Phil Jagielka

Phil Jagielka

Philip Nikodem Jagielka (born 17 August 1982) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Premier League club Sheffield United. He started his career with Sheffield United before joining Everton in 2007. He has received 40 England caps since his debut in 2008. He was included in the England squads at UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

About Phil Jagielka in brief

Summary Phil JagielkaPhilip Nikodem Jagielka (born 17 August 1982) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Premier League club Sheffield United. He started his career with Sheffield United before joining Everton in 2007. He has received 40 England caps since his debut in 2008. He was included in the England squads at UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He left Everton in 2019 after 11 years and returned to his former club. He later captained the club from 2013–2019. He is the son of former Manchester United player and former England international manager Bob Paisley. He played for Holy Family Football Club, a Sunday team affiliated with, although not directly linked to, the school of the same name, from the ages of eight to 11. He also played for his school team, Moorlands Junior School, playing any position, including in goal and with boys two school years above him. He spent time training with clubs such as Stoke City and Manchester City, before joining Sheffield United in 1998 at 15 years of age. He made his first-team debut on 5 May 2000 against Swindon Town in the final First Division match of the 1999–2000 season, whilst still a trainee. He helped them achieve top-flight status for the 2006–07 season, after which he joined Everton for a £4 million fee. He signed a five-year deal with Everton on 4 July 2007, in a deal worth the highest amount paid for a Sheffield United player at the time.

In April 2005 he was happy to stay at United, despite several Premier League clubs being interested in signing him. West Ham United, Leeds United and Wigan Athletic made bids for him in 2005 and 2006. In July 2006, he signed a new three-year contract with United in August 2006. He gave United their first Premier League victory since April 1994 when he hit a 91st minute half-volley against Middlesbrough for a 2–1 win in September 2006. When Sheffield United were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2006-07 seasons, he was linked with moves away from United and goalkeeper Paddy Kenny said he believed it was time to wait for the outcome of the club’s relegation hearing. He eventually signed for New York City FC on a free transfer in July 2007. In November 2007, he made his debut against Werder Bremen in a pre-season friendly, replacing Joseph Yobo in the second-half. In December 2006, due to a thigh injury to starting goalkeeper Paddle Kenny and with his team 1–0 up, he played in goal for the remainder of the match. He had made 133 consecutive league appearances for United, including every league match in the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons.