Troy Parrott on becoming Republic of Ireland’s hero, Mourinho’s impact and searching for ‘big moments’

After instilling belief in pursuit of World Cup 2026 qualification, Parrott tells Miguel Delaney about his newfound stardom, how he transformed his game and aspirations for the future SportFootballExclusive InterviewTroy Parrott on becoming Republic of Ireland’s hero, Mourinho’s impact and searching for ‘big moments’After instilling belief in pursuit of World Cup 2026 qualification, Parrott tells Miguel Delaney about his newfound stardom, how he transformed his game and aspirations for the futureMonday 16 February 2026 09:47 GMTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoveropen image in galleryTroy Parrott has inspired hope that the Republic of Ireland can qualify for the World Cup 2026 (PA Wire)Your support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreIt was a moment that caused many Irish people to lose their capacity for rational thought. It was already the kind of high-stakes circumstance where the intensity of emotion overrides everything else, but there was none of that for the man at the centre. Troy Parrott was alert to everything, which was exactly how he scored the goal that meant everything to a nation dreaming of reaching the World Cup 2026.“It’s more of a mental thing,” the 24-year-old says now, sitting in a very relaxed mood in his Amsterdam apartment. “It’s just getting in the box and hoping that the ball is going to fall.”There’s then a pause.“And believing that it’s going to fall as well.”Parrott is discussing his hat-trick goal against Hungary, the 96th-minute match-winner that secured an improbable 3-2 comeback in Budapest and has also sent Ireland to a World Cup qualification play-off in March. Even that was only possible after Parrott sensationally scored twice in a defiant 2-0 win over Portugal.RecommendedWhy Troy Parrott’s magic moment meant much more than just the World Cup play-offs to IrelandThe joy and the lesson of Ireland hero Troy Parrott’s now-famous World Cup qualifier goalThe World Cup’s magic is at risk and Fifa must consider this quick fixThe very feeling of Budapest is still about so much more than merely facts, significant as they are. It’s about that belief, and happiness that football represents. That’s what seized global attention and briefly made Parrott one of the world’s most famous players.He admits he’s long stopped replaying the Hungary goal. “I’ve done all my watching,” he laughs. “The goosebumps are gone a little bit now.”open image in galleryHat-trick hero Troy Parrott celebrates in front of the Republic of Ireland fans (PA Wire)On the rare occasions he still looks back, though, he finds the same feeling takes over - and it’s not what you’d expect.“Sometimes I don’t like looking back at it, or I stop it just after the celebration, because they kicked off and nearly had a shot.“I still think that shot is gonna go in, so I knock it off before that.”That’s just as well, because Parrott admits he can’t look at his emotional post-match interview, either.“I can’t watch that!”A lot of the world has, reflecting another mind-bending element to this. Parrott was the centre of one of the most famous moments of 2025.“My phone did not stop for two weeks after it,” Parrott says. “And, ultimately, it hits more when it’s for your country as well.“Growing up, that’s what you want to do… It’s something that I’ll have for the rest of my life.“But look, that’s not going to be my career, you know. I’m not going to be that fella who scored five goals one time in 2025. I want to have more big moments like that, hopefully starting in March.”open image in galleryTroy Parrott celebrates against Hungry (AP)Such a promise carries even more weight given Parrott’s distinctive career path. Having been a frustrated Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate, who then tried different EFL loans, Parrott opted for the Dutch Eredivisie in 2023. It afforded him the space required. In moving from Excelsior to AZ Alkmaar, Parrott accelerated. “Flying,” as he puts it. A scoring record of one in two has already become two in three, forming “probably the best spell of my career”.Such words are thrilling to anyone who saw Parrott’s talent as a teenager. He was then talked of as “the next Robbie Keane”, but that expectation created problems. Excitement was soon replaced by