The former Ireland international discusses the incredible wins over Portugal and Hungary, as well as his previous clubs including Everton and Sunderland.
Kevin Kilbane believes Troy Parrott “can be anything he wants” after the striker scored five goals in two games to send the Republic of Ireland to the World Cup play-offs.
Ireland pulled off an incredible pair of wins against Portugal and Hungary to keep their World Cup dream alive, and they are 350/1 in the World Cup betting odds to win the tournament in North America next summer.
In our exclusive interview, Kilbane says he’s watched Parrott’s winner over and over again, and believes the striker has already done enough to make himself an Irish national hero.
Can you put that Ireland performance into words? And what emotions were you feeling when Parrott scored that last-minute winner?
The overriding emotion is no words. Every Irish supporter feels the same. Honest to God, I must have watched the video probably a thousand times by now. And the reaction videos – pubs, bars, people at home – I’ve probably watched all those a thousand times as well.
It just shows what the game means to our people. I’ve spoken about it in the last 24 hours: the team and what it means to all of us. It was the most phenomenal week. We haven’t had a great time over the last 10 to 15 years. It’s been a hard watch at times. Hard going – we haven’t been as competitive as we want to be. But the spirit is still there, and there is quality there as well, I feel. Maybe we’ve undersold it ourselves.
The spirit came to the fore this week. God… what a week. There’s been no better, ever – and I can say this with 100% clarity – there’s been no better individual performance across two games than Troy Parrott. Never.
I’ve played with some incredible Irish players. But to score two against Portugal and back it up with a hat-trick in huge games – huge games – there’s no better back-to-back performance ever in an Irish jersey. He’ll have legendary status for life because of it, and rightly so.
Is Troy Parrott a new Irish hero? What’s his ceiling as a player?
Interesting one. What happens for the rest of his career? Honestly, I’d probably tell him to retire now – he’s done enough! He can pack it in!
But look, we’ve all looked at his career. His name has been mentioned for 10 years. When he was 13, 14, you heard his name constantly – “next big thing.” He’s had huge pressure on him long before he turned pro. At Spurs, he did magic things with the youth team, but there was pressure and expectation that he’d step into the first team immediately. But look at who was around him: Harry Kane, Son Heung-min. It’s virtually impossible for any young player to break in.
So he had all those loan moves, and they didn’t go how he would’ve expected. But this has been coming for two years. Irish fans know he’s not a flash in the pan. The talent is real. If you’re asking me his ceiling: it could be anything he wants. He has the talent. It might just take a bit of luck, the right team, the right club if he leaves Holland. He said himself after Portugal: he’s taking every day as it comes. And that’s the best thing for him.
I hope he plays in the Premier League or a top European league. His talent deserves a big stage. But from an Irish point of view, he’s our No. 1 striker now. Hopefully, he fires us through the playoffs.
Should Ireland fear anybody in the play-offs?
The break kills us a bit. The whole country is on a high, and it might flatten out by March. But fear? No. Not now. We’ll wait and see the draw. There’s still a possibility we could be Pot 2 – that might be gone in the next 12 hours – but if we were Pot 2 and got a home draw, you can imagine the clamour for tickets. The atmosphere would be unbelievable.
I haven’t even told my wife yet, but I’m genuinely thinking of flying over to Dublin if the playoff is at home. A lot of people will think the same. We’ve got a chance. Beating Portugal and Hungary away – those are the results we’ve lacked for years. The team has had so many downers, so many negative nights. Now they finally have something huge to draw from. I think they can kick on.
This group has been together 5–6 years now. Stephen Kenny brought many of them in young. Do you think his ideas helped them long-term, or did you worry they wouldn’t become what they could be?
I’m not sure if it was Kenny’s principles or just the will of the players. Hard to say. Stephen got a lot of criticism – lots of people saying the players weren’t good enough. But we all kind of knew this group needed to grow together.
When you have so many bad days, you start turning up with fear – dread, almost – because of what’s gone before. Now it’s different. This has been so long coming for them. Look at Nathan Collins bursting on the scene. We thought he’d lead us for a decade. Then you’ve Caoimhín Kelleher, Liam Scales emerging, Chiedozie Ogbene, Troy, Parrott, Evan Ferguson… I’m not saying they’re world-class stars, but they’re good players.
