Phil Collins’ son Mathew Collins has signed for a former German champion after impressing during a successful trial, with the 21-year-old midfielder hoping to establish himself
Phil Collins’ son Mathew Collins has completed a transfer to a former Bundesliga-winning club.
Against All Odds, the 21-year-old has sealed a shock switch to former Bundesliga champions 1860 Munich, who now play in the Regionalliga, the fourth tier of German football, after being relegated from the 3.Liga last season.
It must be Another Day in Paradise for the midfielder, who has put pen to paper on a one-year deal with the German outfit after catching the eye of coaches during a productive trial period and is hoping to play a part in the club, which last featured in the Bundesliga in 2004 and previously ground-shared with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, climbing back up the leagues.
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The son of Phil’s third wife Orianne Cevey, Mathew was born in Switzerland, raised in Miami and attended boarding school in Evian, France, at 19 before relocating to Germany at 16 to join FC Astoria Walldorf’s youth setup.
He arrives at 1860 Munich following a stint last term with Austrian second-division outfit Austria Salzburg. The transfer represents another chapter in his footballing journey as he seeks to carve out his own path beyond the glare of his celebrated family background.
1860 Munich announced the capture on Friday as they gear up for the fresh season in Germany’s fourth division. The outfit are optimistic that Mathew can deliver after securing his signature following his displays during his trial period.
Though currently competing in the Regionalliga, 1860 Munich remain amongst Germany’s most famous teams. They were founding members of the Bundesliga in 1963 and claimed the German championship during the 1965/66 campaign.
The side have also secured the German Cup on two occasions and memorably reached the 1965 European Cup Winners’ Cup final. They suffered defeat to West Ham at Wembley in that showpiece encounter but continue to rank among German football’s most recognisable teams.
Mathew has dedicated much of his footballing journey to developing across Austria and Germany following his progression through the youth systems at Astoria Walldorf and Hannover 96. He transferred to Austrian outfit WSG Tirol in 2023 before securing a move to Austria Salzburg for the 2025/26 season.
Throughout his stint with WSG Tirol, the midfielder even faced off against Harry Kane when taking on Bayern Munich during a pre-season friendly in summer 2024. Last season he clocked up four league outings for Austria Salzburg and also turned out once in the Austrian Cup.
The promising talent has already integrated with his new team-mates after linking up with the team prior to their season opener. He observed from the sidelines as 1860 Munich kicked off their campaign with a 2-2 stalemate away at FC Schweinfurt.
While Mathew continues chasing his footballing dreams, his father remains amongst Britain’s most celebrated musicians. Phil Collins initially gained recognition as Genesis’s drummer before becoming their frontman, subsequently launching an enormously successful solo career featuring classics like In the Air Tonight and You Can’t Hurry Love.
The musical icon, who recently spoke candidly about his struggles with alcohol addiction, has earned induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on two occasions – first with Genesis and subsequently as a solo performer.
He’s also father to actress Lily Collins, renowned for her role in Emily in Paris, alongside musician Simon Collins, actress and producer Joely Collins, drummer Nic Collins and Mathew, who’s now determined to forge his own reputation on the football field rather than the musical stage.
Mathews’ parents Phil and Orianne divorced in 2008, with the £25million he forked out marking the biggest payout in a British celebrity divorce at that time.