Jack Grealish’s former GAA coach has provided an insight into the role Gaelic football played in the Aston Villa midfielder’s development.
The Irish under-21 international, and possible future England international, played Gaelic football for Birmingham club John Mitchels and even managed to play, and score, at Croke Park for Warwickshire.
In an article published in The Guardian, Grealish’s former coach Michael Healy reveals details of the Villa player’s GAA background, and how aspects of Gaelic football still stand to the Premier League player.
“He had that raw natural ability from the start, but we noticed quite early that he was a good motivator,” Healy said.
“Sometimes when you get special players they are arrogant and run the show but he was always quite inclusive with the other lads.
“In the first year he did quite well but from the second year onwards he was by far the best player we had.”
Grealish was fouled more regularly than any other player in England’s top flight last season. The 19-year-old played only 910 minutes in total, but was fouled on average every 21 minutes.
Healy says that the more physical, robust Gaelic football prepared Grealish for the rigours of Premier League football.
“Because he was one of the better players he was targeted. There were a lot of similarities to him getting kicked a lot for Villa last season.”
“I think playing with Mitchels made him tougher, especially because you take a lot more hits compared to football.”
