Troy Parrott F AZ Alkmaar b.2002

[tetsujin1979]

Third goal against Hungary voted most memorable sporting moment of the year
https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025/1217/1549519-iconic-parrott-goal-voted-irish-sporting-moment-of-2025/

[SkStu]

It really was though. You just couldnt script something like that. It was exactly what the torture of being a fan is all about - especially as an underdog. Its moments like that that make the pain worth it.

[Fixer82]

It couldn’t have even been close. It was by far the sporting moment of the year. People are still talking about it

[irishfan86]

I think Shane Lowry hitting the decisive putt in the Ryder Cup was up there — but as a football man for me no question it’s Parrott.

[Eirambler]

McIlroy winning the masters? Kate O'Connor at the worlds? There will obviously be bias towards a football moment on this forum but it was a very decent year in a number of sports for a non-olympic year.

[jbyrne]

It couldn’t have even been close. It was by far the sporting moment of the year. People are still talking about it

and having clicked on the link above...... ive just watched it again for the 1,012th time!

[tetsujin1979]

2002490411416228171

[pineapple stu]

Back in the goals today, though Az trail Fortuna Sittard 3-2

Change of penalty takers for them too - but they still missed

[tetsujin1979]

Features in David Squires' end of year collage
https://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2025/dec/30/david-squires-on-footballs-notable-people-and-big-moments-from-2025

[Buckett]

Features in David Squires' end of year collage
https://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2025/dec/30/david-squires-on-footballs-notable-people-and-big-moments-from-2025

And Ronaldo too!!

[Kingdom]

McIlroy winning the masters? Kate O'Connor at the worlds? There will obviously be bias towards a football moment on this forum but it was a very decent year in a number of sports for a non-olympic year.

I'm calling bull**** (not on you Eirambler - but the tons of others I've seen referring to it) on the Kate O'Connor achievement in terms on memorability (in the public conscience) vs Parrott's or even McIlroy.
Due to my kids interest rekindling my own previous interest in Athletics, I've been following Irish athletics quite a lot this decade, and very few people (in context) were even aware of what events KOC was competing in and were only tuning in on the final event or two.

[OwlsFan]

The frightening thing is that Hungary almost equalised. Idah's half-hearted attempt to stop the Hungarian advancing would have stayed long in the memory if they had scored from his cross.

I'd say I watch the goal every third day or so. The height Scales got for the header was amazing.

[brine3]

Already scored after two minutes against Ajax

[McDee]

Ammmmmm....another hat-trick for the man. Outstanding stuff.

[rebelmusic]

Yeah that's mental. You know he's fully arrived when he has a couple of quiet games and then does this. The quietness on the transfer front is really backing up that suggestion that his team have a multi-year plan for him.

If Kelleher, Parrot and Ferguson are fit and roaring going into the playoffs we have a seriously good shot at making the WC...both tournament and stress relief versions 😂

[rebelmusic]

First goal was a nice poacher
2011531765110714779

Second goal was an absolute cracker
2011538515293589682

Can't find the 3rd but yeah, he's something else

Edit: Ajax keeper is from Czechia as well. Good omen !

[Eirambler]

Would really like him to stay where he is until the summer, a move could disrupt his form at exactly the wrong time for us.

But these kinds of performances will obviously be making clubs all over Europe sit up and take notice. Top level goalscoring strikers are really hard to come by and he clearly looks to be one now. There has to be a chance that some cash rich club that badly needs a striker will throw a crazy offer at AZ (and the player's representatives) before the end of January.

[Kingdom]

Watched the game. He absolutely terrorised the Ajax defence from the get-go. As did the entire Ah-Zed team to be fair. Not only was it a hat-trick, but he had two assists as well.


Yeah that's mental. You know he's fully arrived when he has a couple of quiet games and then does this. The quietness on the transfer front is really backing up that suggestion that his team have a multi-year plan for him.

Would really like him to stay where he is until the summer, a move could disrupt his form at exactly the wrong time for us.

But these kinds of performances will obviously be making clubs all over Europe sit up and take notice. Top level goalscoring strikers are really hard to come by and he clearly looks to be one now. There has to be a chance that some cash rich club that badly needs a striker will throw a crazy offer at AZ (and the player's representatives) before the end of January.

