Over a decade ago, the Champions League star swapped the green of Ireland for the white of England.
The Republic of Ireland could use an injection of Champions League quality in their ranks as they look to qualify for the 2024 European Championships in Germany.
Ireland had such a player on their hands in the form of Jack Grealish, but the talented playmaker managed to slip through their fingers in a saga that started over a decade ago.
Ireland had a real talent on their hands – Jack Grealish
It looked to the world that Aston Villa academy product Grealish was destined for a career in the Republic of Ireland squad after representing the country between 2011 and 2014, just before reaching senior-level football.
Grealish has gone on to become a star in the Premier League and helped Manchester City become European champions last season. Having manager Pep Guardiola at the helm, City are 21/10 in the Champions League betting to retain their crown this term.
With a squad littered with international talent and on the back of last season’s treble, City is the favourite in many Champions League tips to go all the way again this time around.
After a quiet first season at the Etihad Stadium, Grealish showed his true potential in the last campaign. That was potential Ireland had in their ranks but could not keep hold of.
Having turned down previous invitations to join England’s representational sides, it looked like Ireland had secured a real coup in securing the services of Grealish.
However, until the attacking midfielder had played a competitive senior fixture for Ireland, he was not fully secured for the remainder of his career.
Eventually, the lure of playing tournament football proved too great for the man from Birmingham and in 2016, Grealish switched allegiances after talks with then-England manager Roy Hodgson.
A tough one to take for the FAI – a pain they know all too well
Looking back on the saga over Grealish’s international future, there must have been times when the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) thought they had got their man.
There were warning signs when Grealish said he would take a break from Ireland duty to focus on his form and establishing himself in the first team at Aston Villa.
It was not long after that reports of talks with Three Lions boss Hodgson took place, and that will have certainly unsettled those at the FAI who will have seen Grealish as an Ireland star for the future.
The day finally came in September 2015 when Grealish confirmed his decision to switch allegiances and represent England.
Making his debut against a Portugal representative side in the Toulon Tournament in May 2016, Grealish was in the white jersey of England, and his time with Ireland had come to a disappointing end.
Going on to make his Three Lions senior debut in September 2020 against Denmark in the UEFA Nations League, Grealish’s international future was sealed.
This tale is not unique to Jack Grealish, and there have been other instances of players coming through the ranks with the Republic of Ireland before switching allegiances.
Seeing a player of Grealish’s quality, though, impressing in the Premier League and Champions League, will be a tough one to take still for some Ireland supporters.
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