Zak Thomas Gilsenan (born 8 May 2003) is a professional footballer currently playing as a midfielder for English EFL Championship club Blackburn Rovers. Born in Australia, he represents the Republic of Ireland at international level.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Zak Thomas Gilsenan[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 May 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Joondalup, Perth, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Blackburn Rovers | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Carramar Cougars | |||
| –2012 | Sorrento | ||
| 2011–2012 | Perth Glory | ||
| 2012–2014 | Barcelona | ||
| 2014–2019 | Liverpool | ||
| 2019–2023 | Blackburn Rovers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | Blackburn Rovers | 2 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| Australia U17 | |||
| 2021 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 1 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 4 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:28, 6 March 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 01:16, 16 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Early life
editGilsenan was born in Joondalup, Perth to Irish parents, and is the youngest of three siblings.[3][4]
Club career
editGilsenan started playing football at a young age, initially playing indoor soccer with local side Carramar Cougars.[4] He trialled unsuccessfully with ECU Joondalup, before joining Sorrento.[4][5] In 2011, he was scouted and signed by A-League side Perth Glory, where he played in holiday clinics while remaining with Sorrento at the same time.[4][5][6][7] He attended a two-week training camp organised by English club Tottenham Hotspur, where he was named player of the tournament, and was invited to trial with the north-London side.[4] During the trial, he was scouted by Spanish giants Barcelona, and moved to the Catalonian side in 2012.[4][5][8]
Despite captaining the Barcelona youth teams, his parents relocated to England after two years in Spain, and Gilsenan again went on trial, this time with Liverpool.[7] He signed for Liverpool in 2014.[9] He suffered a run of injuries, which eventually ended his spell in Merseyside, and despite interest from Premier League sides, he signed for Blackburn Rovers at the age of sixteen.[7]
He signed his first professional contract with Blackburn Rovers in May 2021.[10] Later the same year, he suffered an ACL injury, which kept him out until June 2022.[11][12] Having recovered from his injury and returning to action in October 2022, he established himself as a regular in the club's under-21 squad, and he signed a contract extension in June 2023.[13]
On 8 August 2023, Gilsenan made his professional debut for Blackburn Rovers in their EFL Cup first round 4–3 victory over EFL League Two side Walsall, going on to score his first professional goal in addition to assisting the winning goal.[14] He received the club’s Player of the Match award for his debut performance.[15]
In the next round away to Harrogate, he scored a brace including a stunning free kick in an 8-0 win
International career
editEligible to represent Australia and the Republic of Ireland, Gilsenan has represented both at international level, before declaring for Ireland in 2021.[16][2][17] He scored on his debut for the Republic of Ireland under-19s in a 2–2 draw with Sweden.[18] On 31 August 2023, Gilsenan received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for their 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification fixtures against Turkey U21 and San Marino U21 on 8 and 12 September 2023.[19] On 8 September 2023, he made his Republic of Ireland U21 debut, in a 3–2 win over Turkey U21 at Turners Cross, scoring an 87th minute penalty to put his side level.[20]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played on 5 May 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Blackburn Rovers | 2023–24[21] | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | – | 5 | 2 | |
| Career total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | ||
References
edit- ^ a b Zak Gilsenan at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b "Ex-Barcelona prospect set to stick with Ireland despite interest from Australia". Independent.ie. 9 August 2023.
- ^ Lewis, Dave (30 March 2020). "'Irish Messi' Gilsenan opts for Australia". sbs.com.au. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
"I was born in Australia and they're the country I have a really good feeling for," [Gilsenan] explained.
- ^ a b c d e f Walker-Peel, Oliver (20 December 2021). "Zak Gilsenan: Barcelona, Blackburn, Between and Beyond". kick360.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ a b c King, Rhianna (21 July 2012). "Soccer-mad Zak scores top goal". thewest.com.au. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ "Zak's ride to Barcelona glory". perthglory.com.au. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ a b c "How Zak Gilsenan – the 'Irish Messi' – slipped through Australia's fingers". theroar.com.au. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ O'Regan, Mark (23 August 2012). "'I'm moving my family to Barcelona -- so Zak can follow his Messi dream'". independent.ie. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ Jones, Matt (2 December 2014). "Liverpool Transfer News: 'Next Lionel Messi' Zak Gilsenan Reportedly Joins". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ Wylie, Jack (25 May 2021). "Two Rovers Teens Turn Pro". lfe.org.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ Crooke, Jaqoub (21 October 2021). "Major setback for Blackburn Rovers starlet Zak Gilsenan after he suffers ACL injury". lancs.live. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ Sharpe, Rich (28 June 2022). "Darwen FC to host Blackburn Rovers XI in pre-season friendly tonight". lancashiretelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ "Zak extends Ewood stay". rovers.co.uk. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ "Blackburn come from behind to beat Walsall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ "Report: Rovers 4-3 Walsall". Blackburn Rovers FC. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ "How Zak Gilsenan – the 'Irish Messi' – slipped through Australia's fingers".
- ^ "Ex-Barcelona teenager Gilsenan commits to Ireland over Australia as he starts recovery from ACL injury". the42.ie. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ "Report - MU19 2–2 Sweden". fai.ie. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ "Crawford names U21 squad for EURO qualifiers in Cork | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
- ^ "Brighton teenager stars as 96th-minute goal sees Ireland beat Turkey". 8 September 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Zak Gilsenan in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2023.