He won his first England Youth cap in February 1981 in a 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland. He was in outstanding form in the centre of the England defence and in the same week, he made his debut for Burnley in the Third Division against Exeter City at Turf Moor.

He was in the team to stay, although he soon switched to midfield and produced a series of mature, composed performances.

His first League goal came at Barnsley in March 1981 and was a spectacular diving header.

He won a Third Division Championship medal at the end of the 1981/82 season, but that season was an unlucky one for Mike personally, as he suffered a broken ankle in training just before Christmas of 1981.

After recovering, he then suffered another serious blow, as during a 0-0 draw with Wimbledon at Plough Lane, he suffered a depressed fracture of the cheekbone, ruling him out for the rest of the season.

Phelan played in every League and Cup match in the 1982/82 season, scoring five goals from his defensive position.

Despite suffering relegation that season, it was probably Phelan's most impressive campaign in a Burnley shirt and he was voted both 'Player Of The Year' and 'Young Player Of The Year'.

He stayed for another two years in the Third Division, but following relegation to the Fourth Division in 1985, he joined ambitious Norwich City for £70,000.

Phelan had a magnificent start to life at Carrow Road, as the Norfolk club won the Second  Division championship and after a further 18 months in the top flight, he became captain of the Canaries.

Norwich finished fourth in Division One and also reached an FA Cup semi final against Everton at Villa Park.

Phelan's reputation soared and he returned to the north west in 1989, when Alex Ferguson paid £750,000 to take him to Manchester United.

He became a first team regular at Old Trafford and won his only England cap in a game with Italy at Wembley.

At the end of that season, Phelan picked up an FA Cup winners medal, as United beat Crystal Palace at Wembley.

Another memorable season was to follow, as United went all the way in the European Cup Winners Cup, where Barcelona were beaten 2-1 in Rotterdam with a brace from Mark Hughes.

In the 1991/92 season, Phelan was on the fringes of the United first team as Leeds pipped the Reds to the Championship, although he did get another FA Cup Winners medal.

In each of his last two seasons at Old Trafford, United won the league and the FA Cup again in 1994, but at the age of 31, he was released by Alex Ferguson. Speculation was rife that he would be on his way back to Burnley, but West Bromwich Albion was his chosen destination and he ended his career at The Hawthorns.

He is now back at Manchester United as the first team coach, following various backroom jobs at Stockport County, Blackpool and Norwich City.