Another set of Sullivan brothers are making football waves in Bangladesh
Summary
Twin brothers Ronan and Declan Sullivan, born in the US with Irish names, played for Bangladesh's Under-20 football team and won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship in 2024. Their eligibility comes from their maternal Bangladeshi ancestry, and their success has increased interest among foreign-born players in representing Bangladesh.Key Facts
- Ronan Sullivan scored the winning penalty in a shootout during the U-20 SAFF Championship final against India.
- The championship took place on April 3, 2024, in Malé, Maldives.
- The Sullivans were born and raised in Philadelphia and had never visited Bangladesh before their tryout.
- Bangladesh is ranked 181st by FIFA and has a large population and diaspora worldwide.
- Their success has encouraged other foreign-born players, especially from England, to consider playing for Bangladesh.
- Former US men’s national team captain Thomas Dooley became head coach of the Bangladesh senior team shortly after the U-20 victory.
- Dooley aims to shift Bangladesh from being mainly football fans to becoming a strong football-playing nation.
- The Sullivan brothers’ other siblings, Quinn and Cavan, play professionally for the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.
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