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Troy Parrott is the hero Ireland deserves

Troy Parrott is the hero Ireland deserves

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Lying in bed, scrolling through the socials because you couldn’t sleep, it was impossible to miss videos of Troy Parrott’s 96th minute winner over Hungary in Ireland’s final World Cup qualifier, no matter how much of a mess your algorithm is.

By Alex Roberts

Ireland came to a standstill in added time. Airport security stopped so they could catch the final few minutes, anxiety filled pubs had bartenders and patrons watching in unison, while cups of tea went cold on living room side tables.

Coming from 2-1 down, Hungary were on the ropes, and as the seconds were ticking by, Ireland had one last roll of the dice. Caoimhin Kelleher’s hopeful ball into the box found the head of Liam Scales, who’s knock-on allowed for Parrott to make history. Sorry for all the clichés, but sometimes they work.

The striker ripped off his shirt and was quickly swarmed by his teammates as the Hungary players fell to the floor distraught. A short knee slide ended with what looked like about 15 lads on top of him, celebrating as the traveling fans went mental.

You don’t need us to tell you how much it meant to Parrott, he can do that: “I am really emotional right now. What a night. This is why we love football, things like this can happen. I love where I am from and it means the world to me.

“My family are here, and this is the first time I have cried in years! I really can’t believe it. I am really emotional right now. What a night. “I said against Portugal that this is what dreams are made of, but I think tonight, I will never have a better night in my whole life.

“It is a fairytale. You can’t even dream about something like that. I have no words to describe the emotions right now.”

One of the best reactions to the whole thing came from Dublin International Airport. Now, we don’t know who run’s their social media account but posting an image with the name changed to ‘Troy Parrott Airport’ with the caption “Feck it. Doing it.” was very good. He deserves it more than James Joyce.

It wasn’t just the game against Hungary. Parrott bagged a brace to keep Ireland’s hopes alive with a 2-0 win over Portugal, outshining a sulking Cristiano Ronaldo who picked up a straight red card for swinging an elbow at Dara O’Shea.

Parrott’s international break to remember

Now, it does need to be mentioned that Ireland haven’t qualified for next year’s World Cup YET. At the time of writing, they don’t know which of the other 15 sides they’ll be facing in the play-offs, with the draw being held on Thursday (November 20).

Parrott has just scored the most important hattrick in Irish football history, but he’s going to have to go again next March. Let’s not burst the bubble though, the boy from Dublin made it here the hard way, and he has every right to celebrate for as long as he wants. Thankfully he’ll never have to pay for a pint again.

He joined Spurs from Dublin club Belvedere at the age of 15, signing his first professional contract and training alongside the first team two years later. Comparisons to Robbie Keane were inevitable as he made his senior debut in a Carabao Cup loss to Colchester in September 2019.

Parrott’s player traits comparison – against strikers in leagues similar to the Eredivisie

It’s hard to forget that Parrott is only 23 years old, he was once touted as Harry Kane’s eventual successor while coming through the youth ranks at Tottenham. 31 goals in 38 appearances across the age ranges had everyone at the club rightfully excited.

A loan move to Millwall in August 2020 was his first real taste of senior football, although he had featured four times for Tottenham’s first team before he made the move. Parrott’s time in East London didn’t go as planned though, scoring zero goals in 14 games and heading back north in January.

He walked that well-trodden EFL loan path a few times after that, but it was a similar story at Ipswich. Parrott did manage to find some joy at Milton Keynes, bagging 10 goals in 47 games, but another loan to Preston, where he got four in 34 had Tottenham thinking about his future.

In 2023/24, Parrott took a chance away from England and landed in the Eredivisie with Excelsior, and it turns out he really likes Dutch football. Parrott wanted to learn to love football again, and he did.

“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 said when he made the move.

Seventeen goals, five assists, and hat-tricks in both the semis and final of the two-legged Eredivisie play-offs made an impression in the Netherlands, and AZ Alkmaar came calling. Since then, Parrott has become one of the best strikers in the league.

Parrott’s career summary since moving to Dutch football

Last season he scored 20 goals in 47 games; he already has 13 in 14 this time around. Parrott is living proof that Premier League academies aren’t the be all and end all, sometimes taking a risk is the right move.

It wouldn’t be unfair to say that Parrott has squandered plenty of chances during his time with Ireland. In the two games this month, he’s doubled his international goals tally having scored five in 31 and only once since 2022 until now.

Parrott admitted that Sunday night will be hard to top, but given his confidence and the momentum that Ireland have, we’re sure they’ll have plenty to celebrate in the not-so-distant-future.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow the World Cup qualifying playoffs on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, xG, and player ratings, where available. Download the free app here.

