Lots of famous football players are known for having unusual hobbies, and Phil Foden is one of them.

Cristiano Ronaldo has a love for playing bingo and Petr Čech is really into drumming – but the England midfielder, 24, much prefers to get a rod out on the river. Foden has said his uncommon pastime sets him aside from the other stars on the pitch because “probably about 95 percent of the football lads don’t enjoy it”.

While many footballers prefer to kick back and relax on luxurious holidays abroad, or visit five-star spas, the dad-of-three, who plays for Manchester City, loves to go fishing. And he even missed the City players’ 2018 Premier League title celebrations for a pre-planned fishing trip with his dad.

It was his dad who sparked his passion for fishing as a child. In an interview with Manchester City, Foden said: “The odd one likes fishing, so when people find out they say, ‘What a weird sport to enjoy’. They don’t understand why you enjoy it. I think it’s the perfect hobby to rest your legs and have some downtime.”

At the age of six, Foden caught his biggest catch to date – a 130lb Catfish. Now, the 24-year-old often travels to lakes around the UK and occasionally to Spain, always with his old man. He says it’s the “buzz that makes you want to go again” but also enjoys relaxing and having quality time with his dad.

Foden likes to spend his days off fishing and has picked up tactics over the years, like knowing which spots to fish and fishing at different lengths. But when the City star isn’t passing the ball or reeling a fishing rod, he’s spending time with his long-time girlfriend Rebecca Cooke, 23, and their daughter and son, with another baby born during the current Euro tournament.

The star actually left the England camp ahead of their showdown with Slovakia to travel home for the birth of his third child, and flew back to Germany to continue on with England’s international campaign. While Cooke is seen cheering her boyfriend on from the stands, she tends to keep her own life away from the public eye and rarely features on social media.

Hello! Magazine reported that the couple were believed to have met at a party while they were teenagers and developed a relationship, before settling down in Prestbury to start a family. Foden opened up about the wonders of fatherhood when he and Cooke welcomed their first child into the world, telling the Manchester City website that the moment his son Ronnie was born was “life-changing” for him.

Foden said: “I was there for the birth. I walked out of the room, gave it a little tear and then went back in like nothing happened. I’m not one for crying in front of people. I like to be on my own, but I was there in the room, watched it happen and it was a special moment. Your life changes. There’s no free time, which is probably why I’ve been struggling to fish as much. I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. He’s been quite well behaved to be honest. He’s not been making it hard for me, which is good.”