Name: Demar Constantine Phillips

Date of Birth: September 23, 1983

Age: 32

Height: 5’6″

Club: Real Salt Lake (Major League Soccer)

Position: (left back/midfielder/winger)

International Appearances: 62

Goals: 11

Demar Phillips is a tenacious player who is a veteran of the Reggae Boyz team. His first taste of international success came when he helped Jamaica win the 2008 Caribbean Cup. He scored one goal in a 4-0 win over Grenada at Jarrett Park. One week later, he helped Jamaica with an assist in the final against the same opponents, helping Jamaica to win their fourth Caribbean Cup title.

Three years later, Phillips stamped his authority even more for Jamaica in the 2011 Gold Cup. In this tournament he scored three goals for Jamaica and helped the Boyz through the group stages of the tournament without conceding a single goal; the Reggae Boyz reaching the quarter-finals of that tournament.

When the pressure has been on the Reggae Boyz, Phillips has showed nerves of steel, and this was displayed during the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers. Phillips helped Jamaica to advance to the final round of the qualifiers with a dominant display. With Jamaica needing to beat Antigua by two clear goals, Phillips got the ball rolling by scoring from long range and going on to assist with another goal, helping Jamaica secure a 4-1 win on the night.

With Phillips averaging a goal every six games for Jamaica, the Reggae Boyz still have a valuable commodity in their hands.

Phillips began his career in Jamaica with York United, and since then he always stood out from the rest of the players; not only because of his diminutive nature, but his effectiveness on the field. His dribbling ability reaped dividends for him and this asset led him to a move overseas to Stoke City FC in 2007.

Despite not playing many games, ‘Peel Head’ as he is more affectionately called, moved to Norway to play with Aalesund in 2009. His performances on the left wing helped Aalesund to win the Norwegian Cup in 2009 and 2011. With these accolades, Phillips got the opportunity to play in the UEFA Europa League for his club.

In 2015, he ended his eight-year spell in Europe with a move to United States in the MLS with Real Salt Lake, where he has now shown improvement in his crossing ability and his tactical discipline.

Phillips is showing that age is just a number. At 32, he still has gas in the tank to offer fuel to the Reggae Boyz for key World Cup Qualifiers.