The impact of Brexit on Ireland’s football future
The days of young, promising Irish players being snapped up by English clubs before their 18th birthday more-or-less came to an end with the arrival of Brexit.
A nailed on surety in the last few decades was a promising Irish footballer being captivated by the allure of a big time Premier League club, eventually making the switch to pursue his dreams before he’d even completed his secondary school education.
The process has now been made a much more tedious task, with U18 players and their families needing to leap through several loopholes to make the jump across the pond.
The vast majority though, will not be permitted to move to England before they are 18.
An unfortunate scenario for youngsters dreaming of a move to the ‘Prem’ is that – unless they are of the utmost quality – teams won’t bother with the hassle.
But is this a godsend for Irish football?
Domestic Irish Development
The League of Ireland, despite Brexit cooling attention from England, has continued to see massive interest in their youngsters.
It has shifted, however, to clubs from Italy, France and Germany, among others, increasing their presence in Ireland and looking to expand their reach for fresh young players.
The League of Ireland has had its fair share of critics in recent years, with its infrastructure, coaching and competition – especially at youth level – long being seen as below par.
However, the abundance of young players staying in Ireland throughout the duration of their developmental years has seen a leap in interest and investment in the League of Ireland.
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Additionally, it’s highly beneficial to those players who don’t fall into the elite bracket of talents, who in years past would’ve been snapped up by an English team with no guarantees for their holistic improvement.
Instead, these players stay in Ireland, maturing at a more reliable rate both physically and mentally, and completing their education.
Brexit has seen more debuts for talented U18 players in the League of Ireland which can only be a positive for the growth of the league, the development of the players and the interest from fans.
European Wave
What has been a more popular path since Brexit is the movement of Ireland’s best and brightest to mainland Europe.
Kevin Zefi is the name that first springs to mind. A supremely gifted, beautifully technical and attack minded player, currently plying his trade at Inter Milan.
You don’t have to leave the San Siro to find another starlet, Ireland’s U17 captain, Cathal Heffernan, is currently on the books of AC Milan.
He’s even worn the armband for the club’s U19 team.
Heffernan spoke with Sky News earlier this year, acknowledging the fact that Brexit led him to Milan.
He said: “If Brexit hadn’t happened, I could be in England now. Because of Brexit, I had to look for another route.
“So I’m kind of happy it [Brexit] happened in a way.”
It’s important to mention that Irish players over 18 can still make the switch to England hassle-free.
This is thanks to the Common Travel Area (CTA) which bypasses all Brexit restrictions.
Looking Forward
Ireland continues to produce high level talent at a healthy rate but the avenues through which these young players can advance their careers have expanded vastly.
With a prospective “golden generation” of Irish talent on the horizon, it’s not hard to see how Brexit has aided in the development of many of their current prospects.
While the League of Ireland continues to grow, more youngsters will see remaining in Ireland as a viable option to cultivate their skills and further their careers.
