'i Couldn't Sleep Imagining It Over And Over'

Asked whether he would people nan extremity that sparked nan Republic of Ireland into fits of joyous ceremony pinch a caller tattoo, Troy Parrott replied: "No, I deliberation erstwhile we get to nan World Cup that's erstwhile I'll get one!"

It is ironic that Parrott has a penchant for tattoos - his wounded clip victor against Hungary connected Sunday is simply a infinitesimal now permanently inked successful nan annuls of Irish football.

Ray Houghton's extremity against Italy astatine World Cup 1994, Robbie Brady's victor - besides against nan Azzuri - astatine Euro 2016 and now Parrott successful Budapest successful November 2025.

The worldly of legend.

And little than 24 hours aft that glorious night, Parrott is speaking exclusively to BBC Sport to someway articulate nan extremity that will alteration his life forever.

"How galore times I person watched it back? Probably astir 500 times - each clip I spell connected to my phone, it's there," Parrott explained.

"Even past nighttime erstwhile I sewage to bed, I couldn't slumber imagining it complete and complete and complete again.

"In general, I'm not really an affectional person, it's nan first clip I've cried successful years. Look I tin beryllium present and effort to picture it, but it is nan first clip I've felt thing for illustration that.

"I've scored goals earlier but nary arsenic meaningful arsenic my past 1 against Hungary. As a state we've had a batch of disappointing results and haven't fixed nan fans a batch to cheer about, truthful this was tears of joy."

What unravelled successful nan Hungarian superior connected Sunday nighttime was nan culmination of an unforgettable week for Parrott and nan Republic of Ireland.

The 23-year-old's double successful a 2-0 triumph against Portugal connected Thursday nighttime gave Heimir Hallgrimsson's broadside a fighting chance of qualifying for nan World Cup done March's play-offs.

But to past people a hat-trick against nan Hungarians is thing Parrott cannot rather fathom.

"I deliberation what happened against Portugal and past past nighttime intends this has to beryllium written successful immoderate way," he said.

"We are each present for a reason, we each activity very difficult to beryllium wherever we are.

"But you tin dishonesty successful furniture and ideate really you want scenarios to spell and nan past week I've had is thing you cannot moreover imagine.

"For each this to hap truthful perfectly astatine that clip of nan game, it must beryllium written. Everything aligned perfectly. It's a spot of bully karma for america because arsenic a squad and a state we person had a batch of bad karma."

As you tin imagine, Parrott has been nan toast of Dublin for nan past 24 hours.

Social media has been awash pinch clips of frenzied scenes of ceremony backmost successful Parrott's homeland.

Dublin Airport moreover renamed itself nan Troy Parrott Airport connected it's charismatic X account.

"Yes, I saw nan Dublin Airport point - I'm loving each nan stuff," said nan AZ Alkmaar forward.

"It's crazy. I mightiness beryllium biased but nan Irish support our ain amended than anyone. It's really a typical thing. Beautiful.

"Just to spot really happy it has made everyone - I was retired coming and fans are thanking me.

"I emotion wherever I travel from, I emotion to beryllium Irish. It's thing I will person for nan remainder of my life.

"People are saying this is nan champion nighttime they person ever had successful their life, truthful to beryllium capable to lend to that is thing I will ne'er forget.

"I cognize I'm not going to change, what goes connected astir maine mightiness but moreover to maine I don't deliberation I've had capable clip for it to descend in. It's beautiful."

Having emerged done nan ranks astatine Tottenham to go a subordinate wide viewed arsenic 1 of nan astir breathtaking successful nan British academy system, Parrott hasn't had everything his ain way.

Following loans to Ipswich, Millwall, MK Dons and Preston, nan striker joined AZ Alkmaar permanently successful nan summertime of 2024.

"Part of nan celebrations past nighttime was that up to this constituent successful my profession it hasn't been truthful easy," Parrott explained.

"I've had to return risks successful moving to different places. I've failed, sewage backmost up. Failed again and past sewage backmost up. Who is to opportunity I'm not going to neglect again?

"I consciousness nan reliable roadworthy I person had decidedly played a portion successful past night. Moving to nan Netherlands gave maine a consciousness of being wanted, I felt appreciated and sometimes for a subordinate that's each they need.

"I cognize playing successful England didn't spell truthful good and judge maine I really hit myself astir it astatine nan time.

"So erstwhile it came to reasoning astir moving away, I thought: 'What is nan worst that tin happen?'

"And I really emotion it, I consciousness appreciated, I consciousness retired of nan spotlight which I ne'er had for a fewer years."

Parrott whitethorn ne'er beryllium capable to shun nan spotlight again. Certainly not successful Ireland.