On 17 Nov 2025 GMT+7, Troy Parrott, Ireland's nearly forgotten man, declared "I'm back" with a spectacular performance, scoring a hat-trick to overturn a 3-2 victory against Hungary in the 2026 World Cup qualifying Group F match on 16 Nov. He helped the team secure a playoff spot.
In modern football, young players quickly rise to the status of "national hope" but just as swiftly can be overlooked if their performances don't meet expectations. Troy Parrott is one such example.
Several years ago, Parrott was regarded as potentially Ireland's next "Robbie Keane" due to his teenage talent and promotion to Tottenham Hotspur's first team. He briefly played alongside Harry Kane in attack, signaling a bright and opportunity-filled future.
However, football careers are rarely smooth for everyone. Parrott faced multiple loan moves to lower-tier English clubs, where he mostly struggled to succeed. His form was inconsistent, his role unclear, and recurring injuries disrupted his confidence and momentum.
To many fans, Troy Parrott's name faded from the image of Ireland's promising young forwards, with expectations shifting to Evan Ferguson and Adam Idah emerging as other options. This made Parrott feel like a secondary figure in his nation's new generation of strikers, despite still being only 23 years old.