Éamon Zayed
Encyclopedia
Eamon Zayed is an Irish
footballer of Libyan (through his grandfather) descent who currently plays for Derry City
. He also writes a weekly column on League of Ireland
website, extratime.ie.
. While with the club, Zayed was selected at U-16 and U-17 levels for both the Leinster Schoolboys and Dublin teams, and was on the Leinster Schools team at U-17. In two years at Leicester City
, he played for their youth (U-18), U-19 and Reserve sides. He then returned to Ireland after Leicester's relegation from the English Premiership in 2002.
debut on the 18th of October 2002 at the Carlisle Grounds
. He scored the fastest hat-trick ever by a Bray Wanderers player against Dundalk in 2003 within a nine-minute spell from the 7th to the 16th minute.
Zayed signed for Crewe Alexandra
in February 2004 on loan, but returned to Bray in May without having made a first team appearance at Gresty Road.
Zayed was the PFAI Young Player of the Year
for 2003. He represented the Eircom League Under-21s in a four nations tournament in Scotland in May 2004 and earned his second U-21 international cap against Scotland in May 2004 in Galway.
in July 2006 on a two and a half year full time contract, and scored on his debut on 7 July. His first of 5 goals in the Europa League came in a 1-1 draw with IK Start in August 2006. The following season he scored at A.C. Libertas
. His third Drogheda goal in European competition came against Helsingborgs IF
. He was a key part of the Drogheda team that won their first League of Ireland
title in 2007 and finished as their top scorer.
in the K-League
, but eventually decided to remain in Ireland and moved to Sporting Fingal
in January 2009. He scored twice against his former club Bray in Fingal's 4-2 FAI Cup
semi-final victory in October 2009. He also scored twice against C.S. Marítimo in July 2010 in Sporting Fingal's European debut. He was released by Sporting Fingal at the end of the 2010 season. He was set to sign for Al Ahly
in the Libyan Premier League
, but the transfer was blocked following the introduction of a new rule preventing foreign-born Libyan internationals under the age of 30 from playing in the league.
in January 2011 on a free transfer, signing a one year contract. In his first season at Derry, Zayed finished as the league's top scorer with 22 goals, helping the club to European qualification and gaining himself a place in the Premier Division team of the season. He was also nominated for the [PFAI Players' Player of the Year]] award.
, Tunisia
, as a result of his father, and Libya
, as a result of his grandparents, however he chose to begin his international career with Ireland. Zayed made his international debut for the Irish
U-20s against South Korea in January 2003 in a pre-World Cup tournament and followed up with two goals against UAE
two days later in a 3-2 win for Ireland. He made his U-21 debut for Ireland against Poland
in a 5-1 away win in August 2003. Zayed played in all four of Ireland's games in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
, held in United Arab Emirates
, starting two and making two appearances as a substitute. Following the tournament, he was contacted by both the Tunisian and Libyan FAs with a view to declaring for either, however, Zayed declined as he wanted to pursue his dream of repesenting Ireland at senior level.
in October 2010. He received his first call up to the Libyan national team from Brazilian
coach, Marcos Paquetá
, for an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Zambia
in the same month. He made his debut a few weeks later in a friendly against Niger
. After impressing on his debut, Zayed was called up to Libya's 23-man training squad for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in November 2011.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
footballer of Libyan (through his grandfather) descent who currently plays for Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
. He also writes a weekly column on League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
website, extratime.ie.
Youth career
Zayed started his career with Broadford Rovers before moving to St. Joseph's Boys AFC, based in Sallynoggin, DublinSallynoggin
Sallynoggin -Location and boundaries:On early 20th century maps Sallynoggin and Glenageary are indicated as being the same place, however, with the development of the local authority housing estate on the Townlands of Honeypark and Thomastown, Sallynoggin became a distinct area.Most of the...
. While with the club, Zayed was selected at U-16 and U-17 levels for both the Leinster Schoolboys and Dublin teams, and was on the Leinster Schools team at U-17. In two years at Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, he played for their youth (U-18), U-19 and Reserve sides. He then returned to Ireland after Leicester's relegation from the English Premiership in 2002.