Troy Parrott is the hero Ireland deserves

Lying in bed, scrolling through the socials because you couldn’t sleep, it was impossible to miss videos of Troy Parrott’s 96th minute winner over Hungary in Ireland’s final World Cup qualifier, no matter how much of a mess your algorithm is.

By Alex Roberts

Ireland came to a standstill in added time. Airport security stopped so they could catch the final few minutes, anxiety filled pubs had bartenders and patrons watching in unison, while cups of tea went cold on living room side tables.

Coming from 2-1 down, Hungary were on the ropes, and as the seconds were ticking by, Ireland had one last roll of the dice. Caoimhin Kelleher’s hopeful ball into the box found the head of Liam Scales, who’s knock-on allowed for Parrott to make history. Sorry for all the clichés, but sometimes they work.

The striker ripped off his shirt and was quickly swarmed by his teammates as the Hungary players fell to the floor distraught. A short knee slide ended with what looked like about 15 lads on top of him, celebrating as the traveling fans went mental.

You don’t need us to tell you how much it meant to Parrott, he can do that: “I am really emotional right now. What a night. This is why we love football, things like this can happen. I love where I am from and it means the world to me.

“My family are here, and this is the first time I have cried in years! I really can’t believe it. I am really emotional right now. What a night. “I said against Portugal that this is what dreams are made of, but I think tonight, I will never have a better night in my whole life.

“It is a fairytale. You can’t even dream about something like that. I have no words to describe the emotions right now.”

One of the best reactions to the whole thing came from Dublin International Airport. Now, we don’t know who run’s their social media account but posting an image with the name changed to ‘Troy Parrott Airport’ with the caption “Feck it. Doing it.” was very good. He deserves it more than James Joyce.

It wasn’t just the game against Hungary. Parrott bagged a brace to keep Ireland’s hopes alive with a 2-0 win over Portugal, outshining a sulking Cristiano Ronaldo who picked up a straight red card for swinging an elbow at Dara O’Shea.

Parrott’s international break to remember

Now, it does need to be mentioned that Ireland haven’t qualified for next year’s World Cup YET. At the time of writing, they don’t know which of the other 15 sides they’ll be facing in the play-offs, with the draw being held on Thursday (November 20).

Parrott has just scored the most important hattrick in Irish football history, but he’s going to have to go again next March. Let’s not burst the bubble though, the boy from Dublin made it here the hard way, and he has every right to celebrate for as long as he wants. Thankfully he’ll never have to pay for a pint again.

He joined Spurs from Dublin club Belvedere at the age of 15, signing his first professional contract and training alongside the first team two years later. Comparisons to Robbie Keane were inevitable as he made his senior debut in a Carabao Cup loss to Colchester in September 2019.

Parrott’s player traits comparison – against strikers in leagues similar to the Eredivisie

It’s hard to forget that Parrott is only 23 years old, he was once touted as Harry Kane’s eventual successor while coming through the youth ranks at Tottenham. 31 goals in 38 appearances across the age ranges had everyone at the club rightfully excited.

A loan move to Millwall in August 2020 was his first real taste of senior football, although he had featured four times for Tottenham’s first team before he made the move. Parrott’s time in East London didn’t go as planned though, scoring zero goals in 14 games and heading back north in January.

He walked that well-trodden EFL loan path a few times after that, but it was a similar story at Ipswich. Parrott did manage to find some joy at Milton Keynes, bagging 10 goals in 47 games, but another loan to Preston, where he got four in 34 had Tottenham thinking about his future.

In 2023/24, Parrott took a chance away from England and landed in the Eredivisie with Excelsior, and it turns out he really likes Dutch football. Parrott wanted to learn to love football again, and he did.

“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 said when he made the move.

Seventeen goals, five assists, and hat-tricks in both the semis and final of the two-legged Eredivisie play-offs made an impression in the Netherlands, and AZ Alkmaar came calling. Since then, Parrott has become one of the best strikers in the league.

Parrott’s career summary since moving to Dutch football

Last season he scored 20 goals in 47 games; he already has 13 in 14 this time around. Parrott is living proof that Premier League academies aren’t the be all and end all, sometimes taking a risk is the right move.

It wouldn’t be unfair to say that Parrott has squandered plenty of chances during his time with Ireland. In the two games this month, he’s doubled his international goals tally having scored five in 31 and only once since 2022 until now.

Parrott admitted that Sunday night will be hard to top, but given his confidence and the momentum that Ireland have, we’re sure they’ll have plenty to celebrate in the not-so-distant-future.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow the World Cup qualifying playoffs on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, xG, and player ratings, where available. Download the free app here.