Tattoo tributes & dedicating goals

Whether it was school football, boys’ club or anything that came further down the line, there was a different feeling for Harry when Aaron came to watch.

“I’d always love it,” says the 27-year-old, who is eligible for the Socceroos through his Australian-born mum, Heather.

“Playing and looking at the side and seeing him there, I was always trying to impress him.”

The hope was for both brothers to be drawn in the same World Cup group, but instead the family will have to split games across the United States and Canada.

Aaron’s absence will be sorely felt. “He would be over here with his pals in a pub, drinking all day and playing a bit of golf,” says Harry.

The Leicester defender and fellow centre-back John will each have tattoos of their big brother to remind themselves of the impact he had – and still continues to have.

John has endured serious injury trouble throughout a career that has taken him from Dundee United to Rangers via Hearts.

When the 29-year-old returned from one lengthy setback and scored his first Scotland goal in a World Cup qualifying victory against Denmark, he dedicated that moment to Aaron as he battled illness.

“My brother Aaron, he’s at home,” he stated in November 2021. “He couldn’t make it tonight, but that was for him because he helped me a lot during my rehab.”

Harry SouttarImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

A tattoo on Harry Souttar’s left arm depicts older brother Aaron taking a golf swing

How tragedy tightened brothers’ bond

Even after a period of unimaginable grief that still goes on, Harry – who spent last season on loan at Sheffield United – is able to find a crumb of comfort from a tragic period.

“When Aaron became ill, it did bring me and John a lot closer together, certainly after his passing as well,” he says.

“Not that me and John were never that close or anything like that, but with me living in England and him playing in Scotland, we didn’t really speak a lot.”

In the wake of tragedy, their bond has become stronger.

Texts and calls have now become more frequent, even if it is just to “talk about random things”.

“The one good thing to come from it, if you could say it’s a good thing, would be that it’s brought me and John closer,” Harry adds.

Both brothers kick off their World Cup schedules on Sunday, with Scotland facing Haiti (02:00 BST) directly before Australia take on Turkey (05:00).

“It’s just great that we’re both here,” Harry says. “I know John missed out on the Euros a few years ago, which he was absolutely gutted about.

“I’m absolutely over the moon that he’s here. And it’s one that the family are all filled with pride with. For me, I’m proud of him as well.”

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