The heartwarming reason Phil Foden wears the number 47 jersey while playing for Manchester City has been revealed.
The England international, 24, has cemented himself as huge part of Pep Guardiola's Premier League winning side in the past couple of years, as well as being a key player for the Three Lions as they begin Euro 2024.
Despite his rapidly rising profile, Foden still wears the number 47 when he plays for City - which is an unusual number for a senior member of the team.
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Foden was originally given the 47 shirt when he made his senior team debut back in 2017 and has stuck by the number since. In fact, he's even gone as far as getting the number tattooed onto his neck.
As an attacking midfielder would traditionally wear the legendary 10 jersey and you'd think that Foden would want to add his name to the long list of stars who've donned the famous shirt number.
However Foden appears to have no intention of parting with his 47 shirt, even turning down an offer from departing player Sergio Agüero when he left the club in 2021.
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"I did think about it," the footballer said of Agüero's offer in 2022. "The ten 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."
The number eventually went to his Man City teammate Jack Grealish.
So why is Foden so attached to the number? Turns out there's a very heartwarming reason.
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The 47 jersey was a personal significance to the footballer, as 47 is the age that his granddad Ronnie passed away - meaning the number is a way for Foden to remember his late grandfather.
It's also been reported that Ronnie was an avid Manchester City fan, meaning that his grandson's decision to honour him at the club has an even more personal significance.
"Being a young player you don’t have many options when it comes to what you can have on your shirt," Foden said in an interview with the Daily Mail.
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"I had a few numbers sent to me and none of them really meant anything to me apart from that one, the 47."
Foden then revealed that he'd consulted his dad other number, adding: "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."
Topics: Football
Brenna Cooper