Ireland has always been about the collective. Kenny blooding them might have helped. Until last week, it looked like it hindered them — because of the fear around the team. But now… now they have something to feed off going forward.
You mentioned Liam Scales who was pushed out to left wing-back. From your experience on the left, how tough is that role? Were you impressed, and what’s the long-term pecking order?
I was impressed, yeah. Particularly because it’s out of position. He’s played left-back and left of a back three, but wingback is different. Attacking-wise, Robbie Brady has more quality in the final third. Ryan Manning too. But what I love about Scales is you can see what it means to him to play for Ireland. If he’s asked to play left-back, wing-back, centre-half – he’ll give it everything.
It was fitting that he got the assist for Parrott’s equaliser. At half-time, I actually thought he might come off. Hallgrímsson took Jake O’Brien off instead, moved Scales inside and brought on Manning. I was surprised, but Scales stuck with it and grew into the game. He was one of our best in the second half.
Long-term, Ryan Manning is probably the answer at wing-back. If Robbie Brady’s fit, he pushes him. Scales for me should still be in the side – ideally at left centre-half.
Does Heimir Hallgrimsson have to get a new contract now?
Yeah, and he deserves it. The minimum expected – or maybe maximum, depending on how you see it – was a playoff. That earns him the contract. But honestly? A week ago, you’d have said he was finished. Nobody thought we’d get there, not in the way it happened. Losing in Armenia, nearly losing to Hungary at home… two down in 15 minutes on opening night… three home red cards – Hungary, Armenia, Portugal – it was chaos.
We had luck, yeah. But what he kept saying was: “I believe in the lads, I believe we’ll go to the World Cup.” Most of us were laughing at that. But he’s been proved right. He found a way. That’s what Irish teams have always had to do. We’re never the most technically gifted, but we fight. This has been the most remarkable week ever. And that’s why he deserves the contract.
Do you think we should see Seamus Coleman and Jake O’Brien in the Everton side together moving forward?
I think it’s going to be difficult for Seamus to get in consistently now at Everton. I think he’ll be used here and there by David Moyes — whether they’ve injuries or whether he feels he can use him for one-off games. Seamus probably knows that and accepts it himself, given the level those defensive players at Everton are at the moment.
But that relationship between O’Brien and Coleman helped the Irish team. I genuinely believe that, and it could help Everton as well. I think Jake O’Brien has leaned on Seamus a lot since signing for Everton – even through the tough spell he had at first under Sean Dyche.
But I think the long-term player there will be Jake O’Brien at right-back.
That’s what I see happening. Whether Seamus Coleman’s body can hold up for another season playing consistently, week in, week out, that’s the question. So realistically, if you get ten games out of Seamus this season, including cup games, it’s great for the other players to have him around day in, day out. The desire he has on the training ground, the application he brings — that can never be overlooked. It’s huge for the club and the spirit of the dressing room.
As an Irish fan, I hope he hangs in there. I hope he gets a few games before the March playoff matches, because frankly, Ireland needs him. Ireland would not have qualified for these playoffs without Seamus Coleman in that last window. I guarantee that. What he’s brought to the team – and even going into this window – was something the country needed, something the team needed, and something Hallgrímsson needed. He’s said as much himself.
So, I hope David Moyes gives him half a dozen games before March. Even two or three will do – just to keep him fresh for the playoffs. Realistically, I think Seamus himself is hoping to play ten or twelve games this season, and that will be enough for him. He’s such a pro, he’ll look after himself.
There were reports that Everton had scouts at the Portugal home match, particularly to watch Troy Parrott. If you were talking to Moyes, would you be telling him he has to sign this guy and pay whatever it takes?
I doubt he’s going to take my advice these days! But look, as I’ve said to you before, this is not a flash in the pan. It’s not just two games where he scored five goals and the first-ever Irish hat-trick away from home.
If you look at him consistently over the last couple of years at Alkmaar, he’s scored big goals in European competition, and he’s scored consistently in the Dutch league. He’s had to go away, grow up, and find himself in many respects. Any team like Everton will monitor him over a long period, not just this window. But this window has emphasised his quality. It’s shown what he is.
