Matt Phillips
{{Short description|Footballer (born 1991)}}
{{About|the footballer|other people|Matthew Phillips (disambiguation){{!}}Matthew Phillips}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Matt Phillips
| image = Matt Phillips West Brom.jpg
| upright = 0.8
| caption = Phillips playing for West Bromwich Albion in 2017
| fullname = Matthew Phillips{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/612828 |title=Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed |publisher=Premier League |date=2 February 2018 |access-date=18 February 2018}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|3|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Aylesbury, England{{cite news |url=http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/sport/aylesbury_football_star_phillips_snubs_three_lions_for_tartan_army_1_3554711 |title=Aylesbury football star Phillips snubs Three Lions for Tartan Army |date=25 February 2012 |work=The Bucks Herald|access-date=27 February 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730084645/http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/sport/aylesbury_football_star_phillips_snubs_three_lions_for_tartan_army_1_3554711 |archive-date=30 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}
| height = 1.85 m{{cite web |title=Matt Phillips |url=https://www.wba.co.uk/player/55 |access-date=20 August 2022 |publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.}}
| position = Winger, forward, left wing-back
| currentclub = Oxford United
| clubnumber = 10
| youthyears1 = 1999–2008
| youthclubs1 = Wycombe Wanderers
| years1 = 2008–2010
| clubs1 = Wycombe Wanderers
| caps1 = 78
| goals1 = 8
| years2 = 2010–2013
| clubs2 = Blackpool
| caps2 = 94
| goals2 = 12
| years3 = 2011
| clubs3 = → Sheffield United (loan)
| caps3 = 6
| goals3 = 5
| years4 = 2013–2016
| clubs4 = Queens Park Rangers
| caps4 = 90
| goals4 = 14
| years5 = 2016–2024
| clubs5 = West Bromwich Albion
| caps5 = 238
| goals5 = 28
| years6 = 2024–
| clubs6 = Oxford United
| caps6 = 22
| goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2010
| nationalteam1 = England U19
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2011
| nationalteam2 = England U20
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2012–2019
| nationalteam3 = Scotland
| nationalcaps3 = 16
| nationalgoals3 = 1
| club-update = 13:30, 8 March 2025
| nationalteam-update = 9 September 2019
}}
Matthew Phillips (born 13 March 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger, forward or left wing-back for EFL Championship club Oxford United.
Born in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, to a Jamaican-born father of Barbadian descent and a Scottish mother, Phillips began his career at Wycombe Wanderers before a move to Blackpool, spending a spell on loan at Sheffield United. In 2013 he moved to Queens Park Rangers and in 2016 he signed for West Bromwich Albion, where he played for eight seasons before signing for Oxford in 2024.
He represented England at under-19 and under-20 level but has subsequently represented Scotland at senior level.
Club career
=Wycombe Wanderers=
Phillips signed for Wycombe Wanderers at the age of eight when he was spotted playing in a five-a-side tournament. Having progressed through Wycombe's junior sides, he made his first team debut as an 82nd-minute substitute, a month after his seventeenth birthday, on 26 April 2008 in a 1–0 defeat to Notts County, the penultimate game of the 2007–08 season.{{cite web |title=Notts Co 1–0 Wycombe |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=550967 |publisher=Soccerbase |date=26 April 2008 |access-date=11 September 2010}} His first start came a week later in the 2–1 win over Bradford City at Adams Park,{{cite web |title=Wycombe 2–1 Bradford |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=551274 |publisher=Soccerbase |date=3 May 2008 |access-date=11 September 2010}} in which he was voted man of the match by the Wycombe supporters.{{citation needed|date=September 2010}}
After breaking into the first team during the previous season, Phillips signed his first professional contract in July 2008, a year before the end of his youth team scholarship. His first goal for the Chairboys came on 10 November 2008 in the 4–1 away win over AFC Wimbledon in the First round of the 2008–09 FA Cup.{{cite web |title=AFC Wimbledon 1–4 Wycombe |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=567984 |publisher=Soccerbase |date=10 November 2008 |access-date=11 September 2010}} His first league goal came on 6 December in the 3–2 away defeat to Aldershot Town.{{cite web |title=Aldershot 3–2 Wycombe |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=572634 |publisher=Soccerbase |date=6 December 2008 |access-date=11 September 2010}}
Phillips went on to make a massive contribution to the Chairboys promotion from League Two in the 2008–09 season, becoming a regular on either the left or right wing, impressing with his ability to take on defenders and to cut inside. He was also won the club's two "Young Player of the Year" awards at the end of the season as well as the League Two "Apprentice of the Year".{{cite web|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2015/april/football-league-awards-lfe-apprentice-of-the-year-prizes-to-honour-young-players/|title=Football League Awards: LFE Apprentice of the Year prizes to honour young players|author=EFL|access-date=8 August 2019|date=17 April 2015}}
