England face Ireland on Saturday and the game will have more meaning for Three Lions interim manager Lee Carsley and one of his players.
Carsley will take charge for the first time since taking the reigns from Gareth Southgate as the Three Lions get their Nations League campaign underway in Dublin.
Carsley is a former Irish international who led the England Under-21s to glory in the European Championship.
He made 40 appearances for Ireland during his playing days, taking advantage of the ‘Granny Rule’.
He will be overseeing a player who also has deep roots with Ireland, that being Arsenal’s Declan Rice.
Declan Rice once played for Ireland but he’ll line up against them on Saturday evening
Rice, born and raised in London, was eligible for the Irish team because of the so-called ‘Granny Rule’ that allows footballers to play for the country of any of their ancestors up to their grandparents.
The rule was employed by former Ireland manager Jack Charlton, who made use of English players with Irish heritage.
Rice represented the Ireland internationally at both youth and senior levels prior to 2019.
He then changed his national allegiance and made himself available for selection by England, for whom he has been a key player ever since.
Carsley qualified for the Republic of Ireland national team through his grandmother, who is from Dunmanway, County Cork. And it is a rule that many have made use of in the past as Mail Sport will show you below with our ‘Granny XI’.
Interim manager Lee Carsley was born in England but made 40 appearances for Ireland
Goalkeeper: Alan Kelly
Born in Preston, Alan Kelly was overshadowed by the likes of Shay Given and Packie Bonner but still made 34 appearances for Ireland.
Both his father, Alan Kelly Sr, who also represented Ireland, and older brother, Gary Kelly, played between the sticks.
Right-back: Mark Lawrenson
Without question one of, if not the, best right-backs Ireland have ever had.
Lawrenson, born and raised in Lancashire, qualified to play for England through his grandfather, Thomas Crotty, who was born in Waterford.
He won five league titles with Liverpool as well as a European Cup during his seven years at Anfield.
Centre-back: Mick McCarthy
McCarthy was also brought up in England but went on to make 57 appearances for Ireland, taking advantage of the same loophole.
While he sounds like a Yorkshireman, McCarthy has made no secret of his love for Ireland and even notched two goals during his international career.
McCarthy admitted he thought football may have retired him after 14 months out of work
Centre-back: Phill Babb
The defender was born in Lambeth to a Guyanese father and Irish mother.
Babb, who spent six years on the books of Liverpool and played 128 games, chose to represent Ireland and ended up making 35 appearances.
Full-back: Chris Hughton
Known more now for his managerial exploits, Hughton born in Essex but made over 50 appearances for Ireland.
He qualified as the son of an Irish mother and a Ghanaian father, becoming the first mixed-race player to represent the country.
Midfield: Jason McAteer
The former Liverpool midfielder was deemed eligible to qualify to play for Republic of Ireland through a grandfather who was born in County Down.
Born in Birkenhead, he ended up scoring three goals in 52 appearances for Ireland,
Midfield: Jack Grealish
An icon of England now, Grealish was capped by the Republic of Ireland up to under-21 level before confirming his decision to play for England in April 2016.
His England career has been up and down, playing a cameo role in the run to the Euro 2020 final and being left out of the squad for the following edition this past summer.
Midfield: Andy Townsend
A successful pundit now, Townsend was born in Maidstone but also qualified for Ireland due to his roots.
.He scored seven goals in 70 appearances making his debut against France in February 1989.
Midfield: Kevin Kilbane
Born in Preston like Kelly, Kilbane became somewhat of a cult hero with Irish fans.
He was called up to the England U18 squad but declined as he always wanted to play for Ireland with both his parents being Irish.
He made 111 appearances for Ireland, 66 of them in consecutive games.
Striker: John Aldridge
He may be synonymous with Liverpool, having been born there and scoring 50 goals in just 83 games for his local club.
But Aldridge was proud to wear the Ireland shirt, having qualified through his grandmother.
The striker spent 10 years paying for Ireland, netting 19 goals in 69 appearances,
Striker: Tony Cascarino
Cascarino, who was born in England, represented the Republic of Ireland—qualifying through his adoptive Irish grandfather, Michael O’Malley, who was from Westport, County Mayo
