Potentially eligible players thread

[elatedscum]

As he was born in Ireland and is entitled to Irish citizenship from birth he can switch to Ireland at any time up until he wins a competitive senior cap for England or another country (likely Latvia in Cirkin's case).

This is true for Cerkin but not true for kids born after 24th of June 2004. A friend of mine from Brazil (former professional footballer), his kid was born in Ireland 3 or 4 years ago. He's an Italian citizen and had been living in Ireland for 2.5 years before the birth and needed to be living here for 3 years. They stayed here for 2 years after the birth before he moved back to Brazil. So if the kid ends up being a footballer, they won't end up playing for Ireland.

Had a similar but different situation with another Brazilian lad I used to play with. His son (probably born in either 2011 or I think 2012) is playing 3 age groups up with Porto and can play for Brazil, Poland, Spain and soon Portugal but not Ireland, which is a real shame as I really think he'll be a youth international at the very least.

[Predator]

This is true for Cerkin but not true for kids born after 24th of June 2004...
Can we thank Michael McDowell for that? :)

[tetsujin1979]

Off topic posts moved to current affairs forum

[tetsujin1979]

Noticed this guy on Australia's team - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aiden_O%27Neill

He had previously been contacted by the Football Association of Ireland and the Irish Football Association but reiterated that his preference was to play for Australia.

[liamoo11]

Noticed this guy on Australia's team - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aiden_O%27Neill

A blast from the past. I think we discussed him in his burnley days. He seems to have worked his way up to build a solid careeer

[Demesne Lad]

Just noticed that Dylan Lawlor (19), nine U-19 caps for Wales and on the fringe of the Cardiff City first team, is shown on Transfermarkt as eligible for Ireland too. Yet another centre-back!

[rebelmusic]

That made me go hunting. Anyone heard of Tomas O Connor in Argentina?

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tomas-oconnor/profil/spieler/1027880

[SkStu]

Another goal for Paul Nebel, this time in a 3-1 defeat to Dortmund. I think that�s 8 goals in 25 games this season; 2 assists. He plays an inside right type role in a 3421. Him and Azaz behind Parrot or Fergie�

https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1jnh3dv/dortmund_31_mainz_paul_nebel_76/

[tetsujin1979]

Another goal for Paul Nebel, this time in a 3-1 defeat to Dortmund. I think that�s 8 goals in 25 games this season; 2 assists. He plays an inside right type role in a 3421. Him and Azaz behind Parrot or Fergie�

https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1jnh3dv/dortmund_31_mainz_paul_nebel_76/

He was asked about it recently - https://onefootball.com/es/noticias/irish-eligible-paul-nebel-speaks-on-commitment-to-germany-i-love-my-home-and-national-anthem-40865900

�I know that option exists, but I�ve been with the DFB since the U15s,� Nebel said when questioned about the potential of representing the Boys in Green. �It always means a great deal to me to be here and sing the national anthem. Germany is my home,� added Nebel.

[SkStu]

I read other quotes recently by him that were a bit more open to the idea. Those not so much. But sure we can always dream.

[Eirambler]

I'd say Euro 2028 will bring a few of these lads out of the woodwork closer to the time, assuming that we do indeed get there one way or the other. There were players suddenly appearing left, right and centre when the women's team qualified for the World Cup, having been nowhere to be seen before they qualified

[Demesne Lad]

Mancunian left-back Cian Flannery (20), who moved from the Stoke Academy to Sheffield Wednesday's U-18s and then their U-21s, is eligible for both England and the Republic oif Iareland, according to Transfermarkt. However, he is one of four U-21 players likely to be released when his contract expires at the end of June, according to the Sheffield Star (9 April).

[Ol� Ol�]

Not sure why we would bother. I really don't think we are that badly stuck.

This thread is gas. I wrote this about Chio Ogbene when he was on about playing for Nigeria.

[pineapple stu]

Makes me wonder what you were searching for that brought it up again!

[elatedscum]

One of the Twitter accounts has said that Dan Casey of Arsenal is eligible via 2 grandparents and “wants to play for us.”

He’d be in the u19 group that play competitively in November. I also noticed that Spurs have an eligible midfielder from the same year: https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/teams/men-u18/players/harry-byrne/#:~:text=Harry%20Byrne%20has%20been%20with,box%2Dt o%2Dbox%20midfielder.

And if you want to go way further outside the box, there’s Ryan Wyss a striker who has played for Young Boys in UEFA Youth League a handful of times.

