Jack Grealish (foto: Official TW/IG/FB account)
Jack Grealish ended his goal drought on the 25th anniversary of his brother’s death, dedicating the strike to Keelan in a touching tribute that left him fighting back tears.
Jack Grealish delivered an emotional performance on Wednesday night, scoring his first Premier League goal in over 470 days as Manchester City beat Leicester 2-0. But the night meant far more than football for the England winger.
April 2 marked the 25th anniversary of the death of his baby brother Keelan, who tragically passed away from cot death in 2000 at just nine months old. Grealish, then just four years old, still carries the memory deeply, and his goal on this particular date left him overwhelmed with emotion.
Speaking post-match, the 29-year-old choked back tears as he reflected: “I felt like I deserved to play tonight and I was just happy. It was a nice day because my little brother passed away 25 years ago today. So this day is always hard in the family... to score and to win is brilliant.”
Both of Grealish’s parents were in attendance at the Etihad Stadium for the poignant moment. After the match, he shared a tribute on social media, posting a photo of his celebration alongside a picture of Keelan’s grave, writing: “With me always, especially this day. That was for you Keelan.”
Messages of support poured in from teammates and fellow pros including John Terry, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jacob Ramsey, and Morgan Rogers.
Grealish has made similar dedications in the past, including during his loan at Notts County in 2013 and again in 2018 while scoring for Aston Villa against Birmingham City. Sadly, one of those tributes led to him being targeted by a troll who mocked Keelan’s death. That individual was later fined for offensive communications.
Jack’s father, Kevin Grealish, has previously opened up about the family’s pain: “Jack was only a kid himself back then, but he still remembers Keelan and he still thinks about him with everything he achieves.”
Now a father himself, Grealish welcomed his daughter Mila with partner Sasha Attwood in October. After admitting earlier this year that 2024 had been "the most difficult year of his life", this goal offered a deeply personal moment of light for the £100m star.
His composed finish gave City the lead before Omar Marmoush added a second. More than just a goal, Grealish’s strike was a tribute to family, resilience, and remembrance.