AZ Alkmaar striker produces performances of a lifetime as Republic of Ireland stun Portugal and Hungary
Budapest/Dublin – Troy Parrott has written his name into Irish football folklore after a remarkable six-day spell that saw the 23-year-old striker score five goals across two crucial World Cup qualifiers, propelling the Republic of Ireland into the play-offs.
The AZ Alkmaar forward first announced his arrival on the international stage with a brace in Ireland’s stunning 2-0 victory over Portugal, overshadowing even Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card as the travelling Irish supporters sang his name throughout the night.
But it was Sunday’s dramatic encounter in Budapest that truly elevated Parrott to legendary status. Facing elimination against Hungary at the Puskas Arena, the Dublin-born striker scored a hat-trick in a pulsating 3-2 victory, including a 96th-minute winner that sent the Irish contingent into raptures.
“I will never have a better night in my whole life,” an emotional Parrott said after the match. “It is a fairy tale. You can’t even dream about something like that.”
Historic Performance
The performance made history on multiple fronts. Parrott became the first player to score a hat-trick in a competitive away match for Ireland, and the first to net three times in any competitive fixture since Robbie Keane’s treble against Gibraltar in 2014. He also joined elite company as just the fourth Irish player to score multiple goals in consecutive appearances.
Dublin Airport even joined the celebrations, temporarily renaming itself ‘Troy Parrott International Airport’ on social media in recognition of the striker’s heroics.
A Journey of Perseverance
Parrott’s journey to this moment has been far from straightforward. Once touted as the next big thing at Tottenham Hotspur, the young forward endured challenging loan spells at Millwall, Ipswich, MK Dons, and Preston before finding his feet in the Netherlands with Excelsior. A permanent move to AZ Alkmaar in 2024 has seen him flourish, and that club form has now spectacularly translated to the international stage.
After scoring 17 goals for Excelsior and continuing his strong form with AZ, Parrott had to redefine his game. “The thing that helped me the most was that I realised I was a striker who needed to be in the box,” he explained earlier this year. “A lot of the time, I was too far away from the goal to score.”
That realization has paid dividends. At AZ, he’s established himself as one of the Eredivisie’s top scorers, and the confidence gained at club level has now translated to the biggest stage of his international career.
Breaking Through on the International Stage
Before this international window, Parrott had scored just five goals in 31 caps for his country, with only one goal since 2022. In two remarkable matches, he doubled that tally and transformed Ireland’s World Cup hopes.
Against Portugal, both of Parrott’s goals showcased his improved movement and clinical finishing. Against Hungary, he showed remarkable composure to equalize twice before his dramatic late winner secured Ireland’s passage to the play-offs.
Looking Ahead
The Republic of Ireland now advance to the play-offs in early 2026, where they will be just 180 minutes away from reaching their first World Cup since 2022. If Parrott can produce more nights like Sunday, Irish fans may dare to dream of even greater glory ahead.
For the young striker who once struggled to find his place in English football, this represents a remarkable redemption story. His decision to look beyond the Premier League and rebuild his career in the Netherlands has not only revitalized his club career but has now made him a national hero.
As Ireland prepare for the play-offs, they do so with renewed confidence and a striker finally fulfilling the immense potential that has always been evident. The fairy tale, as Parrott himself said, continues.
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