If Everton or any Premier League club were to sign Troy Parrott, you’re getting quality. You’re getting a player who’s matured. He looks stronger physically. His overall game is improving – technically and tactically. He’s far more rounded now.
And look, I believe he’s an Evertonian. I’ve heard he’s a Toffee. So, if he is a Toffee, we’ll take him all day long. Another Irishman in the blue jersey — we’d be first in the queue for that.
What have you thought of Everton’s performances this season so far? I’ve seen a few moans about Moyes online for the first time – do you think they need a change of coach?
No. No, absolutely not. And that’s not just because of my relationship with him or how long I’ve known him. I genuinely don’t think that’s the way forward for Everton. I don’t think it needs to be done, and it shouldn’t even be whispered right now.
But I get that football changes in twenty-four hours. If results aren’t going your way, pressure builds on the coach. That’s always going to be there, and he knows that himself. But let’s be honest, when I was at Everton, David Moyes was in a way more difficult situation than he is now. He’s faced far more pressure as Everton manager than anything he’s facing at the moment.
I feel they’re on the right path. Bringing David Moyes back was a great step for the club because he brings stability and structure. He’s not going to coach forever, and he’s not going to be at Everton for the next ten years like his first spell. This is about rebuilding the club, and they’ve got the perfect manager in place to do that.
If they can get one or two signings in January, then I don’t think Everton will be far away from battling in the top half of the table. They’re not too far off.
And I don’t know what’s going to happen with Grealish because he’s been very good in his first months at Everton. But it’s not just about him – it’s about the group. Everton have been solid: difficult to beat and hard to score against. That’s what they need to be. And when the goals start coming and the confidence builds in the attacking unit, I think they’ll be fine this year.
So, in answer to your question: a coaching change? Absolutely not. Couldn’t think of anything further from the truth right now.
Do you think Sunderland can keep up their good form and secure European football for next season? I know Pat Nevin believes so…
Pat’s seen a lot of football, and he’s very knowledgeable. He used to go to a lot of the Newcastle and Sunderland games when Sunderland were originally in the Premier League, so he knows them well. When you watch a team a lot, you get a better feel for them.
I’ve probably not even seen them as much as Pat this season, but I’ve seen them half a dozen times live, and there’s momentum with them. The atmosphere at the Stadium of Light is as good as it’s been since my time, or certainly since Roy Keane’s time. The place is bouncing every week. That makes it really hard for teams to come and compete.
For Sunderland, the first thing is staying in the Premier League and building from there. But we’ve seen it with so many promoted teams — when you get momentum, look at Brighton, look at Brentford. They stabilised, then pushed on. Crystal Palace too, and even Leicester a few years ago. If you’d asked anyone twenty years ago if Leicester would win the Premier League and the FA Cup, you’d have said no chance. Same with Palace going deep in cup competitions.
So yes, there’s a chance for Sunderland to really kick on at the top end of the table.
Do you think their manager, Régis Le Bris is the reason they’ve settled so well into the league?
He’s come from the unknown, hasn’t he? Not many people knew his name when he arrived. But again, it’s a belief. Get the crowd onside early, get results, and Sunderland carries you forward. It’s a hard club to play for when things aren’t going well because there’s so much passion and scrutiny. From the outside, you don’t always realise how big Sunderland is – it’s massive in the north-east and even across England.
Wherever I go, outside the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton, Spurs, you always run into Sunderland or Leeds fans. You can’t underestimate how big that club is. When things are going well, there’s nothing better. And honestly, I think they’ve got a real chance of kicking on in the next few years.
As an MLS pundit, do you think that’s a market Sunderland should be looking at to boost their squad this winter?
There’s a lot of quality in MLS. The top-end designated players – there are some really, really good ones. Now, a lot of the big-name DPs like Müller, Messi, Suárez – they’ve come at the wrong stage of their careers for Premier League clubs. But within the league, there are one or two DPs who could play Premier League level, in my opinion.
