TROY PARROTT, 24-YEAR-OLD, DEFENDER OF AZ ALKMAAR, IS SET TO JOIN REAL BETIS FOR A REPORTED €20 MILLION TRANSFER. The announcement revives the club’s Irish heritage that began with legend Patrick O’CONNELL.
A REPEATED LINK
Real Betis maintains a deep connection with Ireland: a painting by Tony Denton and a green marble bust from Connemara, presented by sculptor Joe Moran to President Angel Haro, adorn the club’s museum. Patrick O’CONNELL, who led Betis to its only league title in 1932, is considered “one of the sacred names in Betis history”.
PARROTT’S JOURNEY
Parrott grew up in Portland Row, in north Dublin, just a kilometre from the house where O’CONNELL spent his childhood. His career began at Liffey Wanderers and then at Belfast Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City, before signing with Manchester United. After spells at Millwall, Ipswich, MK Dons and Preston, he moved to the Eredivisie, where his development was reinforced at AZ Alkmaar.
BETIS’ FUTURE
The club, which recently beat Arsenal at the Aviva Stadium, has shown interest in renewing its Irish link. Besides O’CONNELL, Betis has hosted Anselmo García MacNulty, born in Seville to a Spanish father and Irish mother, and other Irish youngsters who passed through the academy. Parrott’s arrival promises to rekindle the passion of the fans, who remember the glories of the 1930s.
The announcement was made public in the Irish Daily Star in 2024.
