LAST UPDATE | 9 Jun 2021
ENGLAND FORWARD JACK Grealish insists he has “never looked back” after deciding to change his international allegiance from the Republic of Ireland.
The Birmingham-born 25-year-old had been capped six times at under-21 level for the Republic of Ireland before opting to represent the Three Lions in 2015.
The decision caused a backlash against Grealish from the nation he had left behind and the wisdom of the call could have been questioned given he had to wait five years to make his senior England debut.
The Aston Villa captain was eventually called up by Gareth Southgate for the Nations League double-header against Iceland and Denmark last September.
He would make his bow against the latter and has since gone on to win seven caps and be selected in Southgate’s squad for the European Championship.
Asked if he felt turning down a senior Republic of Ireland call-up now felt worthwhile, Grealish replied: “As I got older, I started playing obviously at Villa, in the first-team, I broke through.
“And there was a time when I thought: ‘obviously I am English, my parents were born in England, I was obviously born in England, so I feel English’.
“So yes, I obviously changed to England and since then I never looked back. I’ve enjoyed every moment that I’ve had here. And I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t.”
Grealish also recounted a story of how and why he had initially chosen to play for the Republic of Ireland – having qualified through his grandparents.
“When I was young, I got asked to play for England and Ireland at a tournament,” he said.
“I got asked to play for both, I went away to play for England, I was in my room and I collapsed, the day before we were meant to be training and I got sent home.
“I was just in the bathroom and I woke up on the floor. I don’t actually know what happened, I don’t know if it was nerves or whatever, I’m not actually too sure, but the next day I was obviously fine, ready to go and train, but obviously for medical reasons I couldn’t.
“Then during that time I went to Ireland to trial there and I played and I just loved it. That’s one thing that I’ve always said, when you’re younger you just do what makes you happy. And I loved every moment that I had there. I was just a young kid enjoying my football.”
Grealish, who started both Euro 2020 warm-up wins last week, is one of 11 players in Southgate’s 26-man squad with less than 10 caps.
But he believes the mixture of young talent and those who experienced the heartache of being knocked out of the 2018 World Cup at the semi-final stage could be a perfect mix.
“I think it could definitely help, because I think we still have the experience there,” he said of the youthful nature of the squad.
“There’s so much experience in the side at the moment that was in Russia in 2018. (John) Stones, Harry Maguire, Hendo (Jordan Henderson), Harry (Kane) up top, Raheem (Sterling).
“So you still have all that experience. Then you have a blend of youngsters coming through with Jude Bellingham, Bukayo (Saka).
“I think we have a young squad actually, I think I read someone say that we’re one of the youngest in the tournament if not the youngest and I think that can help us. We have a bit of both so fingers crossed it does.”
Croatia were the side to end England’s hopes three years ago and they will be the opposition for the opening game of Group D at Wembley on Sunday – a game which could see Grealish keep his place in Southgate’s side.
“I don’t really think it is a question of doing enough,” he replied when asked if his eye-catching performances in the warm-up games will see him play against Croatia.
“You only really have to look at the players in my position, most of them have just come back from playing in the Champions League and Europa League final, whereas I’ve been injured for a while.
“The competition is there, but I think it is nice competition to have. I don’t think it is a matter of have I done enough to start, I’ll be ready when called upon.”
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I wish him and Mr. Rice nothing but bad luck at the euros. Hard to even look at them.
Also after the reading the article I hate Grealish even more. ‘As I got older, I started with Villa in the first team. And then I thought “I am English. My parents are English. I was born in England. I want to play for England”. Happy to play for us but then when the fame came on him, he wanted to leave. Absolute pr!ck.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: hope they do well. Both him and rice. Shows we can produce and we cant really say a lot when we have taken payers from the north. Both where always going to play for England and not us. Both want to play at the top level, both are capable. We should have called Jack at euro 2016 when he would have played for us. The fault of Martin and Roy.
@vincent: we couldn’t call up Jack Grealish at euro 2016 because in late 2014 and 2015 he rejected senior call ups
@Eoin Fitzgerald: apologies I got my years mixed up. That said he played gaa and had he progress faster then I think he would have played for us. If I am annoyed with any of them it is Rice as he took 3 senior caps. Jack did not.
@vincent: You’re right that Rice is worse than Grealish. I partly blame Martin O Neill for Rice choosing England. He should have capped Rice a competitive game v Moldova in 2017 but he didn’t. Rice couldn’t have left if he done that.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: why cap a hesitant player, just to tie him down. Firstly caps shouldn’t just be given out, they should be earned, by capping a player for the sake of it, you are taking away a cap someone had earned. Second if you cap a player and they regret it, it creates a lot a bad will, they may never play for Ireland anyway (like Nacewa for Fiji in rugby) and if they do may create bad atmosphere. Better to give the caps to players who have earned it, and what it.
