The press conference was running suspiciously late. In the next room, a commotion was going on. All the talk was of Jack Grealish, and several rows of Irish journalists were starting to wonder what the hold-up was all about. The date was May 12, 2015, and a nation was waiting to usher in the player who, six years later, would become the first £100 million ($131 million) footballer in the Premier League.
Grealish, then 19 and fresh-faced, was expected to receive his first senior call-up to the Republic of Ireland’s squad for two games at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium: a friendly against England, followed by a European Championship qualifier against Scotland. The provisional squad list was ready for distribution, with Grealish, then of Aston Villa, as the stand-out name. But a problem emerged. As the journalists waited, they became aware that Ireland’s manager, Martin O’Neill, was in the next room, talking agitatedly to someone on the phone, possibly Grealish himself. An official came through to apologize for the delay. Then the news started to filter through: a revised squad list was being printed, this time without Grealish’s name.
An unnamed official from the England setup later revealed, “We had to do everything we could to stop Jack from playing in those games because that would have meant losing him forever. He was too talented for us to give up on him.”
Grealish is now approaching 29 with 36 caps for England and counting. Yet it can sometimes feel surreal that he once wore Ireland’s colors from the under-15s through to the under-21s. His ties to Ireland were strong—one of his grandmothers hailed from Dublin, another from Gort, and a grandfather from Kerry. Grealish even won Ireland’s Under-21 Player of the Year and expressed hope to “be back in the green jersey.” But it was not to be.
The Declan Rice Dilemma
Declan Rice, another key player in England’s squad with a £100 million price tag, has a similar background. Like Grealish, Rice was embedded in the Irish setup. He had three senior caps for Ireland before the English FA began their campaign to lure him away. Footage exists of a 19-year-old Rice, playing for Ireland’s under-21s, kissing the badge on his shirt after scoring. He spoke of the pride he felt representing Ireland, with tears in his eyes during his senior debut against Turkey. However, six months later, Rice requested to be excluded from a Nations League tie against Wales as England began courting him.
Former Ireland international Kevin Kilbane expressed his frustration on social media: “I’d rather be ranked 150th in the world, and never qualify again, than have someone who has played for Ireland but needs time to think whether they should play for us again.”
Rice announced his decision to switch allegiances to England nine months later, describing himself as a proud Englishman but admitting it had been one of the hardest decisions of his life.
England’s Strategy and Tactics
The Football Association (FA) knew it would be a delicate process to win over both players, but they also understood the necessity. Grealish was approached by several key figures in the England setup, including then Under-21 manager Gareth Southgate and FA’s director of elite development, Dan Ashworth. The FA had identified Grealish’s potential early on and kept him in their sights, knowing that his allegiance to Ireland was strong but not unchangeable.
Rice’s situation was similar, and the FA was aware that Ireland was building a team around him. When Mick McCarthy, Ireland’s manager at the time, approached Rice to offer him a captaincy role and a prominent position within the team, it was clear Ireland wanted to keep him. But the English FA had other plans and engaged in confidential discussions with Rice and his representatives.
A Difficult Decision for Both Players
Ultimately, both players chose to switch their allegiances to England, a decision that sparked controversy in Ireland and caused significant backlash. Some argued that the decision was driven by commercial reasons—playing for England could potentially be more lucrative and attract more sponsorships. Others pointed to the deeply personal nature of national identity, suggesting that it is possible for someone to feel both English and Irish.
Rice and Grealish’s decisions continue to stir emotions on both sides. For the FA, securing two top talents was a major victory. For Ireland, it was a bitter loss that some still find hard to accept. As both nations prepare to face each other again, the debate about national loyalty and the choices made by Grealish and Rice will no doubt be reignited.
In the world of international football, nationality can often be a fluid concept, and the story of Grealish and Rice is a poignant reminder of the complexities that come with balancing personal identity, professional ambitions, and national pride.