In a special Nivea Player Profile we speak to up-and-coming Irish Under 19 international about life for an Irish youngster at a Premier League giant.
We’ve just witnessed the maddest transfer window in Premier League history. A staggering £630million (just shy of €750,000,000) was spent on players by the 20 Premier League clubs, with a huge influx of players coming into the league from every corner of the globe.
So, can a young Irish player still make it at the top of the English game? It’s not easy, but we have seen the likes of Seamus Coleman, Shane Long and now Robbie Brady to name just three thrive, while Ireland also has a host of regulars dotted around other teams.
Perhaps Jack Byrne will be the next one to make the breakthrough. The 17-year-old Dubliner has been at Manchester City’s academy since 2011, and signed a full-time contract with the Citizens earlier this year.
We spoke to him about life as a young player at a Champions League club just as the season was about to kick-off.
JOE: Jack, tell us what pre-season involves for an academy player like yourself?
Jack Byrne: We get our holidays end of May, start of June and we get the whole month of June of and then we’re back on July 1 for pre-season. Games start on August 17. During the month off I spent two weeks with Shamrock Rovers Strength and Conditioning coach Philly McMahon [Ed’s note: Yes, it’s the Dublin footballer Philly McMahon] so I went through a programme with him.
JOE: So you’re in the Elite Development Squad (EDS) at Man City. What does that mean with regards to training, interacting with the first team and the rest of the staff at the club?
JB: It depends really. What the first team do has a knock on effect to us and all the way down the academy. They might need players to train with, or some academy lads might come to train with the EDS. It all depends on numbers, who’s away and stuff like that.
JOE: You’re there a few years now, what was it like when you first arrived over? It must have been daunting?
JB: When I first came over it was unbelievable. For my first year I was kind of in awe of the whole thing. But now I think I am getting used to it. When you first come over all you think about is football, football, football but then you can start to get homesick and stuff like that but I think it is something you grow out of.
JOE: Has the change of manager this summer (Roberto Mancini left, Manuel Pellegrini came in) affected the whole club and if so, how?
JB: Massively. It’s completely different this year. In my time here I’ve had three managers in two years. Now, everyone is much friendlier, more helpful, the Italian coaches were very set in their ways but now there is a lot more going on and they are listening to us more, taking our feedback on board. It’s much better.
JOE: Patrick Viera has become the EDS coach now. What’s he like to work with every day?
JB: He’s unbelievable! As a coach and as a person. Unless you met him I couldn’t explain just how nice a bloke he is. He’s probably the biggest influence on my career so far.
JOE: And does he stay on the sidelines or does he like to get stuck in?
JB: He does sometimes but you’d want him to stay on the sidelines as he might embarrass you a little (laughs). He still has a bit. He’s a big lad too, a beast.
JOE: And do the new arrivals affect you guys?
JB: It does as it means the likes of Scott Sinclair (since moved on to West Brom) and Edin Dzeko could be in the reserves so that makes it even harder to get in there.
Taking it easy at training (Pic Credit: MCFC.com)
JOE: And who has really stood out for you in the reserves that made you think, ‘he should be playing in the first team or a regular somewhere’?
JB: There a young Irish goalkeeper here, Ian Lawlor, I think he’s going to be the next big thing.
JOE: Good news for Ireland that. We’ve got a lot of good young Irish lads coming through at different clubs now, like all the lads at Aston Villa, Noe Baba at Fulham and yourself at City. Irish underage games and meetups must be exciting these days.
JB: It’s brilliant, and we’re producing technically good players now too. We’re getting the ball down now and playing, which is only going to help our development and we can compete with other nations now technically.
JOE: Even though you’re still 17, you’re playing for the U19s now for Ireland. Is the step up through each age level noticeable?
JB: The jump from U16 to U18 is massive. U17 to U18 isn’t that big but the other gap is massive. It’s going from schoolboy football to men’s football. It’s a bit of a shock to the system. It’s the physicality and the speed of it.
JOE: Jack you’re a graduate to the St Kevin’s in Dublin, just like Damien Duff and Robbie Brady. Have the lads given you any advice on your career?
JB: I know Robbie well, he’s the player I’d most look up to out of Ireland. I think he’s an unbelievable player. The way he handles himself, he’s just brilliant.
Robbie Brady, a player Jack looks up to, and a fellow St Kevin’s boy
JOE: Robbie was at a massive club and had to make a move to a smaller club to get some game time. Is that something you think about at a club like City?
JB: At the end of the day Robbie did really well at United and put a platform down for a career somewhere else. It doesn’t always work out at your first club but that doesn’t mean you won’t have a great career. At the moment Robbie is having one of the best careers of any young player coming out of England.
JOE: Finally Jack, what are your goals for this season?
JB: Hopefully get into the EDS team, put down a marker for the following season to get a slot on a pre-season tour or go out on loan.
JOE: Thanks a million for your time Jack, best of luck this season.
JB: No worries.
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