Bray Wanderers
He joined Bray Wanderers and after impressing in the Under-21s, Zayed soon graduated to the senior team making his League of IrelandLeague of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
debut on the 18th of October 2002 at the Carlisle Grounds
Carlisle Grounds
The Carlisle Grounds is a football stadium in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, situated directly behind the Bray D.A.R.T. station. It is home to Bray Wanderers A.F.C. Its current capacity is roughly 3,000.-History:...
. He scored the fastest hat-trick ever by a Bray Wanderers player against Dundalk in 2003 within a nine-minute spell from the 7th to the 16th minute.
Zayed signed for Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in February 2004 on loan, but returned to Bray in May without having made a first team appearance at Gresty Road.
Zayed was the PFAI Young Player of the Year
PFAI Young Player of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland Players' Young Player of the Year award is given to the footballer in the top-flight of Irish football, the League of Ireland, whom is seen to have been the best player of the previous...
for 2003. He represented the Eircom League Under-21s in a four nations tournament in Scotland in May 2004 and earned his second U-21 international cap against Scotland in May 2004 in Galway.
Drogheda United
Zayed signed for Drogheda UnitedDrogheda United
Drogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
in July 2006 on a two and a half year full time contract, and scored on his debut on 7 July. His first of 5 goals in the Europa League came in a 1-1 draw with IK Start in August 2006. The following season he scored at A.C. Libertas
A.C. Libertas
A.C. Libertas is a Sanmarinese football club, based in Borgo Maggiore. The club was founded in 1928. Libertas currently plays in Girone B of Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio. The team's colors are red and white....
. His third Drogheda goal in European competition came against Helsingborgs IF
Helsingborgs IF
Helsingborgs IF , commonly referred to as Helsingborg and locally HIF, is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan...
. He was a key part of the Drogheda team that won their first League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
title in 2007 and finished as their top scorer.
Sporting Fingal
In the midst of great financial uncertainty at Drogheda at the end of the 2008 season, Zayed was released from his contract. He went on trial at Incheon UnitedIncheon United
Incheon United is a professional Korean football team currently playing in the K-League. The team's home town is Incheon, the third biggest city in the country, and the team's home stadium is the Incheon Munhak Stadium, one of the ten venues built in Korea for the 2002 FIFA World...
in the K-League
K-League
The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The...
, but eventually decided to remain in Ireland and moved to Sporting Fingal
Sporting Fingal F.C.
Sporting Fingal Football Club was a professional football club based in Fingal, County Dublin, Ireland. The club competed in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland from 2008 to 2011. Former Shamrock Rovers manager, Liam Buckley was the club's manager while former Arsenal player, John Devine...
in January 2009. He scored twice against his former club Bray in Fingal's 4-2 FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
semi-final victory in October 2009. He also scored twice against C.S. Marítimo in July 2010 in Sporting Fingal's European debut. He was released by Sporting Fingal at the end of the 2010 season. He was set to sign for Al Ahly
Alahly Tripoli S.C.
Al-Ahly Tripoli is a Libyan football club based in Tripoli, Libya. The club is the second most successful Libyan club in history, having won 10 Libyan Premier League titles, five Libyan Football Cups and a Libyan SuperCup. Al-Ahly is known as the leader of Libyan Football clubs and has the...
in the Libyan Premier League
Libyan Premier League
The Libyan Premier League is the highest division of Libyan football championship, organised by Libyan Football Federation. The players that play in this league are mainly professional...
, but the transfer was blocked following the introduction of a new rule preventing foreign-born Libyan internationals under the age of 30 from playing in the league.
Derry City
He joined Derry CityDerry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
in January 2011 on a free transfer, signing a one year contract. In his first season at Derry, Zayed finished as the league's top scorer with 22 goals, helping the club to European qualification and gaining himself a place in the Premier Division team of the season. He was also nominated for the [PFAI Players' Player of the Year]] award.
Ireland
Zayed was eligible to play international football for IrelandRepublic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
, Tunisia
Tunisia national football team
The Tunisia national football team , nicknamed Les Aigles de Carthage , is the national team of Tunisia and is controlled by the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. They have qualified for four FIFA World Cups, the first one in 1978, but have yet to make it out of the first round...
