Shaun Wright-Phillips, a former Manchester City star currently in India as part of the club’s ‘Champions 4-in-a-row Trophy Tour,’ has offered a hopeful message about the future of football in the country. While acknowledging India’s impressive grassroots facilities, he stresses the need for patience and a long-term vision to cultivate a thriving footballing culture.
During his visit, Wright-Phillips observed the training facilities at South United, a club in Bangalore coached by fellow former City player Terry Phelan. He was impressed, stating that the facilities rival those dreamt of by young footballers in England.
Despite the encouraging infrastructure, India’s football journey has been marked by inconsistency. Since the establishment of the Indian Super League (ISL) in 2014, a franchise-based league that brought increased investment and professionalism, the national team has struggled to translate this growth into success on the international stage. Recent disappointments like the underwhelming AFC Asian Cup campaign and failure to qualify for the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers have highlighted the challenges the country faces.
Wright-Phillips, however, emphasizes the importance of patience and perseverance, drawing parallels to the evolution of football in England. He believes the current focus on developing infrastructure and professional structures, while promising, takes time to bear fruit.
He stated, “You’re going in the right direction, you just have to keep at it. It’s not a quick thing, it’s longevity; you have to maintain exactly what you’re doing for a period of time.”
Further elaborating on the evolving landscape of football, Wright-Phillips contrasts the grassroots experience of his youth in England with the current system. While he reminisces about the relatively cost-free and less structured nature of playing football in his younger days, he acknowledges the increasing professionalization and financial investment in the modern game.
He notes, “I think, in some way, we lost some of that grassroots structure that I had when I was growing up. At that time, football was nearly free. The most you used to pay to compete at the Sunday League was maybe two pounds a week, and that was either to pay for the pitches with the nets and the referees or to pay for the oranges at half-time. Now, it’s a lot more structured, which is understandable because kids are starting to play for pro clubs a lot younger, so they do have to prepare them in that way.”
Wright-Phillips’ message is clear: India’s journey to footballing prominence requires a holistic approach, one that prioritizes sustainable development, dedicated investment, and a patient outlook. The journey may be long, but with continued commitment and the right approach, India can achieve its aspirations in the beautiful game.
