Nathan Collins has expressed his desire to lead the Republic of Ireland to the World Cup. The 24-year-old defender serves as captain for both his country and his club, Brentford. Collins has made 23 international appearances since his debut in 2021, according to the Football Association of Ireland. He currently plays under manager Heimir Hallgrimsson as the national team prepares for upcoming qualification fixtures.
Collins also revealed a personal interest in returning to Gaelic football after his professional soccer career concludes. He previously played the sport for Maynooth at youth level before moving to England. The centre-back joined Brentford from Wolverhampton Wanderers in July 2023 for a club-record fee of £23m, per Sky Sports. He has remained a regular starter in the Premier League this season. Brentford currently sits in the middle of the top-flight table following recent results. Collins noted that while he remains focused on professional football, he still misses the community aspect of his local GAA club in County Kildare.