Phillips was given the number 18 shirt for the 2009–10 season and continued his good form from the previous season, playing on either flank. In total, Phillips made 87 league and cup appearances for Wycombe, scoring nine goals.{{cite web|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=49017|title=Matt Phillips Career Stats|access-date=8 August 2019|date=8 August 2019}}
=Blackpool=
Phillips signed for Premier League club Blackpool on 31 August 2010 in an original £350,000 deal, rising to £700,000 for achieving specific criteria.{{cite web |title=Deadline day latest |url=http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~2140161,00.html |publisher=Blackpool F.C. |access-date=2 September 2010 |date=31 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902164330/http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~2140161,00.html |archive-date=2 September 2010}} Manager Ian Holloway stated that he had been tracking Phillips for "a long time", saying of him, "Young Matty looked really exciting at times. He was skipping past people like they weren't there and now I've got to get him in our shape and working within it. He is definitely one for not only the long-term future but the immediate future. I am getting quite excited about what he might be able to produce."{{cite news |last=Canavan |first=Steve |title=Ollie backs new-boy to be star |url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Ollie-backs-newboy-to-be.6513820.jp |newspaper=Blackpool Gazette |access-date=11 September 2010 |date=5 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100909012251/http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Ollie-backs-newboy-to-be.6513820.jp |archive-date=9 September 2010 |url-status=dead }}
Phillips' first team debut came on 25 September in the 2–1 home defeat to Blackburn Rovers. Phillips came on as a substitute in the 84th minute, making an instant impact, scoring his first ever Premier League goal just seconds later.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/sep/25/blackpool-blackburn-premier-league |title=Brett Emerton strikes to give Blackburn injury-time win at Blackpool |date=25 September 2010 |work=The Guardian|access-date=26 September 2010}}{{cite web |title=Match Report: Blackpool vs Blackburn |url=http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10432~52925,00.html |publisher=Blackpool F.C. |access-date=28 September 2010 |date=25 September 2010}} After the match Ian Holloway praised Phillips saying, "I thought he was terrific. He's only 19 and he's someone who I think will have a good future. He played in a different role and smacked one in like that. Hopefully there is a lot, lot more to come from that boy because he has got some bits and pieces that would grace any level of football."{{cite web |title=Ollie: Potential in Phillips |url=http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~2166700,00.html |publisher=Blackpool F.C. |access-date=28 September 2010 |date=27 September 2010}} Of his debut and goal Phillips said: "I've dreamt of playing in the Premier League since I was a kid, so to play Premier League football is one thing, but to go out there and make a mark on it is another, so I'm delighted."{{cite web |title=Phillips' debut delight |url=http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~2165337,00.html |publisher=Blackpool F.C. |access-date=28 September 2010 |date=27 September 2010}} He made his full-debut against Aston Villa at Villa Park, a performance which led manager Ian Holloway to describe him as "at times un-markable".{{cite web |title=Ollie: Holloway Hails Phillips |url=http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~2217272,00.html |publisher=Blackpool F.C. |access-date=12 November 2010 |date=12 November 2010}}
After a successful spell on loan at Sheffield United, Phillips scored a hat-trick in Blackpool's Boxing Day 3–1 victory at Barnsley.{{cite news |title=Barnsley 1 – 3 Blackpool |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16240508.stm |access-date=27 December 2011 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 December 2011}} He scored another hat-trick two weeks later, this time against Fleetwood Town in the FA Cup third round.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/16372082.stm |title=Fleetwood 1 – 5 Blackpool |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 January 2012 |access-date=7 January 2012}} Later that month Blackpool rejected a bid from Cardiff City, believed to be around £800,000, for the winger.{{cite news |title=Cardiff City's bid for Blackpool winger Matt Phillips rejected |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16688143.stm? |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 January 2012 |access-date=23 January 2012}}
In the week before the start of the 2012–13 season Blackpool rejected a £5 million bid for Phillips from newly promoted Premier League side Southampton. He then put in a transfer request, and after being left out of the opening day victory over Millwall on 18 August, he returned to action three days later, scoring the winning goal in a 2–1 home victory over Leeds United.{{cite web |title=Matt Phillips told to stay by Blackpool boss |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19214238 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=24 August 2012 |date=18 August 2012}}{{cite news |title=Blackpool 2–1 Leeds |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19252473 |access-date=24 August 2012 |date=21 August 2012}}