@Kingshu: the thing is he wasn’t hesitant then. He said in numerous interviews how honoured and proud he was to be called into the senior panel. He was even kissing the badge for the under 21s then. Even a year later when he played the friendlies, be said how much it meant to him to play for us. He didn’t appear hesitant then. Southgate came calling for him and he switched. I think if Southgate didn’t come calling, he would have continued playing for us.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: I actually think the kean row in the summer had an huge effect on him. Kean is a huge personality and may have rubbed rice the wrong way. Tbf Jack is a better player then rice. But at least he did not get 3 caps that he did not deserve.
@vincent: you must be a ABU?sure keanes the blame?? MON was the gaffer at the time and it was he’s deicision to play him or not, competivtly for even 5 secs we wouldn’t be even commenting now.you do know keanes time with villa he was onto Grealish about not switching over also. Give it a rest you can’t blame Roy Keane for everything.. Because he spoke he’s mind to few players like he did 100 times before you think rice jacked it?agents and advisers have alot to do with these deicisions.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: All footballers say how proud they are to be playing for the fans lap that stuff up. Don’t tell me you believed him bwahahaha!
@Eoin Fitzgerald: you have no power over them.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: how many roi players have done the same ? Its grand for mcclean and duffy to jump ship but grealish and rice are spawn of the devil ?
@vincent: At least the players from the North were born on the island of Ireland.
@vincent: Keane row had nothing to do with it ! He was gone anyway!!!!
@Eoin Fitzgerald: Why the attitude? Look at from other side. Imagine a boy born in Ireland and his parents werw born in Ireland too. You’d expect he’d for Ireland without doubt?? What if his grandparents lived in Ireland too but had come from Nigeria for example. Which country should the boy represent? Or more correctly which country is he most likely to choose?
@Eoin Fitzgerald: you’re full of she-ite. Why shouldn’t a player play for the country he supports, the country he gives his patriotic desire too! You don’t know your ar$e from your elbow
@Sharon McIlhennon: so if you are born on the same island its fine to change association. England, scotland and wales should all be interchangeable…but only the roi should have its cake and eat it ?
Fantastic player made the right choice more luck to him
@Tony Mcgrath: how can you wish luck to someone who was playing for Ireland then when he realised he had a bit of fame, he wanted to leave us. I wish him anything but luck.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: So he should slum it with a team that can’t score a goal over potentially appearing at major competitions. Further, his value as an English International means he’ll be more valuable if sold and attract bigger signing fees. Very easy to begrudge him as an onlooker but if it was your career, you’d do the exact same.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: do you feel the same about Eoin Morgan in the cricket or Kyran Bracken in rugby union. Both Irish born, both represented and captained England and both have received honours from the Queen.
Can you not just let people do what’s right for them and leave them get on with it?
@Eoin Fitzgerald: you’re a bitter man Eoin. He looked after number 1 and why shouldn’t he?
@Colin McNamara: You’re missing the pint, he represented Irish a number of times and said sure Fock it, I’ll try England.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: petty little man.
@Ted Logan: I honestly have no problem with him or anyone representing England. The problem I have is that he was playing for us and the fame started to come down on him and he then decided that he was English. You don’t become English overnight. He shouldn’t have played for us in the first place if he felt English.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: well he was lucky he choose England to play his football with….. He’s going to the euros while we are celebrating a recent friendly draw…. Blame the FAI
@Eoin Fitzgerald: we shouldn’t select players through Granny rules and other dubious reasons. his parents were born in England, let alone him. any connection he had with us was always second to his home country. if we really want a national team then our adult selectors shouldn’t trawl for foreign kids with a distant link. he made that decision in his late teens early twenties…..
@Paul Mcnevin: The only one missing the pint is Declan Rice apparently!
Wish him no ill will, if I’m honest. Can’t be forcing nationality on people. It was convenient for all parties when he played for us. If he feels wholly English then so be it
@Sam Murray: Agreed. We’ve tried to lure players in the other direction so it’s complete hypocrisy to begrudge him.
@Mark Brown: I think you’ll find that hypocrisy isn’t something that will stop Irish people begrudging others! It’s a national hobby!
@Sam Murray: Spot on. He’s actually a sick baller too. Wouldn’t be as big a fan of Rice but he’s a good player too nonetheless. Jack however is incredible to watch its hard to dislike him in recent years imo.
Like anyone here would turn down a chance of a better job, more pay, better conditions etc cos they are loyal to the boss lol. He did what 95% of people would do.
Im sure the state of the FAI and irish soccer in general played a part in his decision and also that of Declan Rice, we’ve had no competent coaching structure in this country for years and now the fruits of that can be seen in the calibre of players we have at the disposal of the national team. The legacy of John delaney and his blinkered supporters. Shame on you.
He made his decision, just get over it,
No one cares ,
As someone who was born and raised in England by Irish parents I don’t think anyone can understand what it is like to be 2nd generation Irish except Us,
We’re neither here nor there, plastic paddies, whatever you want to call us,it’s you’re problem, not ours,by the way most english people don’t give a thought about Ireland.
