Long-term Leeds United writer Phil Hay is confident Kalvin Phillips will prove to be a roaring success at West Ham United, following the England midfielder’s loan arrival from Manchester City on Friday.
Having reported on the Whites for 20 years - first at the Yorkshire Post, and for The Athletic since 2019 - Hay knows more than most about the Hammers’ new No11, who came through the youth ranks at Elland Road before making his senior debut aged 19 in April 2015.
Phillips eventually left Leeds for City as a hero in July 2022, armed with 234 appearances and an EFL Championship winner’s medal, but Hay explains his rise to prominence wasn’t always inevitable, and that one individual in particular played a key role in shaping his development.
“West Ham are getting an elite midfielder, there’s no doubt about that,” said Hay. “I really think that some of his key attributes - his switches of play, his diagonal passes and his physicality - will work well for a David Moyes team.
“It would strike me that in West Ham’s line-up as I understand it, he will fit in as part of a midfield two, in front of the defence. I’d imagine you’ll see his ability to hit runners going forward, so when the team falls deep and sucks the opposition in, he’ll be looking to unleash the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus at the top end of the field.
“You’ll also see his brilliant defensive prowess, back at the other end. When he’s on form he’s a massive asset in a protective sense - he almost acts like an extra line of defence in front of the back four, which is where he proved to be so important for Leeds.
It’s the end for Kalvin Phillips at Leeds United but we wanted to do one last piece on him - with the people who supported him, the people he helped, the people he inspired and the people he left a mark on.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) July 5, 2022
The local boy who became a club hero:https://t.co/IgCCCkaSEL
“Kalvin’s story is interesting, because rather unusually he didn’t join Leeds’ Academy until he was in his mid-teens, and I think there were questions about whether he was going to be retained at U18 level.
“He somewhat benefited from the chaotic years under the former owner Massimo Cellino, in that he and other youngsters - such as Sam Byram, Lewis Cook and Charlie Taylor - were quickly given a go in the first team.
“To begin with, it was hard to put your finger on what he did best. He was always a midfielder, but it wasn’t until Marcelo Bielsa came in as head coach in 2018 that he really became that defensive pivot that has since defined him.
“Bielsa sort of remodelled him into the one in a 4-1-4-1 system, and it then quickly became apparent that he was moving up through the levels. It wasn’t long before he was in the grey area of being too good for the Championship, and ready for a bigger challenge.”
After featuring 37 times en route to top spot and promotion from the second tier in 2019/20, Phillips was rewarded with a first England cap against Denmark in September 2020 - four days before his first Premier League outing for Leeds away at Liverpool.
A total of 49 top-flight appearances for Leeds, combined with his impressive displays at UEFA Euro 2020 on the international stage, prompted City to make their move 18 months ago, where things have since not quite followed the same trajectory.
Hay said: “He was absolutely pivotal at Leeds under Bielsa. It’s hard to single out players from that team, but the interesting thing about Phillips was that there wasn’t really anyone who could replace him if he was missing.
“Regarding England, it would definitely have surprised me if someone had said he was going to get to that level at the end of the season before Bielsa came in. But, by the time it came about, it made complete sense. He just looked that good.
“Similarly, it didn’t surprise me that Manchester City were interested in him. I think he looked like a good fit and was always worth going for, I guess there was always just that question about whether he could rise to that top percentage for a team looking to win Premier Leagues and Champions Leagues.
“I think Phillips will have started at City quite philosophical about the fact Rodri was there, and that he might not necessarily play all the time. But, I understand that as time went on, he found the idea of being seen as someone at a huge club, earning really well and not really contributing, quite difficult.
“He just couldn’t get into the team, and I think the red flag for Phillips might’ve been that whereas players like Riyad Mahrez wouldn’t start regularly, but would still be afforded gametime by Pep Guardiola when possible, the same sort of opportunities didn’t appear to be there for him.
“I think Phillips will be ready and hungry to play far more for West Ham, particularly with one eye on the upcoming European Championships. Gareth Southgate is clearly an admirer of his, but you can’t be complacent about that.”
Alongside Phillips’ on-field qualities, Hay is quick to address how his character away from the pitch should serve as a benefit to the West Ham dressing room, having dealt with him personally on a number of occasions.
Hay added: “He’s just a very good guy, and someone who’s very easy to warm to. I’ve never come across a player or coach who has had a bad word to say about him, and that can surely only be a good thing for Moyes and his team.
“Bielsa in particular loved him. For a coach who famously doesn’t get close to players, and keeps himself massively at arm’s length from his squad on a personal level, he had a real soft spot for Phillips, and really thought a lot of him as a human being.
“I remember interviewing Phillips shortly after Leeds were promoted in 2020, and he’s just proper salt of the earth. He’s very open and honest, maybe partly because he was a little late to the Academy game and has seen a bit of real life.
“He’s laid back, but I think sometimes that might disguise his professionalism and ambition. I’m sure he’s relishing this opportunity at West Ham, and for all the Hammers fans out there I think it’s a massively exciting signing.”
