Arsenal legend Ian Wright: 'I would never have become a Premier League footballer if not for my older brother'
The Evening Standard's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Ian Wright has said he may never have become a Premier League footballer if it wasn’t for the influence of his older brother.
The Arsenal legend, who scored 185 goals in 288 games for the Gunners, said that he was constantly striving to impress brother, Maurice, while he was growing up.
“He said, ‘your left foot is nowhere near as good as mine’”, Wright remembered. “So I practised and practised and practised.
“As soon as I’d done that and I’d showed my brother I could kick with my left foot, and cross it with my left foot, then he’d say ‘yeah, but you can’t head the ball’.”
In an interview with Barclays, Wright also reflects on his time at school, and how his teachers said he couldn’t play football on Saturday unless he concentrated in class – so, of course, he paid attention.
Arsene Wenger's best Arsenal XI
After leaving school at 14, Wright struggled to break into the professional game, but said it was his brother’s influence which made him into the player he eventually became.
“If I had to pin it down to what really got me going and motivated me, and my ethic to work hard while I was on my own, I’d have to say I owe it to Maurice.
“Because he was a big brother, he inadvertently turned me into a Premier League footballer.”
Watch Wright’s full interview here.