Funny enough, my first thought at the final whistle (and after looking through BBC & RTE Sport websites) is the absolute dearth of mention of him in transfer talk. Which is incredible really and backs up the claims elsewhere (Sneyd possibly?) that his team have a plan in place and are sticking to it religiously. Which would be nice. Plus when you consider that he may have gone to places (Bermondsey) on direction of a previous club that he personally may not have wanted to go, I could imagine a scenario where it's a case of 'once bitten, twice shy'.


First goal was a nice poacher
His movement throughout that first goal build-up is of a player who knows what is required of him, sees a weakness in an opponent and is ready to capitalise. It is extremely impressive.


Edit: Ajax keeper is from Czechia as well. Good omen !

Jaros in goal for Ajax is the young keeper Pats had on loan from Liverpool before Abang

[tetsujin1979]

Highlights from the game
ySRmgvrcFxQ

[Eirambler]

He was involved in everything, just looks far too good for that level now.

[SkStu]

that second "no-look" assist (for the 6th goal) was a beauty.

[Insidetherock]

second highest scorer in goals per game stats.. 9 goals 12 games.. pretty prolific.

[rebelmusic]

24 goals for club and country so far this season and we're just past the mid-point. Could be easily looking at a 40 goal season

[Jolly Red Giant]

Parrott is showing the instincts of a good striker - being in the right place at the right time.

[tetsujin1979]

AZ have sacked their head coach after the weekend's result
https://www.az.nl/inside-az/nieuws/2026/januari/az-en-martens-nemen-afscheid-echteld-maakt-seizoen-af-als-hoofdtrainer

[SkStu]

20th league goal for him tonight in 1-1 draw v. Excelsior.

[OMTY]

20th league goal for him tonight in 1-1 draw v. Excelsior.

10th league goal but 20th in total I think for the season. Has already matched his scoring total for last year where he struck 20 goals in 47 games. He has done that in 26 games now.

[pineapple stu]

But did he celebrate against his former club? That's the big question in modern football!

It's great to see though. He has to be attracting interest from bigger clubs with that record in a league known for developing good players

[Eirambler]

The answer, for what it's worth, is that it was an extremely muted celebration. One thing I've noted watching a few of Parrott's AZ goals is that more of his teammates often run to the assister afterwards than to him. He scored from a long punt against Ajax and they all ran to the keeper who punted the ball. Last night more of them ran to the player whose shot was saved than to Parrott, who converted the rebound. Maybe he's not hugely popular in the dressing room there? (It could also just be that they simply run to whoever is closer)

[tetsujin1979]

It wasn't even a non-celebration, he barely acknowledged that he'd scored!
2014054525296947689
I didn't mind them celebrating with the goalkeeper for that goal, goalkeeping assists are rare.

[Kingdom]

The answer, for what it's worth, is that it was an extremely muted celebration. One thing I've noted watching a few of Parrott's AZ goals is that more of his teammates often run to the assister afterwards than to him. He scored from a long punt against Ajax and they all ran to the keeper who punted the ball. Last night more of them ran to the player whose shot was saved than to Parrott, who converted the rebound. Maybe he's not hugely popular in the dressing room there? (It could also just be that they simply run to whoever is closer)

From what I've seen, I don't believe that to be an issue at all, and for full disclosure, I noted the peculiarity that you highlight above in the Ajax game and something struck me (but I stand to be corrected): there are quite a few of his goals - and the assists from last week - where the momentum of the scorer/provider is in the opposite direction to the provider/scorer, so that schism which you recognise becomes more pronounced when a team like AhZed shift the ball sizeably and quickly.

[Buckett]

Why do you feel the need to lengthen an abbreviation by phonetically spelling it?

[SkStu]

Buckett, the way Kingdom carries on, just count your blessings that Parrott hasnt faced FC København yet.

[Kingdom]

Buckett, the way Kingdom carries on, just count your blessings that Parrott hasnt faced FC København yet.

I love you man, I really do - I chuckled way too hard at that.

[Kingdom]

Why do you feel the need to lengthen an abbreviation by phonetically spelling it?

