As a lifelong supporter and member of Aston Villa since 2001, after coming up through their academy, few clubs in the Premier League have a fan favourite to rival Jack Grealish.
Since making his debut for the Villans in 2014, he has been a regular in the side and captured the public’s attention with an inspirational display in the FA Cup semifinal at Wembley, against Liverpool. During the game, he played a part in both of Villa’s goals, including assisting Fabian Delph’s winner.
Though the following season was a disastrous one on the pitch at Villa Park, which led to the side being relegated by virtue of a last-place finish in the Premier League, during that season all 16 matches Grealish played were defeats, a Premier League record.
After relegation to the Championship Grealish became a regular in the side under Steve Bruce and was then made captain by Dean Smith which coincided with a run where the club amassed a record ten league wins in a row. Playoff victories over West Bromwich Albion and Derby County ensured Grealish led his side back to the Premier League, where he’s impressed upon his return.
This season he has performed the most carries in the Premier League, along with the most leading to chances created. His style of play and one club tenure is eerily reminiscent of Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier, both of whom have an overwhelming passion for their sides and operate as the focal point.
The comparisons do not end there though as Le Tissier’s off-field issues were well documented, with the Guernsey native reluctant to travel far from the island due to homesickness. Meanwhile, Jack Grealish has had plenty of reprimands for incidents away from football, but for entirely different reasons. They began in 2015 when a photo of him inhaling nitrous oxide for recreational purposes was published in The Sun. Then later for visiting a nightclub after a 4-0 loss to Everton, as punishment for the incident, he was made to train with the under-21 team. Then again in 2016 for attending a party at a Birmingham hotel which had to be shut down by the police.
One further notable similarity is that England are currently snubbing Grealish, he is yet to make an appearance for the senior side, after winning the 2016 Tulon Tournament with the under-21’s. Despite becoming the first Premier League midfielder to 100 goals and winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 1990, Le Tissier only represented England on eight occasions.
With Grealish back in the Premier League, he has a greater chance of being selected for the Three Lions. But at some point, the Aston Villa captain will be forced to make a choice, much like Le Tissier did, to either move on for higher wages and a greater chance of success or to stay and become an icon at Villa Park. Only the latter would see him emulate the Premier League legend.