We’ve seen players move from MLS to Spain in the last couple of years and prove they can play at that level. So, it’s not impossible. But I think the step up for the regular MLS player, outside the DPs, is huge – Premier League pace and physicality is a different world.
But even recently, look at Canada’s setup — Tani Oluwaseyi just left Minnesota United for Villarreal and is playing Champions League football. That shows it can happen. For Sunderland, though, I think they spent a lot of money last summer. Getting someone like Granit Xhaka in was huge for stability and quality. So, for them, maybe it’ll be one or two signings at most in January – nothing major. Stabilise this year, then look to next summer to kick on again.
I don’t see Sunderland doing major business in the January window, MLS or otherwise.
Have you seen much of the Columbus Crew and their manager, Wilfried Nancy? Would he be a good fit for Celtic?
Yes, I’ve seen a lot of him. Wilfried Nancy was at CF Montréal before he went to Columbus. Montréal had one of the lowest budgets in MLS, and they really overachieved under Nancy. They had Victor Wanyama, who was instrumental in Nancy’s team, but still, the resources were tiny.
Nancy took over from Thierry Henry. I don’t know the full circumstances of Henry’s exit, but Nancy was his assistant and stepped in. And what he did in those two years was phenomenal. He took CF Montréal, with such a low budget, to the playoffs. In his last year there, I genuinely felt they were contenders to go on and win it – it just didn’t quite happen.
He brought through Ismaël Koné, who went to Watford for five million, and that player was signed from Marseille for fifteen million and is now playing in Serie A at Sassuolo. Nancy got performances out of players who weren’t really excelling before. He found a system that suited them perfectly.
Things happened at Montréal – he didn’t sign a new contract – and then he went to Columbus. Columbus had good players, and they were clearly looking to bring in a coach like him, but you never saw them as serious MLS Cup contenders. And he won it in his first year at Columbus.
He honestly did remarkable things. Within MLS, what he’s achieved has been outstanding.
He’s a really, really good coach. I’ve spoken to him quite a lot, actually – had conversations with him on the phone when he was in Montréal. Tactically, he’s incredible. Brilliant to speak to. He understands the game, he understands players, he’s a players’ coach. Very calm, doesn’t get overexcited on the touchline, doesn’t go looking for attention.
So, when I saw him linked with the Celtic job, I knew a lot of Celtic supporters would be asking, “Who’s this guy?” But I can assure you – and I’m a Celtic fan myself – I was really happy when I saw his name linked. I thought, if they can get him in, this would be one that sneaks under the radar.
He’s an exceptional coach – genuinely – and I think he could go really well at Celtic.
Now, I’m not saying it will happen. I saw this week that Martin O’Neill is being extended in the position until the managerial search is completed. But if they get Nancy in, mark my words: it would not be a bad appointment. Far from it.
Because of what he’s done over here, because of the coach he is, I think he’s ready for the next step. And Celtic, over the years, have occasionally gone a bit off the wall with appointments. Nancy would be one who could really bring success.
Preston have started the season really well. Where do you tip them to finish?
Preston have such a low budget — one of the lowest in the Championship — so the fact they’re excelling already is impressive. Being in the playoff positions is excellent from their point of view. They’re relegation-threatened every year simply because of that financial disadvantage. It’s hard for them to compete against the teams that come down from the Premier League, whose budgets are two- or three-times Preston’s.
I think where they are right now is good, and honestly, staying in the league again would still be a success for them. But there are examples that show it can be done without a big budget; Luton proved it.
Going back further, Burnley did it years ago when they first got promoted — they were on a similar type of budget before they became a yo-yo club. Even Blackpool, fifteen or so years ago, made it to the Premier League. So, it’s not impossible.
When you look at Preston’s immediate rivals — Blackburn, Blackpool, Bolton, Wigan — all those clubs have been in the Premier League. Preston are the only one that haven’t managed to get there. You’re going back to the 1960s for the last time they were in the top division.
A lot’s happened at that club. I was there as a kid, and even before that, I was going to watch them growing up, so nobody would be happier than me if they finally got promoted.
But I do think it will be a struggle this year. What Paul Heckingbottom has done is really good, though. He’ll keep them competitive. I do think he’ll keep them in the hunt.
