Phillips, Kevin

Sunderland & England

Birthdate: July 25, 1973
Birthplace: Hitchin, England
Height: 173 cm
Weight: 60 kg
Position: Forward
International: 3 caps, 0 goals
World Cups: 0
Previous Clubs: Baldock Town, Watford
Transfer Fee: -
Amazingly the star striker started his career as a full-back and spent some time playing non-league football after failing to make the grade as an apprentice at Southampton FC, where he cleaned Alan Shearer’s boots. However, he was snapped up by former England coach Graham Taylor at Watford FC and unleashed as an emergency striker. He then moved to Sunderland AFC, and plundered 60 goals in two seasons as they gained promotion to the English Premier League. Many questioned whether the pocket-sized predator would perform at the higher level, but silenced his critics by becoming the division’s top scorer. He made his England debut against Hungary in April 2000, and the powerful and pacy player may well prove the perfect foil to the aforementioned Shearer in the national team.