, as a result of his father, and Libya
Libya national football team
The Libya national football team is the national association football team of Libya and is controlled by the Libyan Football Federation. The team has never qualified for the senior FIFA World Cup. They have qualified for three Africa Cup of Nations, one in 1982 where they finished runners-up and...
, as a result of his grandparents, however he chose to begin his international career with Ireland. Zayed made his international debut for the Irish
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
U-20s against South Korea in January 2003 in a pre-World Cup tournament and followed up with two goals against UAE
United Arab Emirates national football team
The United Arab Emirates national football team represents United Arab Emirates in association football and is controlled by the United Arab Emirates Football Association, the governing body for football in United Arab Emirates...
two days later in a 3-2 win for Ireland. He made his U-21 debut for Ireland against Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
in a 5-1 away win in August 2003. Zayed played in all four of Ireland's games in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in United Arab Emirates between November 27 and December 19, 2003. The 2003 championship was the 14th contested...
, held in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, starting two and making two appearances as a substitute. Following the tournament, he was contacted by both the Tunisian and Libyan FAs with a view to declaring for either, however, Zayed declined as he wanted to pursue his dream of repesenting Ireland at senior level.
Libya
With no further caps at underage level for Ireland, and the chances of him receiving any senior caps looking slim, Zayed declared for LibyaLibya national football team
The Libya national football team is the national association football team of Libya and is controlled by the Libyan Football Federation. The team has never qualified for the senior FIFA World Cup. They have qualified for three Africa Cup of Nations, one in 1982 where they finished runners-up and...
in October 2010. He received his first call up to the Libyan national team from Brazilian
Brazilian
Brazilian may refer to anything of or relating to Brazil and may also refer directly to:* Brazilian barbecue, known as churrasco* Brazilian football—see Football in Brazil* Brazilian football clubs—see List of football clubs in Brazil...
coach, Marcos Paquetá
Marcos Paquetá
Marcos César Dias de Castro, better known as "Marcos Paquetá", born 27 August 1958 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is the current coach of the Libya national football team...
, for an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Zambia
Zambia national football team
The Zambia national football team represents the country of Zambia in the sport of association football and is governed by the Football Association of Zambia. Before independence they were known as the Northern Rhodesia national football team. The side is nicknamed Chipolopolo as copper is one of...
in the same month. He made his debut a few weeks later in a friendly against Niger
Niger national football team
The Niger national football team, nicknamed the Menas, is overseen by the Fédération Nigerienne de Football and a member of CAF. Niger plays in the colors of the Flag of Niger, white, green, and orange...
. After impressing on his debut, Zayed was called up to Libya's 23-man training squad for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in November 2011.
Honours
- League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
: 1- Drogheda United - 20072007 League of IrelandThe League of Ireland, consisting of both the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland First Division, kicked off in March, 2007...
- Drogheda United - 2007
- Setanta Sports CupSetanta Sports CupThe Setanta Sports Cup, commonly known as just the Setanta Cup, is a club football competition featuring teams from both football associations on the island of Ireland...
: 1- Drogheda United - 2007
- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
: 1- Sporting FingalSporting Fingal F.C.Sporting Fingal Football Club was a professional football club based in Fingal, County Dublin, Ireland. The club competed in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland from 2008 to 2011. Former Shamrock Rovers manager, Liam Buckley was the club's manager while former Arsenal player, John Devine...
- 20092009 FAI CupThe FAI Cup 2009 was the 86th season of the national football competition of the Republic of Ireland. It began on the weekend ending 26 April 2009 and ended on 22 November 2009 with the final taking place for the first time at Tallaght Stadium...
- Sporting Fingal
- League of Ireland Cup: 1
- Derry CityDerry City F.C.Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
- 20112011 League of Ireland CupThe 2011 League of Ireland Cup, also known as the 2011 EA Sports Cup, was the 38th season of the Irish football knockout competition.The competition was won by Derry City who defeated Cork City in the final on 24th September 2011 in Turners Cross, Cork.A total of 27 teams entered the 2011 competition...
- Derry City