==Sheffield United (loan)==
With first-team opportunities proving limited, Phillips agreed a months loan to Sheffield United in October 2011,{{cite web |title=Blades capture duo |url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2481529,00.html |publisher=Sheffield United F.C. |access-date=14 October 2011 |date=14 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116172332/http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10418~2481529%2C00.html |archive-date=16 January 2012 }} making his début in the Steel City Derby a few days later. Phillips had a major impact in his month spell, scoring six goals in six appearances for the South Yorkshire club before returning to Bloomfield Road.{{cite web |title=Matt thanks Blades for time at Lane |url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/matt_thanks_blades_for_time_at_lane_1_3959322 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707061522/http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/matt_thanks_blades_for_time_at_lane_1_3959322 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2013 |work=The Sheffield Star|access-date=11 November 2011 |date=11 November 2011 }}
=Queens Park Rangers=
On 23 August 2013, Phillips signed for Queens Park Rangers on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23817276|title=QPR sign Blackpool winger Phillips|work=BBC Sport}} and was handed the number 7 shirt.{{cite news |title=QPR sign Blackpool winger for undisclosed fee |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23817276 |access-date=24 August 2012 |date=23 August 2012}} He made his debut for the club on 14 September, coming on as a first-half substitute for Junior Hoilett against Birmingham City. He scored his first goal for Queens Park Rangers on 3 December, netting the final goal in a 3–0 win over Bournemouth. His second goal for the club came eleven days later, when he scored the first in a 2–0 win over his former club Blackpool.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25275170|title = Blackpool 0-2 Queens Park Rangers|work = BBC Sport}} His third goal was an equaliser against Doncaster Rovers in a league match at Loftus Road. QPR went on to win 2–1.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25512780|title = Queens Park Rangers 2-1 Doncaster Rovers|work = BBC Sport}}
=West Bromwich Albion=
On 6 July 2016, Phillips joined Premier League side West Bromwich Albion on a four-year deal.{{Cite news |title=Albion sign Phillips |url=http://www.wba.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/albion-west-brom-matt-phillips-nick-hammond-3170378.aspx |publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C. |date=6 July 2016 |access-date=6 July 2016}} Phillips got his first league goal in a win against reigning Premier League Champions Leicester City. He finished the game with an assist and the winning goal in the 2–1 win.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37814275 |title=Leicester City 1–2 West Bromwich Albion |date=2016-11-06 |newspaper=BBC Sport |language=en-GB |access-date=2016-11-07}} Phillips continued his goal scoring exploits in the next game against Burnley F.C. He opened the scoring in the fourth minute and also set up a goal for Albion captain Darren Fletcher, helping the team to establish a 3–0 first half lead,{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37970618 |title=West Bromwich Albion 4–0 Burnley |date=2016-11-21 |newspaper=BBC Sport |language=en-GB |access-date=2016-11-22}} in a game which ended as a 4–0 win. On 31 December he scored and set up Hal Robson-Kanu's first Albion goal in a 2–1 win over Southampton.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38424666 |title=Southampton 1–2 West Bromwich Albion |date=2016-12-31 |newspaper=BBC Sport |language=en-GB |access-date=2016-12-31}} He set up more goals for Chris Brunt and Gareth McAuley in a 3–1 win over Hull which took his tally up to 8 assists for the season.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38433597 |title=West Bromwich Albion 3–1 Hull City |date=2017-01-02 |newspaper=BBC Sport |language=en-GB |access-date=2017-01-03}}
On 5 August 2021, Phillips signed a contract extension until the summer of 2024.{{Cite news |url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/phillips-pens-contract-extension |title=Phillips pens contract extension |date=2021-08-05 |publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C. |language=en-GB |access-date=2021-08-06}} On 22 May 2024, the club announced he would be leaving in the summer when his contract expired.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-23 |title=Watford: Jeremy Ngakia signs new deal as Jake Livermore among trio released |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c722lp322vko |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
=Oxford United=
On 1 August 2024, Phillips signed for newly promoted Championship club Oxford United on a free transfer.{{cite web |url=https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/matt-phillips-oxford-united-player |title=Matt Phillips is an Oxford United player |date=1 August 2024 |publisher=Oxford United F.C. |access-date=1 August 2024}} On 13 August, Phillips made his debut for the club, as well as scoring his first goal, in a 2–0 win against Peterborough United in the EFL Cup.
