FORMER IRELAND AND MANCHESTER CITY midfielder Stephen Ireland has opened up about the struggles of being a professional footballer during his time with Ireland.
Ireland played for Ireland at under-15, under-16 and under-17 level and was promoted to the senior side in January 2006 under Steve Staunton.
The Cork native won six caps before leaving the Ireland camp in September 2007, having told senior staff that his paternal grandmother had died, this was found out to be fictious.
It was later revealed that he left camp because his girlfriend had suffered a miscarriage. He never played for his country again.
The former City star has opened up in an exclusive interview about the financial struggles he faced while going away with the national side.
Ireland's salary at Manchester City before the huge takeover was £95 a week. He also had two kids to look after at the time.
Ireland called his life during his early international career a "shambles"
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"I've got really fond memories and had some great times but, I think, me playing for Ireland probably happened too early in my career. I got into the first-team when I was around 18, and I really wanted it, I'm not disputing that," he told Ladbrokes' Fanzone.
"It just happened at the wrong time for me; my life was chaotic, I was single, with two kids, playing for Man City's first-team, I was on £95 a week, I couldn't even afford to go away. The stress, and how hard it was to deal with, it was virtually impossible for me to go away. I must've had 10 call-ups and was able to make one.
Ireland also regrets not asking his club Manchester City for help at the time.
"How is that even possible? As a young kid, playing in the Premier League, how was I not able to make it? My life was just absolutely... it was a shambles, to be honest with you. I envied the lads who could go, because I couldn't.
"Looking back now I get frustrated, because I'm thinking 'why didn't you ask Man City for support?' Why didn't I do this? Why didn't I do that? But they were different times; it was just a completely different era."
Ireland retired from football with 305 Premier League appearances to his name. He played for clubs like Stoke, Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle before hanging up his boots.
