The tragic story behind Jack Grealish's poignant Manchester City goal dedication
Former Aston Villa star Jack Grealish thinks of brother Keelan during the highs and lows of his career
Former Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish celebrated his Manchester City goal against Leicester City by paying tribute to his late brother, in his post match interview.
The playmaker had a starring role in the 2-0 victory, scoring inside the opening two minutes and looking the best player on the pitch, before revealing what a difficult day it had been.
It was exactly 25 years since his younger brother Keelan died, with the anniversary always tough for the family. Grealish pointed to the skies after scoring and wrote on social media after the game: "With me always especially this day. That was for you Keelan."
Speaking after the match, Grealish said: "This day is hard on the family but I was happy to score. My mum and dad were here. This day is always difficult in the family, so to score and to win was brilliant."
Pep Guardiola said he had been unaware of Grealish's personal situation but praised the No.10 for his character. "Jack is an incredible human being. He's incredibly generous," he said.
"Something wrong happened for himself. I didn't know, I can't imagine how tough it can be for him and his mum and dad and sister and all the family. It's good that they remember him every single day but scoring a goal and making a good game."
Keelan Daniel Grealish tragically fell victim to cot death at the age of nine months in April 2000 and Jack is driven by a desire to honour his memory for mum Karen and dad Kevin.
Those close to Grealish and his family know that every ball Grealish has kicked in his career has been motivated by the family tragedy and the brother he lost when he was just four years old.
All through his career he has paid his respects, dedicating his first senior goal on loan at Notts County in the 2013-14 season to Keelan and remembering his late sibling through the highs and lows of his football career.
Jack’s starring role in Aston Villa's FA Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool was particularly poignant given how dad Kevin had learned of Keelan’s death back in 2000.
Kevin had been in London ahead of Villa’s semi final tie against Bolton at Wembley when he received a phone call telling him his son had died.
“I remember being told what had happened to Keelan when I was down there for the match and I rushed back,” said Kevin at the time.
“He was only nine months old, he was a little angel and I was devastated. We all were.
“Jack was only a kid himself back then, but he still remembers Keelan and he still thinks about him with everything he achieves.
“I said to Jack when I remember the last FA Cup semi final against Bolton and the news we got that day, and then I think about what he achieved and the way he played against Liverpool, he made us so proud and brought us so much happiness.
“We still miss Keelan and still think about him - you never ever get over losing a child - but we are so grateful and lucky that we are blessed with Jack, his brother Kevan and his little sisters Holly and Kiera."
Kevin revealed how one of the first trophies Jack ever won as a young player was donated to his school in Keelan’s honour.
The Keelan Daniel Grealish Memorial Cup was given to Our Lady of Compassion Catholic Primary School in Solihull for use in their house competitions.
“He won a cup with one of the boys teams he used to play for when he was seven or eight,” recalled Kevin.
“You should have seen the size of it - it was like the European Cup! The team manager asked if anybody wanted to keep it and because Jack had done well in the tournament, he let us have it.
“We decided to give it to Jack’s school for them to give out on sports days and things like that. They called it the Keelan Daniel Grealish Memorial Cup which was a nice touch and as far as I know they still have it.
“The school were brilliant to Karen when we lost Keelan. It was tough time as you can imagine and they gave her so much support, so I suppose it was our way of saying thanks to them for that.”
The Grealish family raised £6,500 for a sudden infant death charity through a sponsored abseil and a raffle.
Villa donated a shirt from the 2000 FA Cup final which Kevin himself paid £260 for in an auction.
He had Keelan and the number one printed on the back of it and wears it in memory of his son when he goes away on holiday.
Aston Villa is marking its 150th anniversary with the launch of a new merch collection including shirts, hoodies, books, mugs and scarves.
Top items include the Anniversary Shirt, Anniversary Hoodie and Anniversary Polo Shirt, plus the 150 Years picture books Volume One and Volume Two.