@William King: having been to numerous Ireland away games over the years i have met many 2nd generation Irish. The ones that follow Ireland are Irish and nobody has the right to tell them otherwise. They are as passionate and committed as any Irish born fan and I’ve taken some people to task myself for calling them plastic paddies. I understand your feeling of being neither here nor there as a result but its where the heart lies most that defines who you are. As for Rice and Grealish I’m disappointed we lost our on two very good players but the rules are there for them to avail of and they did. If they feel more English than Irish then good luck to them, they have followed their hearts and nobody can criticise them for that.
@William King:People forget that Aidan McGeady and Ray Houghton both turned their backs on Scotland to play for us and we weren’t complaining then. As for most English “not giving a thought about Ireland”.. well that’s another matter entirely which does not involve football but more about the English having no reason to think about us like the reason we have to think about them.
Ireland need to concentrate on irish born players forget about them to I wish them nothing but bad luck for england
He would have been mad to continue to be associated with the FAI shambles
The very best of luck to them, honestly Ireland are that bad these days, if I was 25 years younger and offered the chance to play for England, I’d nearly consider it myself. People need to get their anti English blinkers off here, and see this for what it is, this is two young men been offered the chance to play for their country of birth. We have been fortunate enough to have several great Englishmen play football for us, but truth be told had England come knocking first the likes of Aldridge, Townsend, Lawrenson etc would never have played for us. Actually I think it would be hilarious if England were to win the Euros, with Rice & Grealish scoring both goals in a 2-0 win, some of the more vitriolic posters on here would probably self combust.
I haven’t looked back either. I have zero interest in Jack Grealish.
Who cares, we don’t need him if he wasn’t committed
F him. I’m pretty happy he declared for England. I will most likely watch England and hope they do well and not be too unhappy when they don’t. Greenish and Bamford not choosing Ireland is good cos I’d hate to have to show unconditional love for two cheating yokes (Bamford v Vill in the playoffs was the most hateful thing I’ve seen). So personally I’m happy to watch Knight and Cullen do the best they can with limited ability than watch those two and that egg fried rice use the Irish shirt as souvenirs. Also thing Brady is a diving cheat
@Pat Ryan: what did Bamford do against Villa in a playoff? And are you a Villa fan?
@Phil Mc Donald: Villa?? My @rse. Bamford diving to get El Ghazi sent off. Escape your mind Phil??
Look why is this here. The hurt both players caused. But i blame FIFA for allowing a rule. Play under age for one country and then go somewhere else. There was a time in Jack’s rain. We got players who are happy to play for us. And got us to Euros and world cups.
OVERRATED GREALISH Q
Never looked back,he plays for Aston villa.show me your medals.
That headline going to trigger a lot
@Shane Canning: i hope you came back for a gander and brought popcorn. It’s lit!!
@Shane Canning: haha I thought the same seeing begrudgery in its purest form some of the comments. Don’t get it at all. He made the right choice for him and that’s all he needs to worry about very childish to be so upset about it. Hope he does well.
Alot of sad little boys on here …story from couple years now aswell ..get over it . Fair play to the journalist , easy pickings with this story
What else would you expect from Mayo?
There are alot of English born players who have first generation Irish parents who might feel pressured into playing for Ireland by homesick or proud Irish parents, and it’s only as they get a bit older that they are brave enough to make their own decisions. Jaysus lads, be a brave teenager to go against an Irish mammy and her wishes. If they’re not happy to play for Ireland so be it. Leave them alone, they’re playing for the country they love. I’d hate to see a match where patriotism might be questioned regarding a result.
That’s it, I’m betting on Italy..
Who honestly cares? To be honest he wasn’t even bad he never played for the seniors..Rice on the other hand…….
Actually, Grealish is perfectly entitled to opt for his and his parent’s country of birth, they are English. The real issue is decades of the FAI neglecting proper investment and development in our homegrown players and the league of Ireland and instead trying to pilfer young British players before they declare for their own countries.
Get real people, all soccer players are divers it what makes the game almost unwatchable nowadays.
More money we would all do it
He and Declan rice were born in England ..they are English ..what right does Ireland have to demand they play for them ..it’s our own fault That we can’t seem to develop our own international quality players ..we have taken so many English born players ..so we can’t cry and moan when they don’t want to commit to Ireland
Don’t know why people are putting Grealish in the same boat as Rice and saying nothing about Michael Keane……
Only issue I have is him signing God Save the Queen that is total betrayal.
@DB: At the end of the day we should only have lads who actually feel an identity or desire to play for Ireland not head hunting just because they qualify. anyway that’s unlikely ever to change. u can’t Honestly tell me that all the guys we had over the years like Aldridge Townsend Cascarino really felt an identity to Ireland?!? They just joined because of Jack Charltons profile, the profile of some of our really Irish players like whelan Mcgrath STAPLETON. None of those lads grew up dreaming of playing for Ireland