Zachary Elbouzedi

Zachary Elbouzedi
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-04-05) 5 April 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 St Patrick's Athletic
Number 26
Youth career
–2014 Malahide United
2014–2017 West Bromwich Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4 (0)
2018 → Elgin City (loan) 3 (0)
2019 Waterford 27 (6)
2020–2021 Lincoln City 7 (0)
2021 → Bolton Wanderers (loan) 14 (0)
2021–2024 AIK 52 (2)
2024 → Swindon Town (loan) 17 (0)
2024– St Patrick's Athletic 11 (1)
International career‡
2012 Republic of Ireland U15 4 (2)
2013–2014 Republic of Ireland U16 7 (0)
2014-2015 Republic of Ireland U17 12 (1)
2016 Republic of Ireland U18 2 (0)
2016–2018 Republic of Ireland U19 10 (1)
2019–2020 Republic of Ireland U21 13 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:08, 2 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:37, 17 November 2020 (UTC)

Zachary Elbouzedi (Arabic: البوزيدي, romanized: ʾalbuzīdī, IPA: [ʔaɫbuziːdiː]); born 5 April 1998) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic.

Club career

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Elbouzedi started his career with Malahide United. He joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle on a free transfer deal in the summer of 2017 from West Bromwich Albion.[1] He was not able to play immediately due to an injury, but manager John Robertson believed he would compete for a place in the team when healthy.[2]

Elgin City (loan)

He was signed by Elgin City on a 28-day long emergency loan contract on 30 December 2017.[3]

After working himself back to match fitness by playing for Elgin City,[4] Elbouzedi made his professional debut for Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 13 March 2018 against Dunfermline Athletic.[5]

Waterford

Elbouzedi left Inverness on 31 August 2018, after terminating his contract by mutual consent after an injury ravaged season and only playing in one game in the 2018–19 season, which was a League Cup win over Cove Rangers.[6]

On 7 November 2018, Elbouzedi joined League of Ireland Premier Division side Waterford.[7]

He made 29 appearances for the Blues in all competitions, scoring 6 goals in an impressive season personally despite a disappointing season for the club as they finished in sixth place.[8]

Lincoln City

On 16 December 2019, it was announced that Elbouzedi would move to English club Lincoln City on 1 January 2020 after signing a long-term deal with the club.[9][10] He scored his first goal for Lincoln in an EFL Trophy tie against Shrewsbury Town on 8 December 2020.[11]

Bolton Wanderers (loan)

On 16 January 2021, he would join Bolton Wanderers on loan for the remainder of the season.[12] He would make his debut a few hours later, starting the EFL League Two game against Cheltenham Town.[13]

AIK

On 15 July 2021, it was confirmed that he would join Swedish Allsvenskan side AIK for an undisclosed fee, signing a contract until 31 December 2024.[14][15] He would make his AIK and Allsvenskan debut just a few days later, coming off the bench in the 85th minute against Kalmar FF.[16]

Swindon Town (loan)

On 30 January 2024, it was confirmed that he had joined EFL League Two club Swindon Town on loan until the end of the 2023–24 season.[17]

St Patrick's Athletic

Elbouzedi in action for St Patrick's Athletic in 2024.

On 17 July 2024, it was announced that Elbouzedi had returned to Dublin, signing for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic on a multi-year contract.[18] He made his debut for the club on 21 July 2024, replacing Kian Leavy from the bench in the 63rd minute of an FAI Cup defeat away to Derry City.[19] On 25 July 2024, Elbouzedi made his first start for the club, in a 3–1 win over Vaduz of Liechtenstein in the UEFA Conference League.[20] He scored his first goal for the club in the away leg against Vaduz, levelling the scores at 1–1 in an eventual 2–2 draw at the Rheinpark Stadion to secure progression to the Third Qualifying round where his side would face Sabah of Azerbaijan.[21] On 15 August 2024, he scored the only goal of the game in his sides away win over Sabah at the Bank Respublika Arena to earn a tie with Turkish side İstanbul Başakşehir in the Play-off Round of the UEFA Conference League.[22][23]

International career

Elbouzedi has represented the Republic of Ireland at youth international level.[24] He remains eligible to play for the Libya national football team due to his father being Libyan and has been contacted about representing Libya but has always stated he only ever wanted to play for the Republic of Ireland.[25] Elbouzedi was capped at under 21 level for the first time in 2019 and was selected for their squad for the 2019 Toulon Tournament.

