Manchester City flop Kalvin Phillips is the subject of a new Amazon Prime documentary, launching this month. Kalvin Phillips: The Road to City is described as an underdog story about one of England’s most promising footballers, who rose from the Leeds United academy to captain the club and now plays for the current European champions.
However the player didn’t enjoy the best of seasons after his move from Leeds, only starting just two Premier League games as City swept all aside to eventually win the dream treble. He saw his game time restricted by a combination of injury and selection decisions. However he has pledged to stay and fight for his spot at the club.
Last month he said: “My intention is to stay there. We have just won the treble, so there is no reason for me to leave, other than if I am not playing I will obviously have to think about it.
“I cannot give it 12 months and say, ‘I am not playing so I am going to leave’. I came to Manchester City to win trophies and we won the trophies, but I didn’t play as much as I wanted to do.”
The documentary is billed as painting an intimate portrait of a footballer with deep roots and family values as it follows his journey to Manchester City and the dramatic injury ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The 90-minute one-off special film shows “how Kalvin balances his domestic and national aspirations and also the adversities he has overcome to represent his home country”, says Amazon Prime
A NEO Studios production, Kalvin Phillips: The Road to City debuts exclusively on Prime Video globally on July 19, 2023. The show was filmed over 12 months following him from his early start in Leeds Academy, to reaching the Premier League and the FIFA World Cup, to transferring to Man City ahead of their historic treble win including the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League.
NEO Studios said: “It is an honest portrayal of a happy, talented young player, his struggles with injuries and a meteoric rise from an ordinary lad from Leeds, to become part of one of the Premier League’s most successful teams - Manchester City.”
Kalvin Phillips said: “I’m happy to have my story told from behind the scenes to show that there’s a lot more to my life than people see on the surface and on the pitch, to show that at the end of the day I am just a normal person trying to live my dream and do my best and to showcase how important my family and friends are during my career and throughout my life.
“My main objective was to inspire people of all ages that anything you put your mind to and hard work is possible but also to be humble and enjoy every moment of whatever career path you take. And that there’s valuable lessons in every part of life. Take them as positively as you can and keep pushing to reach your dreams.”
Anouk Mertens, NEO Studios Global CEO, said: “Following Kalvin’s journey - over the past few years - we were struck by his drive, determination and skill, even at that young age and realised he had a really interesting story to tell about who he is off the pitch and his difficult upbringing. We were fortunate to be let into his personal life and to tell his story as he moved from his beloved home town to Man City.”
