Zak Gilsenan

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Zak Gilsenan

|image =

|fullname = Zak Thomas Gilsenan{{WorldFootball.net|zak-gilsenan}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|5|8|df=y}}

|birth_place = Joondalup, Perth, Australia

|height = 1.78 m

|currentclub = Blackburn Rovers

|clubnumber = 22

|position = Midfielder

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 = Carramar Cougars

|youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2012

|youthclubs2 = Sorrento

|youthyears3 = 2011–2012

|youthclubs3 = Perth Glory

|youthyears4 = 2012–2014

|youthclubs4 = Barcelona

|youthyears5 = 2014–2019

|youthclubs5 = Liverpool

|youthyears6 = 2019–2023

|youthclubs6 = Blackburn Rovers

|years1 = 2023– |clubs1 = Blackburn Rovers |caps1 = 2 |goals1 = 0

|nationalyears1 =

|nationalteam1 = Australia U17

|nationalcaps1 =

|nationalgoals1 =

|nationalyears2 = 2021

|nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U19

|nationalcaps2 = 1

|nationalgoals2 = 1

|nationalyears3 = 2023–2024

|nationalteam3 = Republic of Ireland U21

|nationalcaps3 = 4

|nationalgoals3 = 1

|club-update = 01:28, 6 March 2024 (UTC)

|nationalteam-update = 01:16, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

}}

Zak Thomas Gilsenan (born 8 May 2003) is a professional footballer currently playing as a midfielder for English {{English football updater|BlackbuR}} club Blackburn Rovers. Born in Australia, he represents the Republic of Ireland at international level.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/ex-barcelona-prospect-set-to-stick-with-ireland-despite-interest-from-australia/a853021187.html|title=Ex-Barcelona prospect set to stick with Ireland despite interest from Australia|date=9 August 2023|website=Independent.ie}}

Early life

Gilsenan was born in Joondalup, Perth to Irish parents from Blanchardstown,{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/once-you-have-that-taste-of-first-team-football-you-always-want-more-blackburns-zak-gilsenan-targets-loan-move/a230065619.html|title=‘Once you have that taste of first-team football, you always want more’ – Blackburn’s Zak Gilsenan targets loan move|first=Sean|last=O'Connor|date=28 January 2024|access-date=3 April 2025|website=independent.ie}} and is the youngest of three siblings.{{cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/sport/article/irish-messi-gilsenan-opts-for-australia/hbhzr05lc|title='Irish Messi' Gilsenan opts for Australia|first=Dave|last=Lewis|date=30 March 2020|access-date=9 August 2023|website=sbs.com.au|quote=“I was born in Australia and they’re the country I have a really good feeling for,” [Gilsenan] explained.}}{{cite web|url=https://kick360.com.au/zak-gilsenan-barcelona-blackburn-between-and-beyond/|title=Zak Gilsenan: Barcelona, Blackburn, Between and Beyond|first=Oliver|last=Walker-Peel|date=20 December 2021|accessdate=5 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123101628/https://kick360.com.au/zak-gilsenan-barcelona-blackburn-between-and-beyond/|archive-date=23 January 2022|website=kick360.com.au}}

Club career

=Early career=

Gilsenan started playing football at a young age, initially playing indoor soccer with local side Carramar Cougars. He trialled unsuccessfully with ECU Joondalup, before joining Sorrento.{{cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/soccer-mad-zak-scores-top-goal-ng-ya-306008|title=Soccer-mad Zak scores top goal|first=Rhianna|last=King|date=21 July 2012|accessdate=5 August 2022|website=thewest.com.au}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://perthglory.com.au/news/zaks-ride-barcelona-glory|title=Zak's ride to Barcelona glory|date=10 June 2013|accessdate=5 August 2022|website=perthglory.com.au}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/12/08/how-zak-gilsenan-the-irish-messi-slipped-through-australias-fingers/|title=How Zak Gilsenan – the 'Irish Messi' – slipped through Australia's fingers|date=7 December 2021|accessdate=5 August 2022|website=theroar.com.au}} 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. During the trial, he was scouted by Spanish giants Barcelona, and moved to the Catalonian side in 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/im-moving-my-family-to-barcelona-so-zak-can-follow-his-messi-dream-26890605.html|title='I'm moving my family to Barcelona -- so Zak can follow his Messi dream'|first=Mark|last=O'Regan|date=23 August 2012|accessdate=5 August 2022|website=independent.ie}}

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. He signed for Liverpool in 2014.{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2286341-liverpool-transfer-news-next-lionel-messi-zak-gilsenan-reportedly-joins|title=Liverpool Transfer News: 'Next Lionel Messi' Zak Gilsenan Reportedly Joins|first=Matt|last=Jones|date=2 December 2014|accessdate=5 August 2022|website=bleacherreport.com}} 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.

