Jack Grealish is ultimate family man from loving relationship with disabled sister to tribute to baby brother who died
JACK GREALISH is one of the Premier League’s biggest stars but at heart he is a loving family man.
The Manchester City star dedicated his goal against Leicester on Wednesday to his baby brother on the anniversary of his death.
It is not the first time he has paid tribute to Keelan, who passed away at nine months old from cot death.
When he scored his first senior goal while on loan at Notts County in the 2013/14 season, he dedicated it to Keelan.
And in November 2018 while playing for Aston Villa, he did the same after scoring in a 4-2 victory over Birmingham.
Grealish choked back tears as he spoke about Keelan following his latest goal and what it means to his family.
The England star has been open about his baby brother’s passing and his little sister Hollie’s disability, describing her as his “best friend”.
He said previously: “My little brother passed away when I was young.
“My little sister has cerebral palsy, so she, you know, she’s like my best friend. I speak to her all the time.
“She’ll live with my mum forever, so my mum was always looking after the kids, whereas my dad would take me and my brother to Villa Park on a Saturday.
“We are so close. She was born three months premature and they said she would not be able to talk, walk.
“And here we are today, and she can do everything.”
Grealish celebrated City’s title victory last season with Hollie on the Etihad pitch.
With his winners’ medal around his neck, Grealish hugged and kissed her on the cheek.
He often expresses how proud he is of his sister and sang her praises after she began her first job as a waitress.
Grealish shared a photo of Hollie at work and wrote: “Go on Hols. First job… Birmingham’s best waitress. Proud of you.”
The 29-year-old has previously talked about how Hollie was born three months premature, adding: “They said that she wouldn’t be able to talk, she wouldn’t be able to walk, and do a lot of stuff but here we are and she can do everything.
“I’m so close with my little sister. I love her so much.” He has called Hollie his “inspiration” and his “hero”.
Although Hollie is his best friend, Grealish always makes time for his other sister Kiera and makes sure to remember Keelan with touching tributes.
After his goal on the anniversary of Keelan’s death, Grealish said: “I felt like I deserved to play tonight and I was just happy. It was a nice day because my little brother passed away 25 years ago today.
“So this day is always hard in the family. My mum and dad were here and I think this day is always difficult in the family so to score and to win is brilliant.”