Hull City have also started the Championship season strongly. Can they keep up their form?
As a club, Hull are in the same position as a lot of Championship teams: it’s all about getting consistent up to and beyond Christmas, and then you ride the wave from February and March through to the end of the season. I think they’re in that position now, and if they can continue what they’re doing, they’ve got a chance.
But as I said, there are probably fifteen teams in the Championship thinking the same thing. Making the playoffs is a success, but getting into the top two positions is something else entirely.
My old team, Coventry, who are at the top of the league right now under Lampard, are doing remarkable things. I don’t think many people would have expected three or four years ago that Coventry would be hitting playoff finals and all that. That’s a club that’s been on its knees – supporters who felt they weren’t treated particularly well – and now they’re getting back to where they were when I watched them as a kid.
There are so many clubs in that league with stories like that. It’s such a hard league to get out of. I played in it — it’s a grind every single week. You’ve got to have something about you, and you’ve got to have quality as well. Most Championship teams have quality, and then you just need a bit of luck along the way.
I remember around February or March last year reading that every single team in the Championship could still technically be promoted and every team could still be relegated. That tells you how tight it is. Every year, there are maybe six points separating the playoff places from the relegation zone. It’s so tight, and it’ll be that way again this year.
It’s a great league. I love watching it. It’s crazy.
West Brom are going through a sticky spell. What do the Baggies need to do to get back to the Premier League?
Well, I think every team that gets relegated has to put a plan in place to get back within a certain timeframe. Because parachute payments only last so long, and once they end, the budget changes dramatically. I think it’s a five-year window for those parachute payments, and you’ve got to get back to the Premier League within that period to secure financial stability.
It also increases your budget to sign players and make the squad competitive if you do get promoted again. So West Brom are along the same lines as a whole host of teams that have been in the Premier League, yo-yoed a bit, and then struggled to find their way back.
You look at Hull City – they were in the Premier League, came down, haven’t been back within five years, and even dropped down to League One. Burnley are yo-yoing at the moment. There are so many clubs in that bracket. Once you’ve had that year in the Premier League, it stabilises you for a while — but Sunderland and West Brom are coming to the end of that period now.
So, I’d say there’s probably a bit of anxiety at the club to get back up. But look, West Brom is another incredible club – a big, big club – and the Championship is full of those. Big clubs that feel they should be in the Premier League and competing at a different level. But it’s easier said than done.
No one would have thought that Brighton or Brentford could do what they’ve done fifteen years ago.
You’ve got to give enormous credit to those clubs for how they stabilised themselves — the financial structures, the recruitment methods, everything they put in place to get into the Premier League and stay there. And I think a lot of sides – West Brom, Hull, Coventry, whoever we’re talking about – have to look at the methods Brighton and Brentford have used to stabilise themselves and try to replicate that.
How can clubs like Wigan, who end up in League One and lower, get back to their old heights?
It’s unbelievably hard. I mentioned Leeds earlier – they’re the prime example. Even going back twenty years, Man City did it. City dropped down two leagues. Nobody expected it. Nobody expected Leeds to do it. Nobody expected Sunderland to do it. Sunderland dropped two divisions and ended up in League One.
Luton almost did the same before rising again. No one foresees it. Once you get down to League One, I think it almost becomes a case of: “Right, we know who we are now. Let’s get back to our identity.” That’s what Leeds did. That’s what Sunderland did. They built slowly, got out of League One, stabilised in the Championship, and then kicked on. Sunderland did it quicker once they got promoted, but you get my drift – it’s so difficult. And you know what? It’s very easy to go into freefall.
Sheffield Wednesday are another one – a huge club when I was growing up, and they’ve struggled for years to find a way back to the Premier League. When you drop into League One and can’t get back out immediately, it becomes almost impossible.
What you need to do is what Leeds and Sunderland did: Stop the madness. Stop overspending. Stop trying to chase it. Reset. Get the supporters back onside. Get the club aligned again. These clubs will always have support – 30,000 at home every week, full stadiums. And when the crowd goes with you, you feel unstoppable. Sunderland are in that position now. Leeds are in that position now. That’s what the other clubs need to look at.