International career
In May 2010, after initially being named as a standby, Phillips was called into the England under-19 squad for their upcoming European Championship Elite qualifying round matches.{{cite web |url=http://www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10430~2053731,00.html |title=Phillips Gets England Call |publisher=Wycombe Wanderers F.C. |date=17 May 2010 |access-date=26 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929033516/http://www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10430~2053731,00.html |archive-date=29 September 2011 |url-status=dead }} On 26 May he made his debut against the Republic of Ireland, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute for Jacob Mellis.{{cite web |url=http://www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10430~2059677,00.html |title=Phillips Makes England Debut |publisher=Wycombe Wanderers F.C. |date=26 May 2010 |access-date=26 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314063510/http://www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10430~2059677,00.html |archive-date=14 March 2012 |url-status=dead }} Two days later he made his full debut and scored his first international goal in his next game against Bosnia and Herzegovina.{{cite web |url=http://www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10430~2060982,00.html |title=Matt Scores on Full Debut |publisher=Wycombe Wanderers F.C. |date=28 May 2010 |access-date=28 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314063531/http://www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10430~2060982,00.html |archive-date=14 March 2012 |url-status=dead }} In July 2010 Phillips was named in England's 18-man squad for the European Under-19 Championship. He scored a final-minute equaliser against France to send England through to the semi-finals of the tournament.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8851975.stm |title=England Under-19s into Euro semi |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 July 2010 |access-date=24 July 2010}}
In February 2011, Phillips made his debut for the England under-20s in a 2–1 defeat to France.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-u20s/News/match-centre/2011/England%20v%20France/england-france-090211?p=mr&mid=137113 |title=VIDEO: U20s sunk in Shrewsbury |publisher=The FA |date=9 February 2011 |access-date=4 July 2011}} In June 2011, he was named in England's 21-man squad for the Under-20 World Cup.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-u20s/News/2011/world-cup-squad-announced |title=World Cup squad announced |publisher=The FA |date=29 June 2011 |access-date=1 July 2011}} He started all three of England's group stage games plus their final-16 game, a 1–0 loss to Nigeria.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}
In January 2012, it was suggested that Scotland manager Craig Levein had been monitoring Phillips' progress, due to his eligibility through Phillips' Scottish grandparents.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/16499162.stm |title=Scotland manager Craig Levein eyes Blackpool's Phillips |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 January 2012 |access-date=11 January 2012}} In February 2012, Levein duly called Phillips up to the Scotland squad to face Slovenia in a friendly;{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/scotland/17095027 |title=Charlie Mulgrew and Matt Phillips named in Scotland squad |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 February 2012 |access-date=21 February 2012}} however, Phillips had to withdraw after suffering a hamstring injury.{{cite news |title=Phillips and Bardsley withdraw from Scotland squad |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17177496 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 February 2012 |access-date=27 February 2012}}
Phillips finally made his Scotland debut in a 5–1 friendly loss to the United States on 26 May 2012 at EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Florida.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18240540 |title=Matt Phillips backs Scotland to recover from US defeat |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 May 2012 |access-date=24 August 2013}} He made his next appearance for Scotland on 16 October 2012 in a World Cup qualifier, coming on as a substitute in the 79th minute in a 2–0 defeat away against Belgium.{{cite web |title=0–2 Vs Belgium in World Cup (16/10/2012) |url=http://www.fitbastats.com/scotland/game.php?gameid=716 |website=FitbaStats |access-date=5 September 2017}}
In March 2018 Phillips scored his first and only Scotland goal, a second-half strike in a friendly match away to Hungary to win the tie 1-0.{{Cite web |title=Matthew Phillips {{!}} Scotland {{!}} Scottish FA |url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=253099&lid=1 |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=www.scottishfa.co.uk}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 7 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=Matt Phillips |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=49017 |work=Soccerbase |access-date=13 May 2018}}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 9 September 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/47719/Matt_Phillips.html |title=Matt Phillips NFT |publisher=National Football Teams |access-date=16 May 2018}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | ||
| National team||Year||Apps||Goals | ||
|---|---|---|
| rowspan=5|Scotland
|2012 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 |
| 2018 | 5 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 |
| colspan=2|Total||16||1 |
=International goals=
:As of match played 27 March 2018. Scotland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Phillips goal.
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition |
| scope=col|No.
!scope=col data-sort-type=date|Date !scope=col|Venue !scope=col|Cap !scope=col|Opponent !scope=col|Score !scope=col|Result !scope=col|Competition |
|---|
| scope=row style="text-align: center"|1
|27 March 2018||Groupama Arena, Budapest, Hungary||align=center|11||{{fb|HUN}}||align=center|1–0||align=center|1–0||Friendly |
Honours
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{ESPN FC|119004}}
{{Oxford United F.C. squad}}
{{2011–12 Football League Championship PFA Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Matt}}
Category:Footballers from Aylesbury
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Scotland men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Wycombe Wanderers F.C. players
Category:Blackpool F.C. players
Category:Sheffield United F.C. players
Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players
Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players
Category:Oxford United F.C. players
Category:Premier League players
Category:English people of Scottish descent
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:21st-century Black British people
Category:English people of Jamaican descent
Category:Sportspeople of Jamaican descent