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Phil Foden poses familiar questions for Man City & England

October 8, 2025
Opinion

Imagination does not need to be stretched very far in order to see Phil Foden going on to become the most decorated player that English football has ever seen. As things stand, that honour belongs to Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs.

The iconic former Wales international won 13 Premier League titles at Old Trafford, while also boasting four FA Cups, the same number of League Cups and a couple of Champions League crowns on his glittering CV.

On the other half of Manchester, Foden already has six top-flight titles to his name, four League Cup successes, two FA Cup wins and a Champions League triumph to sit alongside UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World winners’ medals. He is just about halfway towards matching Giggs in the silverware stakes.

 

What is Phil Foden’s best position?

His remarkable haul could be enhanced in 2025-26, with Premier League betting marking City down as 5/1 shots when it comes to restoring domestic dominance at the Etihad Stadium. When it comes to the football betting tips focused on cup competitions and the battle for European honours, then Pep Guardiola’s side figures prominently once again.

It is easy to see why, with one of the finest tactical minds in the global game having an embarrassment of riches at his disposal.

Foden falls into that category, but he continues to pose as many questions as he does answers. There has never been any doubt about the classy midfielder’s ability, but deciding where best to fit him into any given starting XI has delivered plenty of selection headaches down the years.

That has been the case for City and England, with neither able to settle on a long-term solution that they or Foden are entirely happy with. As a result, he has been shifted around – becoming the archetypal Jack of all trades, master of none. That is through no fault of his own.

Out wide or No.10? Choose a role

Foden’s versatility could be considered a positive. Any player that can fill a number of different positions will always be of obvious benefit to any club or international coach. He would, however, have hoped to nail down a role to call his own by now.

His creative qualities have been fully embraced, with quick feet and a low centre of gravity allowing him to drift beyond opponents. All too often, though, said skill set has been shoved into a wide attacking berth – limiting the amount of possession that Foden enjoys.

For many, his most natural fit is in the No.10 role. Guardiola has agreed with that, saying of getting Foden into areas where he can work between the lines and pick defensive locks: “When he plays a little bit free and close to the box, he can do something that is unique, we know that. When Phil plays in that position behind the strikers, he’s a real threat.”

Fierce competition faced with club & country


City have been able to move Foden more centrally in the current campaign, with the departure of Belgian superstar Kevin De Bruyne freeing up space in that part of the field. The man himself has said of trying to fill the biggest of boots: “With the likes of Kev going, someone needs to step up and create more chances and hopefully I can be that man.”

Fierce competition will be faced when trying to become creator-in-chief with England, as the Three Lions are blessed with world-class options aplenty in that department, but continuity when it comes to positional play should work in Foden’s favour.

There may still be no definitive answer to the familiar questions that he conjures up, but City are working towards finding a solution and that should help to serve everyone’s best interests in the long run.

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