“I will never have a better night in my whole life. It is a fairy tale. You can’t even dream about something like that.”
When Troy Parrott arrived for worldwide responsibility with the Republic of Eire final Monday, little did he know that six days later, he would have catapulted his nation to the World Cup play-offs.
First, there was a powerful 2-0 win in opposition to Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the headlines for his crimson card, but it surely was Parrott’s title being sung by the Eire supporters after he scored each objectives.
The AZ Alkmaar striker was the hero once more for Eire on Sunday in opposition to Hungary. He equalised twice on the Puskas Enviornment, earlier than a dramatic 96th-minute winner noticed his workforce win 3-2 – an evening he says won’t ever be bettered.
Dublin Airport even modified their title to the ‘Troy Parrott Worldwide Airport’ on social media in a celebratory, tongue-in-cheek nod to the 23-year-old’s heroics.
Two important video games. 5 objectives. Parrott has had an enormous say preserving his nation’s hopes alive of a primary look on the World Cup since 2022.
For followers of AZ or the Eredivisie, it’s maybe no shock. For others, the striker is usually considered the Tottenham teenager who by no means fairly hit the heights he was earmarked for.
However his profession proves that the prospect of success doesn’t finish should you take an opportunity and go away the large Premier League membership. Actually, it’d lead top-of-the-line moments of your life.
Beginnings at Spurs
Parrott was given his Tottenham debut by Jose Mourinho
After starting his profession with Belvedere in his native Dublin, Parrott joined Spurs’ youth ranks in the summertime of 2017 on the age of 15.
Two years later, he signed knowledgeable deal and started coaching with the first-team squad. He made his senior debut in a Carabao Cup loss to Colchester in September 2019.
Some had in contrast him to Robbie Keane in his early profession, whereas Parrott skilled alongside Harry Kane in the identical place. It restricted his alternatives and minutes, regardless of there being instances when he was the one match striker within the squad.
Regardless of making his Premier League debut in opposition to Burnley in December 2019, he would make only one extra substitute look within the competitors for Tottenham underneath Jose Mourinho.
Then got here the well-trodden EFL mortgage observe.
Sunday twenty third November 4:00pm
Kick off 4:30pm
Stuttering EFL loans – however success within the Netherlands
Parrott had 5 loans in his time at Tottenham, 4 of them in England. His first to Millwall in August 2020 was hampered by damage, and it was curtailed when he was recalled in January with simply 14 appearances and no objectives.
Just a few weeks later Parrott joined Ipswich, who had been then in League One, scoring twice in 18 appearances.
Subsequent got here season-long spells at MK Dons (2021/22) and Preston (2022/23). The previous noticed Parrott assist the Dons to the play-offs, scoring within the semi-final second leg in opposition to Wycombe, however the membership had been crushed 2-1 on mixture.
Parrott (left) frolicked on mortgage at MK Dons
However with one other underwhelming mortgage at Preston, the following transfer needed to be an enormous one. Talking to Sky Sports activities in October 2024, Parrott stated: “There have been seasons that I have had before where I have not enjoyed it too much” – referencing his time on mortgage within the EFL.
It was time for Parrott look away from England, touchdown at Excelsior within the Eredivisie. Transferring to the Netherlands proved to be the making of the younger striker.
“The most important thing was to start enjoying football again without any pressure on it,” the 23-year-old advised Sky Sports activities. “Not telling myself I need to do this, I need to do that. I know the talent I have so if I am feeling good in myself and happy then that is always going to show itself on the pitch.
“But it was a big step because I did not have any idea what to expect when I first came over. Moving from Ireland to England is one thing but to move somewhere where they speak a different language, a different culture, it was always going to be a challenge.”
He scored 17 objectives for Excelsior in all competitions, with 10 of these coming within the league. Regardless of hat-tricks in each the semis and closing of the two-legged Eredivisie play-offs – every scored at dwelling – Parrott couldn’t cease the membership from being relegated.
Parrott scored two hat-tricks for Excelsior within the relegation play-offs, however they in the end misplaced within the two-legged closing
Regardless of the disappointing finish to the season, Parrott was lastly exhibiting the potential many had laid upon his head since he was a young person at Spurs.
Talking on his Excelsior mortgage, he stated: “The thing that helped me the most was that I realised I was a striker who needed to be in the box. On a couple of the loans that I had, I tried to show my ability to come deep and link play. A lot of the time, I was too far away from the goal to score.
“I labored quite a bit with the coach at Excelsior on simply being within the field, being there when the ball is getting crossed. I believe for me that was the most important factor, simply drilling it into my very own head that in the end you are a striker and it’s essential to be within the field to attain objectives.”
Flourishing at AZ Alkmaar
Parrott (left) celebrates with Ruben van Bommel after scoring for AZ Alkmaar in opposition to Elfsborg within the Europa League
Having discovered a house within the Netherlands, Parrott made a everlasting transfer from Spurs to AZ Alkmaar in the summertime of 2024 for a reported payment of £6.7m.
Reflecting on his time at Tottenham just a few months later, he added to Sky Sports activities: “No, I don’t think I have any regrets. I am grateful for how the club treated me, helping me to grow up as a person and a player.
“These expectations are laborious for any younger participant. I am talking like I’m previous, I am nonetheless younger now! It’s simply the expertise I had, being out on all of the loans and stuff, is greater than what I ought to have at this age. However it’s one thing a whole lot of younger gamers undergo.
“I believe for me I’ve learned to just put that to the side. It does more harm than it does good. Just to block all that out. I am happy now, being able to showcase what I can do week in and week out at a big team playing in Europe. It is what I wanted when I moved here.”
Parrott has stored up his requirements with AZ. Final season, he scored 14 objectives in 30 Eredivisie video games – the league’s third highest scorer. One of many highlights was 4 objectives in opposition to Heerenveen in a 9-1 win in September 2024.
His type continued into the 2025/26 marketing campaign, with 10 objectives in seven video games throughout all competitions, however discovered himself halted by a knee damage on the finish of August. He has scored three extra league objectives since his return, with AZ 4 factors forward of Ajax within the Eredivisie desk.
Such is his type, a return to the Premier League has been mooted in some areas, though he’s contracted to AZ till 2029. These switch hyperlinks will solely have elevated after his star flip in November’s qualifiers.
Extra good instances to return for Parrott and Eire?
Parrott celebrates along with his Eire team-mates after their win in opposition to Hungary
In simply two video games this month, Parrott has doubled his worldwide objectives tally. Earlier than stepping out in opposition to Portugal, he had scored 5 objectives in 31 caps and solely as soon as since 2022.
Whereas he stays a daily call-up for the Republic of Eire, he has been responsible of squandering probabilities with a few of his good membership type not fairly translating to his nation.
Now, it seems the 2 have started to merge, and Eire will want extra of the identical as they navigate an enormous few months firstly of 2026.
Parrott rightly stated he struggles to see how the night time in Hungary will be bettered, however there are nonetheless the play-offs to return and perhaps even a primary World Cup. The great instances can roll even additional.
Given the momentum and confidence each Parrott and Eire have after this worldwide break, it could be laborious to disclaim them extra nights like Sunday.
