Zak Gilsenan

Zak Thomas Gilsenan (born 8 May 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a left winger for National League club Gateshead, on loan from EFL League Two club Grimsby Town. Gilsenan was born in Joondalup, Perth to Irish parents, and is the youngest of three siblings. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. He signed his first professional contract with Blackburn Rovers in May 2021. Later the same year, he suffered an ACL injury, which kept him out until June 2022. 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. 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. He received the club’s Player of the Match award for his debut performance. Eligible to represent both Australia and the Republic of Ireland, Gilsenan has represented both at international level, before declaring for Ireland in 2021. He scored on his debut for the Republic of Ireland under-19s in a 2–2 draw with Sweden. 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. 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.