I like the taste of windows Buckett, what else can I say!

[sidewayspasser]

Buckett, the way Kingdom carries on, just count your blessings that Parrott hasnt faced FC København yet.
Or Borussia Mönchengladbach, if they ever make it back to European football...

[Kingdom]

Or Borussia Mönchengladbach, if they ever make it back to European football...

Ah SWP, you missed a trick there, the obvious one was Köln - pronouncing it correctly is akin to someone with a skanger Dublin accent with Bells Palsy trying to say cone.

[sidewayspasser]

Ah SWP, you missed a trick there
Obviously.
By the way, as a native German speaker, I do know how to pronounce Köln correctly - and I can "hear" the similarity with
someone with a skanger Dublin accent with Bells Palsy trying to say cone :D

[Eirambler]

Fulham look like they're about to spend around £30m on another Eredivisie striker - Ricardo Pepi from PSV. Similar record to Parrott this season and a year younger but has the advantage of playing in a better team and in the Champions League. Might give a sense of the kind of fee Parrott may go for in the summer, assuming he isn't going anywhere this month.

[Kingdom]

Obviously.
By the way, as a native German speaker,

No way!
I had been wondering if your username was a play on that most famous of German goalscorers, Jürgen Sparwasser alright!!!

[Kingdom]

Nice subtle assist for Parrott on Saturday.

1-0 win away to Telstar, highlights here.
Cracking save in the first reel


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bt0CqIRgos

[pineapple stu]

21st club goal of the season, which passes out last season's total, but AZ 3-1 down at home to NEC after an hour. The winners move into the Champions League spot.

[Eirambler]

All the more impressive that he's continuing to score goals in a team that aren't playing particularly well and have recently sacked their manager. How many would he have scored for PSV this season?

[rebelmusic]

I watched most of the second half and he is by far they're best player. They'd be in a relegation fight if it wasn't for Parrot and that's an insane ROI from one player

[Eirambler]

Coincidentally, given that I mentioned PSV above, it's being reported this morning that they had an approach for Parrott rejected by AZ this month. Think that could have been a great move for him actually - he would have gotten to play for a dominant PSV team in the Eredivisie and played Champions League football every year as well.

[Razors left peg]

Coincidentally, given that I mentioned PSV above, it's being reported this morning that they had an approach for Parrott rejected by AZ this month. Think that could have been a great move for him actually - he would have gotten to play for a dominant PSV team in the Eredivisie and played Champions League football every year as well.

At this stage that would feel like a sideways move. Hes already played for 2 clubs in that league so its time for him to level up when he gets his next move

[Eirambler]

He'd be playing Champions League and winning trophies so I wouldn't say it would be a sideways move. If he ends up in Italy or Spain he could struggle to adapt or score goals at a higher level and it might impact on his Ireland form. Whereas I'd be confident that he'd be a 25 to 30 goal a season man at PSV and would likely come into Ireland camp in good form time and again.

Obviously there's more money to be made elsewhere but, from a selfish Ireland supporter point of view, I'd like to see him playing somewhere where I know he'll score goals and stay in form.

[Razors left peg]

He'd be playing Champions League and winning trophies so I wouldn't say it would be a sideways move. If he ends up in Italy or Spain he could struggle to adapt or score goals at a higher level and it might impact on his Ireland form. Whereas I'd be confident that he'd be a 25 to 30 goal a season man at PSV and would likely come into Ireland camp in good form time and again.

Obviously there's more money to be made elsewhere but, from a selfish Ireland supporter point of view, I'd like to see him playing somewhere where I know he'll score goals and stay in form.

As an Ireland fan I want to see him playing well in a higher profile league thats more enjoyable to watch. Holland is a bit of a backwater from a tv point of view so its hard to see him play every week.

If he moved to Celtic and was playing in Champions League every season you wouldnt be too impressed

[Eirambler]

The Eredivisie is a much stronger league than the SPL though. And PSV are a much stronger team than Celtic.

[pineapple stu]

There's a point there in fairness that it'd be good to see him move up a league rather than a rank within the same league. Yeah, PSV would hopefully have Champions League football, but the rest of the season would be the same.

(Good to see RLP back after being quiet for so long lately btw!)