ENGLAND star Kalvin Phillips paid an emotional tribute to his late Granny Val by bearing her name on his boots.
The Leeds United star, nicknamed the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’, is having a brilliant Euro 2020 having started every game.
And he put in a disciplined performance as the Three Lions beat old rivals Germany 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals.
But Phillips has been playing through the pain of losing his beloved grandma.
She died just a few months before the start of the tournament.
Phillips has ‘Granny Val’ stitched onto his boot, with an England flag below it.
Speaking about his gran to ITV recently, Phillips said: “She was very caring, she’s very nosey, but she was a lovely, lovely woman.
“She’d be saying ‘don’t let it [his England performances] get to your head and make sure you do just as well in the next game’.
“She always listened to it on the radio and then would ring me five or six times after the game, ask if I’m alright, ask how I played, if I did something wrong.”
The 25-year-old Leeds-born star also uploaded a photo of his family on Instagram after England’s superb showing.
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Phillips shared an emotional post on Instagram a day after the funeral of Granny Val.
Sharing a photo of Granny Val along with a note, Phillips wrote: “Yesterday I said my goodbyes to my beautiful grandmother.
“Thanks to everyone for the kind messages and gifts and also to the people who have helped me and my family In such a difficult period.
“Without you guys, family and football it would have been even harder than what it has been. Rest in Peace Love you always Granny Val!”
After a brilliant opening Euro 2020 game against Croatia, that Gareth Southgate’s side won 1-0, Phillips was told by England and Arsenal legend Ian Wright that his ‘Granny Val will be watching down with the biggest smile’.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