And even further and you’ve got Josh Little who plays in Singapore and has been on the bench in Asia’s equivalent of the Europa league (at 17) and has been on trial at Braga in Portugal (2 years ago).

[samhaydenjr]

Jobe Bellingham anyone?

[seanfhear]

Jobe Bellingham anyone?By Jove ~ Can you get him ?

[rebelmusic]

Jobe Bellingham anyone?

Very unlikely. He'll probably be in the PL next year and has been dedicated to England. He's one of those that would probably prefer 2 caps with England Vs 100 with us.

I was hoping for a Will/Michael Keane scenario with them but it's not going to happen

[The Fly]

Jobe Bellingham anyone?
It’s a no thanks from me.

[tetsujin1979]

Possible link to Cardiff City defender being explored
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/cardiff-city-face-battle-keep-31707120

However, Wales also appear to have a job to keep Lawlor on their hands, with the Republic of Ireland also having sought assurances over his heritage. Indeed, it is understood Lawlor does qualify for the Emerald Isle through Irish heritage.

[Eirambler]

Always very hard to get a player off Wales, they'll cap anyone with a pulse.

[seanfhear]

Always very hard to get a player off Wales, they'll cap anyone with a pulse.Perhaps, the player or player's agent is putting on a little encouragement, coz the guy is another centre-back and unless he considers that he is better that what we have, then maybe there is tactics at work here !

Anybody know how Wales are fixed for centre-backs at the moment ?

[John83]

Perhaps, the player or player's agent is putting on a little encouragement, coz the guy is another centre-back and unless he considers that he is better that what we have, then maybe there is tactics at work here !

Anybody know how Wales are fixed for centre-backs at the moment ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales_national_football_team#Players Just going on clubs (mostly Championship) it looks like our fringe centre halves would be more likely to get a game for Wales.

[SkStu]

Jack McGlynn scored for the USA today in a friendly against Türkiye

[MylesNotMiley]

I noticed Jamie Carragher's young lad is lining out for Malta now.
His connection to Malta is through his great-grandfather according to an article on https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/football/jamie-carragher-son-james-international-479783

I thought it had to be grandparents to be eligible to qualify to play for a nation?

[mark12345]

Jack McGlynn scored for the USA today in a friendly against Türkiye

Saw some of the game. McGlynn looks like a decent player who knows his way around the midfield. And the opposition offered quite a challenge. He is an option I would have liked HH to have available to him.

[Eirambler]

I noticed Jamie Carragher's young lad is lining out for Malta now.
His connection to Malta is through his great-grandfather according to an article on https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/football/jamie-carragher-son-james-international-479783

I thought it had to be grandparents to be eligible to qualify to play for a nation?

Can only assume that his grandmother (Jamie Carragher's mother) was also born in Malta, or he wouldn't be eligible. Either that or someone has made a mistake, which wouldn't be beyond possibility.

[ThirdManRun]

Does Kieran Dewsbury-Hall actually qualify?

I think he would be the perfect “recruit” to fit into what we need for the current squad.

We have decent coverage in most positions now, a centre midfielders could bring us up a level.

[rebelmusic]

I noticed Jamie Carragher's young lad is lining out for Malta now.
His connection to Malta is through his great-grandfather according to an article on https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/football/jamie-carragher-son-james-international-479783

I thought it had to be grandparents to be eligible to qualify to play for a nation?

Malta had very dubious citizenship laws that the EU just declared illegal in April. Basically you could buy your citizenship. He might have made it in the door before the law changed. The great grandfather spiel is probably something they're throwing out as a cover story.

I'm guessing this was his only real chance to play international football and he has a rich father so...

[Eirambler]

Even then though, FIFA rules are explicit that it has to be no further back than grandparents. For instance, taking someone like James McCarthy, who qualified through a grandparent, his kids would be eligible for Irish citizenship but not eligible to play for Ireland.

[EalingGreen]

Even then though, FIFA rules are explicit that it has to be no further back than grandparents. For instance, taking someone like James McCarthy, who qualified through a grandparent, his kids would be eligible for Irish citizenship but not eligible to play for Ireland.Unless under Maltese citizenship laws, having a Maltese great grandparent means you are automatically entitled to Maltese citizenship from birth?

In the same way as someone born in NI is automatically entitled to Irish citizenship at birth, and so entitled to represent ROI? I mean, aiui such a NI-born person could have exclusively overseas ancestry going back generations and still quailfy for you.