Personal life

Elbouzedi was born in Dublin to a Libyan father and an Irish mother.[24]

Career statistics

As of match played on 1 November 2024
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
West Bromwich Albion 2016–17[26] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 2[c] 0 2 0
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2017–18[27] Scottish Championship 4 0 0 0 0 0 – 1[d] 0 5 0
2018–19[28] 0 0 0 0 1 0 – 0[d] 0 1 0
Total 4 0 0 0 1 0 – 1 0 6 0
Elgin City (loan) 2017–18[27] Scottish League Two 3 0 – – – – 3 0
Waterford 2019[28] LOI Premier Division 27 6 0 0 2 0 – 0[d] 0 29 6
Lincoln City 2019–20[29] EFL League One 5 0 – – – – 5 0
2020–21[30] 2 0 1 0 0 0 – 3 2 6 2
Total 7 0 1 0 0 0 – 3 2 11 2
Bolton Wanderers (loan) 2020–21[30] EFL League Two 14 0 – – – – 14 0
AIK 2021[28] Allsvenskan 20 1 1 0 – – – 21 1
2022[28] 25 1 5 2 – 4[e] 0 – 34 3
2023[28] 7 0 1 0 – – – 8 0
2024[28] 0 0 0 0 – – – 0 0
Total 52 2 7 2 – 4 0 – 63 4
Swindon Town (loan) 2023–24[28] EFL League Two 17 0 – – – – 17 0
St Patrick's Athletic 2024[28] LOI Premier Division 11 1 1 0 – 6[f] 2 0[g] 0 18 3
2025[28] 0 0 0 0 — 0[f] 0 0[g] 0 0 0
Total 11 1 1 0 — 6 2 0 0 18 3
Career total 131 8 9 2 3 0 10 2 6 2 163 15
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup, FAI Cup & Svenska Cupen
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup & League of Ireland Cup
  3. ^ Appearances for West Bromwich Albion U23 in the EFL Trophy
  4. ^ a b c Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  5. ^ Appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League
  6. ^ a b Appearances in the UEFA Conference League
  7. ^ a b Appearances in the Leinster Senior Cup

Honours

Inverness CT
Bolton Wanderers
St Patrick's Athletic

References

  1. ^ "Zak Elbouzedi signs". Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Inverness CT: John Robertson issues warning to players after loss to Falkirk". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  3. ^ "SIGNING NEWS – Elgin City Football Club". www.elgincity.net. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  4. ^ Durent, Jamie (23 November 2017). "Weather havoc proving a perfect storm for Caley Thistle boss John Robertson". Highland News. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  5. ^ "DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC VS. INVERNESS CT 1 - 0". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  6. ^ Marketing, View. "Zak Elbouzedi leaves by mutual consent". www.ictfc.com. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Waterford FC Sign Zack Elbouzedi". Waterford F.C. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Republic of Ireland - Z. Elbouzedi - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". ie.soccerway.com.
  9. ^ "Irish youth international becomes Appleton's first Imps signing". www.redimps.co.uk.
  10. ^ "Zack Elbouzedi: Lincoln City sign Waterford winger". BBC Sport. 16 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Shrewsbury Town 1-4 Lincoln City report and reaction: Scintillating Imps storm through". lincolnshirelive.co.uk. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Wanderers confirm double loan swoop". Bolton Wanderers F.C. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Report: Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Cheltenham Town". Bolton Wanderers F.C. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Elbouzedi completes AIK move". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  15. ^ "AIK Football agrees with Zack Elbouzedi". AIK. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  16. ^ "AIK up in third place". AIK. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Town sign Zach Elbouzedi". www.swindontownfc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Elbouzedi Signs Multi Year Contract". www.stpatsfc.com.
  19. ^ "Poor Pat's form continues as Derry goal blitz dumps holders out of cup". Irish Independent. 21 July 2024.
  20. ^ "St Pat's return to form with impressive European win over FC Vaduz". Irish Independent. 25 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Zack Elbouzedi on St Pat's European progression: 'These are the moments you want as a footballer'".
  22. ^ "St Pat's clinch famous win in Azerbaijan to march on in Europe". 15 August 2024.
  23. ^ "'We don't have an inferiority complex' – Elbouzedi backs Saints for more Euro glory as Turks lie in wait". 16 August 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Zachary Elbouzedi". Ireland Football. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  25. ^ "Elbouzedi declining Libya call-ups as he keeps Ireland 'dream' alive". the42.ie. 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  26. ^ "Games played by Zachary Elbouzedi in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  27. ^ a b "Games played by Zachary Elbouzedi in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Republic of Ireland - Z. Elbouzedi - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  29. ^ "Games played by Zachary Elbouzedi in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  30. ^ a b c "Games played by Zachary Elbouzedi in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  31. ^ Crawford, Kenny (24 March 2018). "Dumbarton 0–1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  32. ^ "League Two Betting | 2024/25 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com.