“I always wanted to be a soccer player. I always thought about it since I was able to walk, but I wasn’t playing in front of people who could take you to this level. Everything you need is for someone to watch you play. That’s why it’s good to go to the ‘Showcases,’ which sometimes are expensive, but scouts can see you there. They saw me and thought ‘this kid has something,’” said Phillips via telephone from his house outside of London.