Jack Grealish fights back tears as he dedicates goal to his late brother on anniversary of his death

Jack Grealish fights back tears as he dedicates his first league goal in 16 months to his late brother on the 25th anniversary of his death.

Grealish scored in the second minute of Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Leicester City in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

After the game, he revealed to Sky Sports of the personal significance of that moment, noting that Keelan had passed away 25 years earlier, in April 2000, at just nine months old due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Grealish, who was four at the time of his brother’s death, shared his feelings in a post-match interview, saying it was a difficult day for his family, and later posted on Instagram, “With me always especially this day … that was for you Keelan.”

This heartfelt tribute resonated widely, with his manager Pep Guardiola also praising Grealish’s character, calling him an “incredible human being.”

Jack Grealish dedicates his goal to his late brother on the 25th anniversary of his death ❤️ pic.twitter.com/u3toaqZSuR

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 2, 2025

He told Sky Sports: “My little brother passed away 25 years ago today, so this day is always hard for the family but I was happy to score.

“My mum and dad were here. I had to score and to win was brilliant.”

On whether he felt relief breaking his goal drought, Grealish added: “As soon as I scored I knew that people would say this.

“This season I haven’t been at my best, even last season. I’ve not started in the Premier League since Christmas but I was happy to score today.

“I think my highest tally for a season is eight – I wasn’t brought here to score 20 or 30 goals a season. When I came here I had only scored six goals for Aston Villa. I’ve never been someone that scores constantly, I’d love to score more, but I offer more to the team than just that.

“I wanted a chance to play. I’ve only started in the FA Cup in 2025. I was devastated not to start at the weekend having started in every round but I played well when I came on. I felt like I deserved to play.”

Man City manager Pep Guardiola speaking about Grealish:

“Jack is an incredible human being in terms of gestures. He’s incredibly generous. He scored a goal, made a good game, so it’s good. This is a guy who used to play free, between the lines he’s got the ability to control the ball and play an extra pass. I’m happy for him. It’s not easy when you don’t play regularly.

“We miss chances for the third goal but the rest was really good. Maybe we could have scored more. The experiences we’ve had this season, many times we’ve conceded a goal and then after lost many points.”

Fans reacted as Jack Grealish fights back tears as he dedicates the goal to his late brother on the anniversary of his death…

@vicramsey85: Raw towards the end. Life is tough. Pleased for him to score.

@DerekAdamson: What makes that so genuine is his body language and the tone of his voice as he talks about his late brother and spare a thought for his Mum and Dad – terrible thing to lose a child even after 25 years 🙏❤️

@millardsarah: Not many players give an open and honest post match interview the way he does anymore.

@logan53025545: Can’t not like the guy, genuinely comes across nice and humble

@DanHarvey74: What a lovely guy. Wasting his career at that club though, needs a move in the summer.

@EuanBrady011: You never know what someone is dealing with

@StudMuffin9595: I’ll never understand the hate this guy gets. Have you seen how he is with young fans? Imagine how happy that made them. See him with that young fan with disabilities and her family? He’s genuinely one of the good guys in the game.

@boydcrowther: I really like him. He’s such a great person. He needs to play week in week out. You can see it. His issues his family has had etc he needs to playe escape you can see it in his eyes

@mozzaefc: Love this lad. You can see his emotion here, and what it means to him. Genuine lad with the same feelings as us all. 🩵

@Nathanielhodgk1: Can’t not like him. Very likeable. RIP to his bro.

@gabbiecabbie: He’s spot on and for people that understand the game they’ve been saying it for years… he’s a Maverick not a robot

@MartinH1892: He’s a great lad. Fair play to him.

@PhilPoo81643918: Can see how tough he’s finding it to speak all the way through . Will always want the best for him #utv

@ben_pxrker: He’s genuinely such a top top guy ❤️

@Joanne_Hodge: For all the laddish behaviour he gets vilified for, at the heart of it @JackGrealish is just a down-to-earth, family orientated man who is talented and lucky enough to do a job he loves. He’s a good ‘un.

@TraleeRed: Always comes across well never understood why gets the abuse he gets. Far easier fellas to dislike in football 😂

@FoxyN77: You can see how emotional he is through this interview, actually made me teary at the end. God bless Jack and little Keelan. #avfc

@CW9_MCFC: Fuckin love you mate. Super jack

@Tarantini_1875: Ah man he’s Villa but he’s impossible to dislike him. Such a normal, down to earth bloke

@ABolton_90: Genuinely don’t understand why this lad gets so much hate at most grounds in this country. Top bloke 💙

@cazzaragi: Just when you couldn’t love the bloke any more. Super Jack. The best human ever to pull on a football shirt . Come back to Villa!

@JackDornz: Such a genuine guy. City win more with him in the team and it isn’t a coincidence. Brings far more than other wingers we’ve got.

@conormichael04: Such a fucking likeable man this guy. He can do no wrong for me.

@_ben_goodwin_: Could see he didn’t seem ok and at the end you understand why. Don’t understand how you can’t like him

@andyhashtag1gk: You can hear the emotion towards the end, always a person behind the player