Zak Gilsenan

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 youth international level.[2]

Zak Gilsenan
Personal information
Full name Zak Thomas Gilsenan[1]
Date of birth (2003-05-08) 8 May 2003
Place of birth Joondalup, Perth, Australia
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Blackburn Rovers
Number 22
Youth career
Carramar Cougars
0000–2012 Sorrento
2011–2012 Perth Glory
2012–2014 Barcelona
2014–2019 Liverpool
2019–2023 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Blackburn Rovers 1 (0)
International career‡
Australia U17
2021 Republic of Ireland U19 1 (1)
2023– Republic of Ireland U21 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:10, 7 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:12, 14 October 2023 (UTC)

Early life

Gilsenan was born in Joondalup, Perth to Irish parents, and is the youngest of three siblings.[3][4]

Club career

Gilsenan 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]

International career

Eligible to represent both 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

Club
As of match played on 30 August 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Blackburn Rovers 2023–24[21] EFL Championship 000022–22
Career total 0000220022
Notes

    References
    1. Zak Gilsenan at WorldFootball.net
    2. "Ex-Barcelona prospect set to stick with Ireland despite interest from Australia". Independent.ie. 9 August 2023.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. King, Rhianna (21 July 2012). "Soccer-mad Zak scores top goal". thewest.com.au. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
    6. "Zak's ride to Barcelona glory". perthglory.com.au. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
    7. "How Zak Gilsenan – the 'Irish Messi' – slipped through Australia's fingers". theroar.com.au. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
    8. 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.
    9. Jones, Matt (2 December 2014). "Liverpool Transfer News: 'Next Lionel Messi' Zak Gilsenan Reportedly Joins". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
    10. Wylie, Jack (25 May 2021). "Two Rovers Teens Turn Pro". lfe.org.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
    11. Crooke, Jaqoub (21 October 2021). "Major setback for Blackburn Rovers starlet Zak Gilsenan after he suffers ACL injury". lancs.live. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
    12. Sharpe, Rich (28 June 2022). "Darwen FC to host Blackburn Rovers XI in pre-season friendly tonight". lancashiretelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
    13. "Zak extends Ewood stay". rovers.co.uk. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
    14. "Blackburn come from behind to beat Walsall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
    15. "Report: Rovers 4-3 Walsall". Blackburn Rovers FC. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
    16. "How Zak Gilsenan – the 'Irish Messi' – slipped through Australia's fingers".
    17. "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.
    18. "Report - MU19 2–2 Sweden". fai.ie. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
    19. "Crawford names U21 squad for EURO qualifiers in Cork | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
    20. https://www.the42.ie/brighton-teenager-stars-as-96th-minute-goal-sees-ireland-beat-turkey-6164026-Sep2023/
    21. "Games played by Zak Gilsenan in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
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