=Blackburn Rovers=

He signed his first professional contract with Blackburn Rovers in May 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.lfe.org.uk/news/two-rovers-teens-turn-pro/|title=Two Rovers Teens Turn Pro|first=Jack|last=Wylie|date=25 May 2021|accessdate=5 August 2022|website=lfe.org.uk}} Later the same year, he suffered an ACL injury, which kept him out until June 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/blackburn-rovers-gilsenan-injury-blow-21928947|title=Major setback for Blackburn Rovers starlet Zak Gilsenan after he suffers ACL injury|first=Jaqoub|last=Crooke|date=21 October 2021|accessdate=5 August 2022|website=lancs.live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/20240036.darwen-fc-host-blackburn-rovers-xi-pre-season-friendly-tonight/|title=Darwen FC to host Blackburn Rovers XI in pre-season friendly tonight|first=Rich|last=Sharpe|date=28 June 2022|accessdate=5 August 2022|website=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2023/june/19/zak-extends-ewood-stay/|title=Zak extends Ewood stay|date=19 June 2023|access-date=9 August 2023|website=rovers.co.uk}}

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.{{Cite news |title=Blackburn come from behind to beat Walsall |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66368368 |access-date=2023-08-09}} He received the club’s Player of the Match award for his debut performance.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-08-08 |title=Report: Rovers 4-3 Walsall |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2023/august/08/report--rovers-4-3-walsall/ |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=Blackburn Rovers FC}} In the following round, he helped Blackburn Rovers to their biggest ever away win, scoring a free kick as they beat Harrogate Town 8–0.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66589696|title=Harrogate Town 0-8 Blackburn: Rovers get biggest away win in their 148-year history|date=30 August 2023|access-date=3 April 2025|website=bbc.co.uk}}

Having made his league debut against Queens Park Rangers in October 2023, he stated in January 2024 that he was looking to secure a loan move in that month's transfer window. However, during pre-season ahead of the 2024–25 season, Blackburn Rovers manager John Eustace confirmed that Gilsenan had suffered a muscle injury, and would be out for up to eight weeks.{{cite web|url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/july/29/duo-to-miss-start-of-the-season/|title=Duo to miss start of the season|date=29 July 2024|access-date=3 April 2025|website=rovers.co.uk}} In October 2024, having still not recovered from the injury, Gilsenan stated that he would "come back stronger".{{cite web|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24651556.blackburn-rovers-youngster-zak-gilsenan-issues-injury-update/|title=Blackburn Rovers youngster Zak Gilsenan issues injury update|first=Dan|last=Barnes|date=14 October 2024|access-date=3 April 2025|website=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk}} A scan later revealed that the injury had not improved, and Gilsenan underwent surgery, extending his time out of the first team to a year; from April 2024 to April 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/february/18/gilsenan--my-toughest-challenge-yet/|title=Gilsenan: My toughest challenge yet|date=18 February 2025|access-date=3 April 2025|website=rovers.co.uk}}

International career

Eligible to represent Australia and the Republic of Ireland, Gilsenan has represented both at international level, before declaring for Ireland in 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/12/08/how-zak-gilsenan-the-irish-messi-slipped-through-australias-fingers/|title=How Zak Gilsenan – the 'Irish Messi' – slipped through Australia's fingers}}{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/zak-gilsenan-ireland-2-5580922-Oct2021/|title=Ex-Barcelona teenager Gilsenan commits to Ireland over Australia as he starts recovery from ACL injury|date=21 October 2021|accessdate=5 August 2022|website=the42.ie}} He scored on his debut for the Republic of Ireland under-19s in a 2–2 draw with Sweden.{{cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/report-mu19-2-2-sweden|title=Report - MU19 2–2 Sweden|date=8 October 2021|accessdate=5 August 2022|website=fai.ie}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/crawford-names-u21-squad-for-euro-qualifiers-in-cork|title=Crawford names U21 squad for EURO qualifiers in Cork | Football Association of Ireland|website=www.fai.ie}} 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.the42.ie/brighton-teenager-stars-as-96th-minute-goal-sees-ireland-beat-turkey-6164026-Sep2023/ | title=Brighton teenager stars as 96th-minute goal sees Ireland beat Turkey | date=8 September 2023 }}

Career statistics

rowspan=2\|Club !rowspan=2\|Season !colspan=3\|League !colspan=2\|FA Cup !colspan=2\|EFL Cup !colspan=2\|Other !colspan=2\|Total
class=wikitable style=text-align:center \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Blackburn Rovers \|2023–24{{soccerbase season\|181971\|2023\|access-date=9 August 2023}} \|Championship \|2	0	0	0	3	2	colspan="2"\|–	5	2
colspan=3\|Career total !2	0	0	0	3	2	0	0	5	2