Forgotten ex Spurs and Millwall striker now cult hero after £6.7m summer transfer

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Millwall striker Troy Parrott has already earned himself a cult hero status at AZ Alkmaar following his departure from Spurs this summer.

The 22-year-old came through the youth academy in north London but only managed four first team appearances for the club. Parrott was sent on loan spells to Millwall, Ipswich Town, MK Dons, Preston North End and Excelsior between 2020 and 2024.

Deemed surplus to requirements by Ange Postecoglou, Parrott was given the green light to complete a transfer away from Spurs this summer. The striker left somewhat of a forgotten man as AZ paid £6.7 million to bring him to the Netherlands.

Parrott has started all of the side's five league games so far this season but had gone goalless in the opening four as he helped the team to three wins and a draw. On Saturday, the player broke his duck in style as he bagged four goals against Roin van Persie's Heerenveen in a 9-1 win.

Parrott scored once in the first half and then added another three goals after the break to push his side into second in the Dutch top flight. Speaking after the game, Manchester United legend Van Persie labelled the defeat as a 'very big bump'.

Videos online after full-time showed Parrott being heralded by AZ supporters in the ground. The former Spurs man said: "Obviously for me as a striker it's disappointing not to score in the previous games because I always want to score goals. But I don't stress over these things, it's normal, this is football you can't play every game perfect. I understand this and I believe in my own ability and I believe the team that we've got here is a really good team and we will create chances and tonight that happened and I was there."

Parrot's last Spurs appearance came in a cameo against Norwich in the FA Cup in March 2020, which the London club lost on penalties. His short spell with Millwall during the 2020/21 campaign saw him make 14 Lions appearances without scoring.