It was the day before Valentines Day 2019. Declan Rice woke from his slumber with a fluttering heart. Not because love was necessarily on his mind but this was the day. The big day.
His decision to play for England, despite having played three times for the Republic of Ireland, had been made and one of football’s worst kept secrets was about to be confirmed.
Across the Irish Sea, hearts were also raised. But with anger and fury. It was never Rice’s intention to stir up so much emotion; so much hate. He isn’t that sort of guy.
Of course, he realised there was a fair chance the announcement could rile Irish supporters who believed he was committing the ultimate betrayal. But this was never a decision borne out of trying to create bad blood.
Rather, this was decision from the heart. Rice was born and raised in south London. He feels English. He is English. Equally, he is proud of his Irish roots – his grandparents are from Cork. He is proud of the three caps he has playing for Ireland.
Declan Rice pledged his international career to England in 2019 and has never looked back
As a youngster, Rice rose through the ranks Ireland’s system before switching allegiances
It is not a crime to feel English but also feel a connection to Ireland. Because that is who Rice feels he is. It’s a complex matter – but one that for the person living it, is so simple.
The key for Rice, at the time, was articulating that in a manner so not to fan the inevitable flames his decision would trigger. Rice released a 561 word statement on February 13, 2019, trying to explain his point of view.
The release wasn’t a watered down, media-constructed version of the truth but rather one that was authentically Rice. This was Rice’s decision, he wanted to own it – but also try to explain why he’d made it.
‘I have equal respect and love for both England and Ireland and therefore the national team I choose to represent is not a clear-cut, simple selection,’ read the statement.
‘Particularly not for a young lad who never dreamed of being in this position.’
Some Irish fans don’t buy a word of it, though. They will be intent on venting their fury at the Aviva Stadium tonight.
Rice will be under no illusions about what awaits him here Dublin.
The fact historic pro-IRA social media posts from Rice were dredged up and reposted on the eve of his England debut against Czech Republic in March 2019 tells you how strong the ill-feeling is towards the Arsenal midfielder.
Rice released a 561 word statement on February 13, 2019, trying to explain his point of view when deciding to switch to England
They will want to derail him, do anything to put him off his stride. Tonight will be intense, though it’s nothing Rice can’t handle.
But to understand the deep ire sections of Ireland’s contingent feel towards the Arsenal midfielder, it is worth looking at the comments he made after his full debut for the Republic of Ireland in Turkey in March 2018.
‘If I’m honest, it brought a little bit of a tear to my eye singing the national anthem and thinking of my nana and granddad,’ said Rice at the time.
‘I’ve come away, played in the game and loved every minute of it. I’ve loved being around the team and at the moment I’m fully focused on playing with Ireland.’
If Ireland felt like they were led up the garden path then, perhaps, it is understandable. But, then again, what was he supposed to say: ‘yeah I enjoyed it, but I’d rather be playing for England’?
By the time he was turning out for the Irish in Antalya, the English Football Association had already clicked into gear. It’s not often that the governing body let young players slip through the net, but Rice is one of the exceptions to the rule.
Rice hadn’t played for England at any age group before finally making his full senior debut in March 2019.
The 25-year-old was a late bloomer, not one of those academy talents that are ‘nailed on’ to make the grade. He was rejected by Chelsea as a youngster before joining West Ham’s academy following his release at 14.
Rice hadn’t played for England at any age group before finally making his full senior debut in March 2019
Rice and Jack Grealish both formerly represented Ireland’s youth and are set for a hostile reception in Dublin
But even then, if you speak to those at West Ham, they will tell you it wasn’t Rice’s technical ability that caught the eye but rather his persistence and tenacity.
Indeed, even up until the delayed Euro 2020, there were concerns from England coaching staff that Rice’s game was to restrictive, that he was a structured footballer rather than a natural one.
His conversion to a playmaking No 8 at Arsenal has nullified those concerns; Rice now widely recognised as an elite modern-day midfield player. But it’s fair to say Rice wasn’t always destined for the top. Of course, Ireland will argue that they did spot the potential. They would have a point.
Rice played junior football for Ireland from Under-17s to U21 level. Just days after his making his Premier League debut for West Ham, manager Martin O’Neill selected Rice, just 18 at the time, in his senior squad to face Mexico, Uruguay and Austria.
Ireland had invested in Rice. He appeared to be invested in Ireland. Perhaps that’s why so many feel conned. But football is so often about opportunities.
Did Rice feel like achieving his ultimate ambition of playing for England was a realistic goal? Possibly not considering his undulating route into professional football.
Indeed, the fact he was never included in a squad at junior level for England illustrates perfectly why Rice may have doubted his international credentials.
But every player wants to experience international football. And with Ireland, Rice has gift-wrapped a chance to do that. Not only that, but to represent a country that he feels a genuine connection.
Former England boss Gareth Southgate was central to Rice accepting to join the Three Lions
Rice has said that he is proud of his three caps with Ireland before he switched allegiances
However, as Rice’s presence grew, so did Gareth Southgate’s curiosity. The then England head coach liked what he saw. Southgate and his team noticed the early limitations in his game; but they also admired his drive from central midfield.
His willingness to run, to accept the ball in tight spaces, his ability to make the right decision – not always a trait common in young footballers.
Southgate was central to the FA’s charm offensive. Together with then technical director Dan Ashworth, the former England boss set the machinations in motion towards their swoop in 2018 in negotiations that were facilitated by Rice’s then agent Neil Fewings.
All of a sudden, Rice had a seismic decision to make. Months of soul-searching followed.
He confided in his brother Connor, father Sean and partner Lauren Fryer about the merits and pitfalls of playing for both nations. His West Ham captain Mark Noble is understood to have been one of Rice’s closest confidants at the time, too.
Among the considerations was his path into regular international football. He’d have had that luxury with Ireland. There wasn’t that guarantee with England, where the talent pool is richer.
It is understood that Rice’s ambition to play in major tournaments emerged as a key factor. After years in the international doldrums England were finally upwardly mobile under Southgate, who had just led the national team to a World Cup semi-final.
Figures close to the decision also indicate that Rice’s ambition to play in major tournaments emerged as a key factor
Republic of Ireland last qualified for a major tournament in 2016, when they exited the European Championships at the last 16 stage to hosts France. But, above all else, Rice felt he was English. The decision was made with his head – but mostly his heart.
In September, 2018, six months before Rice confirmed his change of allegiance, Southgate’s assistant Steve Holland watched Rice in Premier League action against Manchester United.
By all accounts, he couldn’t wait to regale Southgate with an account of the maturity the then 19-year-old had shown against a United midfield that included Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Marouane Fellaini.
The deal was done. For Ireland, though, it’s a deal that continues to invoke huge emotion.
