Key Highlights
- Troy Parrott scores a hat-trick in the Republic of Ireland’s 2026 World Cup play-off against Portugal.
- The 23-year-old has scored 13 goals in 14 games for AZ Alkmaar this season, leading to speculation about moves to top European leagues.
- Kevin Doyle believes Parrott is a mature player ready for the next challenge and capable of success wherever he goes.
- Parrott’s career had been stop-start before moving abroad, with stints at Tottenham Hotspur and various loan spells in England and the Netherlands.
Troy Parrott’s Milestone Performance
In a match that will be remembered for years to come, Troy Parrott scored a hat-trick against Portugal on November 16, 2025. This performance was not just a personal achievement but also a significant contribution towards the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup play-off aspirations.
Az Alkmaar’s Golden Boy
Parrott’s form for AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch league has been nothing short of impressive. He has scored 13 goals in just 14 games, making him a key player for his club and sparking interest from top European clubs such as Wolfsburg.
Mental and Physical Maturity
According to former Ireland striker Kevin Doyle, Parrott has matured both physically and mentally. Speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, Doyle emphasized Parrott’s readiness for a move to one of the Big Five leagues: “All of a sudden he’s being linked with big clubs again from being at Spurs, going down, building his career.”
Doyle further highlighted Parrott’s development into a more well-rounded player. He noted that Parrott has added an upper body strength and can now mix and match different playing styles: “He doesn’t look like he has it but he does have it. So he’ll pick a club, he looks like a mature chap now, he knows what it’s like at a big club like Spurs and how it can go wrong.”
Past Struggles and Present Success
Parrott’s journey has been challenging. He started his career at Tottenham Hotspur but struggled to establish himself there. Subsequent loan spells in the English pyramid followed, before he moved to the Netherlands with Excelsior Rotterdam.
Despite these difficulties, Doyle believes Parrott’s experiences have made him a better player: “I think he’ll have a better career and be a better player because of what happened to him over the last few years.”
Doyle also praised Parrott for his versatility on the pitch. He highlighted how Parrott’s all-round game, including his hold-up play, work-rate, and energy, sets him apart from other strikers like Evan Ferguson: “He was always a goalscorer growing up. Until I saw him play against Bulgaria in the Nations League last March, I went ‘wow’ after that game. He didn’t score in that game, but his hold-up play, his energy, his work-rate, his closing down, how he brought people into the game, ‘he’s the number nine now’ and it’s something I don’t think Evan Ferguson has at the moment.”
Looking to the Future
The future looks bright for Troy Parrott. With his current form and potential moves to top European clubs, he is poised for a successful career in football. Doyle’s assessment of Parrott’s maturity and readiness for big clubs adds weight to this prediction: “I don’t think it’s going to matter where he goes. He can link play up, he’s fast enough to run in behind, he mixes and matches the way he plays.”
As Parrott continues his journey, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see which club will be lucky enough to sign this promising talent.
