Phil Younghusband: The Dream

 


Phil Younghusband can’t remember the exact moment when he knew he wanted to be a football player.

“Growing up in England, football was everywhere. I would play at home, in school, and any chance I’d get to kick a ball around. I was three years old when I first kicked a football and I haven’t stopped since,” he says.

Born on August 4, 1987 in Ashford, Middlesex, England to an English father and a Filipina mother, Phil, together with older brother James, was part of Chelsea Football Club’s youth team. He eventually rose to the club’s reserve team, which he played for from 2005 to 2008.

He recalls his time at Chelsea with much fondness. “My experience at Chelsea is definitely invaluable. I learned a lot from the best, including Jose Mourinho,” he enthuses.

Learning from the world’s best at a young age has also helped him become a more versatile player. “I was not always a striker. I was a midfielder; I played defense… basically, every position I understood, except the goalkeeper!” he laughs.

Phil explains that this has also helped him adapt to different situations. “Playing in Asia, I am relatively faster than the other players, so I play as a striker, but in Europe, where there are faster players, I take on the role of a midfielder.”

Making his mark in PH
After playing for the Chelsea reserves, the Younghusband brothers suited up for the Philippine National Team, where Phil established himself as one of the team’s top scorers.

The Azkals, as the national team is more popularly known, made history when the team reached the semifinals of the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, defeating defending champion Vietnam along the way.

For Phil, that tournament also meant something else on a personal level. “Scoring the second goal against Vietnam was definitely my best memory of playing with the national team,” he reveals.

The team, however, isn’t resting on their laurels after the historic finish in the Suzuki Cup, as they are now gearing up for the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers against Mongolia on Feb. 9. Phil explains the team is working on improving their fitness levels and discloses that the transition to a new system under a new coach has been smooth and free from any difficulty.

Some fun facts
Fans of Phil may want to note down that the player that has kicked him the most is Portuguese international and now Real Madrid defender Ricardo Carvalho. When asked for the top three places in the UK he’d bring someone to, he thoughtfully responds, “My area (Ashford), Newcastle, and Manchester.”

Also, for the record, the Azkal that takes the longest in the shower is, “Me!” Phil chuckles, responding without missing a beat.

Bigger dreams, grander plans
Amid the intense training, a bevy of adoring fans, perched on the bleachers at the University of Makati’s football field and with DSLRs in tow, cheers on the guys. Phil admits he had dreamed of the moment when football would enjoy the current level of popularity in the Philippines. “The support that we have received from the fans has been tremendous, and we hope to continue the momentum that we have started to make the sport even more popular among Filipinos,” he shares.

Beyond playing for the national team, the Younghusbands are also doing their share in promoting football in the country and developing youth players through the Younghusband Football Academy. “Seeing the kids’ smiling when they kick the ball around and play is definitely the most rewarding part of teaching,” shares Phil.

When asked what else he’d like to achieve during his football career, Phil pauses and admits, “Well, there’s always the World Cup to think about!”

When prodded for a prediction as to when the Philippines will qualify for the World Cup, he says, “Qualifying will involve a lot of luck. There’s always going to be an element of luck in football. The competition in Asia has gotten tougher, with teams like China, Japan, South Korea, and Australia performing very well. We will have to work very hard if we want to be able to qualify.”

Phil Younghusband can’t remember the exact moment when he knew he wanted to be a football player, and with big dreams and grand plans still to be achieved, this football player will not be hanging his boots anytime soon.