden has 47 tattoo and shirt ...

Phil Foden opened up about the sentimental reason behind his choice to wear the No 47 shirt for Manchester City.

Currently playing for England in Euro 2024, the 24 year old has stuck with an unconventional number at home.

Unlike most players who opt for a traditional number when moving from the academy to the first team, Phil decided to keep his original City number. And it's all because the number holds a special connection to his grandad, a dedicated City fan.

"Being a young player you don't have many options when it comes to what you can have on your shirt," he shared with the Daily Mail. "I had a few numbers sent to me and none of them really meant anything to me apart from that one, the 47.

""That was the age my grandad was when he died. I was young when we lost him. I remember going to Wales with him and on a few other trips. My dad says he loved playing football with me.

"I asked my dad if he would be happy if I wore that number. He said it would be amazing so I took the shirt number and I have loved it ever since. I have it tattooed on me now and it's a shirt I don't ever see changing.

"It's nice to make your own legacy. It's a strange number nobody else will go for so hopefully in years to come when I have finished, 47 at City will be remembered for Phil Foden."

Phil actually had the chance to take the No 10 shirt when City legend Sergio Aguero left the club in 2021, but he chose to stick with 47. Reflecting on his decision in 2022, he said: "I did think about it. The 10 shirt is such a big number in the club, but I just have a thing with 47. I'd like to create my own legacy and keep that number."

Just days ago, Phil's girlfriend Rebecca Cooke welcomed the couple's third child. It is reported that Rebecca, 22, gave birth to a baby boy. The pair are already parents to two children - son Ronnie, five, and one-year-old daughter True.

Phil had left England’s Euro 2024 camp to return home for the birth. The Football Association announced on Wednesday, 26 June, that he left the team’s Spa and GolfResort Weimarer Land base to attend to “a pressing family matter”.