But none of those famous family teams in the past had a backyard penalty shootout as a childhood game.
Shea Charles, a midfielder for Sheffield Wednesday, has already earned 16 caps for Michael O’Neill’s team. This month, his 18-year-old younger brother Pierce, a goalie, has joined the team.
Surely, that was ideal practice growing up, what with the two playing such disparate positions?
Shea, 20, chuckles, “You say that, but when we were young he played outfield,” referring to Southampton’s promotion to the Premier League through it.
Our elder brother and I used to spend time together in the garden when we were younger. He had to enter the nets at some point.”
It seems that the youngest Charles brother has benefited greatly from his early days spent playing outfield.
Michael O’Neill, the manager of Northern Ireland, has commended the goalkeeper’s versatility. He is a player who is completely at ease with the ball.
“Pierce is one of those goalkeepers that everyone is looking for in the modern game,” he stated.
“He’s got great distribution, real composure with the ball at his feet and we know at Sheffield Wednesday they really regard him highly.”
