In the modern game, footballers switching between international teams has become a fairly common occurrence. Ireland have very much at the centre of it, both in terms of players going in and out.
The likes of Declan Rice, Jack Grealish, and Michael Keane have all spent time in the Ireland setup before eventually committing their futures to England. On the flip side, the likes of Callum Robinson and Mikey Johnston have come into the fold having previously represented other nations at youth level.
It is something that is likely to become even more commonplace in the future, although players should not take such decisions lightly.
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Former Ireland defender has regrets over international switch
While players representing one nation at youth level before making a switch is fairly common, doing so after being capped at senior level is still relatively rare. Declan Rice is an obvious example, making three friendly appearances in green before declaring for England.
He is not the only Ireland international to make such a move over the last decade.
Alex Bruce earned two Ireland caps in 2007 and 2008, and while would be in and around the squad in the years that followed, he would never add to that tally.
Having qualified to play for the country via his Down born grandmother, he also was eligible to play for Northern Ireland. He would eventually make a move up North in 2013, although he would only earn two caps for the side after doing so.
Speaking to The Times, Alex Bruce admitted that he might handle things differently were he given another opportunity.
If I had a crystal ball I might do things a little bit differently.
Nigel [Worthington] rang me and said ‘You’re on the bench every time you meet up. You’ve done it for three or four years now and you’ve got John O’Shea and Richard Dunne, all these really good players, who are keeping you out. Come and play for me, you can still play because you’ve not played a competitive match for the Republic’.
I just thought ‘he’s got a point’, so I made the decision to go and play. I was honoured. Nigel unfortunately lost his job within weeks of the paperwork being sorted out...
I’m sure I got a little bit [of stick] and some people might say rightly so, but it’s a short career and I was trying to make the very most of it.
Alex Bruce's switch to Northern Ireland certainly did not work out in the manner he would have hoped, failing to make his mark for the side after his switch.
In fairness to the former Leeds United and Hull City defender, it was unlikely that he would have managed to make an Ireland breakthrough had he remained in the squad.
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