Meaning that it is citizenship which qualifies young Carragher to represent Malta, not ancestry (though citizenship happens to come from that ancestor)?

Not at all sure about this, mind.

[rebelmusic]

I'd say the most likely scenario so is that it's a typo in the article. Either that or because of Malta's shady citizenship laws it's gone unnoticed somehow.

[seanfhear]

I'd say the most likely scenario so is that it's a typo in the article. Either that or because of Malta's shady citizenship laws it's gone unnoticed somehow.This could be a job for Sam Spade ~ ~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Maltese_Falcon_(1941_film)

[elatedscum]

Times of Malta are reporting that Jamie's mother was born in Malta before moving to Bootle as a child.

[rebelmusic]

Times of Malta are reporting that Jamie's mother was born in Malta before moving to Bootle as a child.

You win this round...inspector gadget!

[seanfhear]

Times of Malta are reporting that Jamie's mother was born in Malta before moving to Bootle as a child.Thanks Sam.

[tetsujin1979]

The FAI have been in touch with Paul Nebel again, but I don't see it happening. He's currently with the German team at the U21 European Championships
https://www.kicker.de/irland-buhlt-verstaerkt-um-nebel-1125659/artikel
(Article in German)

[elatedscum]

The FAI have been in touch with Paul Nebel again, but I don't see it happening. He's currently with the German team at the U21 European Championships
https://www.kicker.de/irland-buhlt-verstaerkt-um-nebel-1125659/artike
(Article in German)

Er ist bereits geloescht

[elatedscum]

Er ist bereits geloescht

Nevermind, the URL is just missing an L at the end /artikel

[tetsujin1979]

Nevermind, the URL is just missing an L at the end /artikel thanks, fixed

[seanfhear]

How do you go about translating a web page like that ?

[elatedscum]

The FAI have been in touch with Paul Nebel again, but I don't see it happening. He's currently with the German team at the U21 European Championships
https://www.kicker.de/irland-buhlt-verstaerkt-um-nebel-1125659/artikel
(Article in German)

The positives:


"...dann muss man sich auch Gedanken machen, weil auch Irland in meinem Herzen ist."
"I have to think about it, because Ireland is also in my heart."

"Meine Oma kommt aus Irland, meine Mutter ist Halb-Irin, ich war als Kind dort sehr oft"
"My grandmother is from Ireland, my mother is half-Irish, and I visited there a lot as a child,"

"Irland ist schon ein bisschen zweite Heimat für mich, deswegen mag ich das Land."
"Ireland is a bit of a second homeland to me, which is why I like the country."


Heimat is a nice word, it implies a sense of belonging and cultural identity and emotional connection to a place.

He basically says that he has ambitions to play as a senior international, preferably for Germany as he's played for them since u15 but the FAI have been pursuing him more aggressively since the season ended, which is also good, and if things don't work out or progress with the DfB, it's something he'd need to think about.

[Razors left peg]

Have we not already established that if Delap played in this u21 he'd be unable to make the switch to us, how would it be any different for Nebel

[rebelmusic]

Interesting turn after his recent commitment to Germany. It reads like a warning to Germany though rather than any real intent. Still though..

[rebelmusic]

Have we not already established that if Delap played in this u21 he'd be unable to make the switch to us, how would it be any different for Nebel

Isn't he able to change if he already has an Irish passport?

[tetsujin1979]

How do you go about translating a web page like that ? chrome and Firefox will do it automatically

[Demesne Lad]

Celtic and Birmingham may have been interested, but it looks like Louie Barry will be signing for Hull City. His loan spell with the Tigers earlier this year was cut short by an injury in his fourth appearance, but Hull owner Acun Alicali is keen to get him. (Hull Daily Mail, 30 June)

[Demesne Lad]

In August 2021, midfielder Tommi O'Reilly (Aston Villa) was called up for an Ireland U-19 training camp. That seems to be as close as he has got to international recognition, but at 21, he's still with Villa. He spent the first half of 2024/25 on loan with Shrewsbury Town, making 12 EFL 1 appearances, and the second half at EFL 2 MK Dons - 16 appearances, 1 goal. He has now signed on loan for EFL 2 Crewe Alexandria for the 2025/26 season.

[Eirambler]

Did it not turn out he was ineligible, or am I thinking of someone else? I think it was him.

[tetsujin1979]

Think I was told on Twitter he is not