Zak Rudden Explained

Zak Rudden
Fullname:Zak Andrew Rudden[1]
Birth Date:6 February 2000
Height:1.87m (06.14feet)
Position:Striker
Currentclub:Queen's Park
Clubnumber:17
Youthclubs1:Rangers
Years1:2018–2020
Clubs1:Rangers
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2018–2019
Clubs2:Falkirk (loan)
Caps2:31
Goals2:12
Years3:2019–2020
Clubs3:Plymouth Argyle (loan)
Caps3:14
Goals3:2
Years4:2020–2022
Clubs4:Partick Thistle
Caps4:36
Goals4:14
Years5:2022
Clubs5:Dundee (loan)
Caps5:13
Goals5:1
Years6:2022–2024
Clubs6:Dundee
Caps6:33
Goals6:7
Years7:2023
Clubs7:St Johnstone (loan)
Caps7:12
Goals7:1
Years8:2024
Clubs8:Raith Rovers (loan)
Caps8:14
Goals8:3
Years9:2024–
Clubs9:Queen's Park
Caps9:2
Goals9:1
Nationalyears1:2014
Nationalteam1:Scotland U16
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2015–2017
Nationalteam2:Scotland U17
Nationalcaps2:12
Nationalgoals2:2
Nationalyears3:2017–2019
Nationalteam3:Scotland U19
Nationalcaps3:14
Nationalgoals3:6
Nationalyears4:2021
Nationalteam4:Scotland U21
Nationalcaps4:3
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:22:00, 9 August 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:18:22, 27 March 2022 (UTC)

Zak Andrew Rudden (born 6 February 2000) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Queen's Park. He has previously been a player for Rangers, Partick Thistle and Dundee, and had loan spells at Falkirk, Plymouth Argyle, Dundee, St Johnstone and Raith Rovers.

Club career

Rangers

Rudden began his career with Rangers[2] and joined the first-team for pre-season before the start of the 2018–19 season for the first time.[3]

Loans

In August 2018, Rudden moved out on loan to Falkirk.[4] On 15 September 2018, Rudden scored on his debut for Falkirk.

On 23 August 2019 Rudden moved on loan to EFL League Two side Plymouth Argyle.[5] [6] He made his debut for the club the next day, as a first half substitute in a 3–0 win over Walsall, and scored his first goal for the club in an EFL Trophy tie against Swindon Town on 8 October 2019. The loan ended in January 2020.[7]

Partick Thistle

On 15 January 2020 Rudden signed for Partick Thistle on a two-and-a-half-year deal.[8] [9]

After multiple injury problems and the shutdown of football due to COVID-19, Rudden scored his first Thistle goal on 23 March 2021 in a 3–0 win at home over Cowdenbeath in the Scottish Cup.[10]

Dundee

In January 2022 he signed a pre-contract agreement with Dundee on a three-year deal, starting in summer 2022.[11] On 31 January 2022, Rudden joined Dundee on loan until the end of the season.[12] [13] He made his debut the following day as a substitute in the Dundee derby, and scored his first goal for the club four days later against Ross County.

After officially joining Dundee permanently the following season, Rudden scored his first goal of the season in a home league win over Arbroath.[14]

On 31 January 2023, Rudden joined St Johnstone on loan until the end of the season.[15] [16] On 25 February Rudden scored his first goal for the Saintees in a draw against St Mirren.[17]

Following his return from loan at St Johnstone, Rudden scored the winner in Dundee's first competitive game of the 2023–24 season, coming in the League Cup against Bonnyrigg Rose.[18] On 23 September, Rudden came off the bench on for 10-man Dundee and scored a late equaliser against Kilmarnock.[19]

On 26 January 2024, Rudden joined Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers on loan until the end of the season.[20] He made his debut the following day in a league game at home against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[21] Rudden scored his first goal for the Fifers in the following league game, in a sold-out title-chasing win over his parent club's rivals Dundee United.[22]

On 12 July 2024, Dundee announced that Rudden had departed the club after both parties mutually agreed to terminate his contract.[23]

Queen's Park

The day after departing Dundee, Rudden signed for Scottish Championship club Queen's Park on a two-year deal.[24] Rudden made his debut for the Spiders on the same day, and scored his first goal for the club in a 0–5 away victory over Peterhead in the Scottish League Cup group stage.[25]

International career

Rudden has represented Scotland at youth international levels, up to and including under-21.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rangers U202016–17SPFL Development League2020
2017–181010
2018–191111
Total0000004141
Rangers2018–19Scottish Premiership0000000000
2019–200000000000
Total0000000000
Falkirk (loan)2018–19Scottish Championship31120000003112
Plymouth Argyle (loan)2019–20EFL League Two142101021183
Partick Thistle2019–20Scottish Championship4000000040
2020–21Scottish League One136212000177
2021–22Scottish Championship197204210269
Total36134162104716
Dundee (loan)2021–22Scottish Premiership13100131
Dundee2022–23Scottish Championship195213032278
2023–24Scottish Premiership142002100163
Total3372151324311
St Johnstone (loan)2022–23Scottish Premiership1210000121
Raith Rovers (loan)2023–24Scottish Championship14330173
Queen's Park2024–25Scottish Championship2100510072
Career total155407217413419250

Honours

Club

Partick Thistle

2020–21[26]

Dundee

2022–23[27]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Plymouth Argyle . English Football League . 54 . 4 January 2020.
  2. Web site: Rangers kid Zak Rudden putting in the hours to catch Steven Gerrard's eye at Ibrox. 13 June 2018. 17 September 2018. Christopher. Jack. The Herald.
  3. Web site: Zak's best Week. 26 June 2018. 17 September 2018. Rangers F.C..
  4. Web site: Morton 'saddened' by Ray McKinnon's departure for Falkirk. 31 August 2018. 17 September 2018. BBC Sport.
  5. Web site: Zak Attack. 23 August 2019. 23 August 2019. PAFC.co.uk.
  6. Web site: Zak Rudden: Plymouth Argyle sign Rangers striker on loan. 23 August 2019. BBC Sport. 28 August 2019.
  7. Web site: Zak Going Back. www.pafc.co.uk.
  8. Web site: Signing News: Zak Rudden Joins the Club. 15 January 2020. Partick Thistle F.C..
  9. Web site: Zak Rudden: Rangers striker signs for Partick Thistle . BBC Sport . 15 January 2020 . 15 January 2020.
  10. Web site: Partick Thistle v Cowdenbeath – 23rd March 2021. Partick Thistle FC.
  11. Web site: Zak Rudden: Dundee confirm pre-contract agreement with Partick Thistle top scorer. Scott. Lorimer. 21 January 2022 .
  12. Web site: 31 January 2022. Zak joins on loan. 31 January 2022. Dundee Football Club – Official Website. en-US.
  13. News: Dundee sign Thistle's Rudden on loan. BBC Sport .
  14. News: Dundee end Arbroath run in six-goal thriller . en-GB . BBC Sport . 12 August 2022.
  15. Web site: 31 January 2023 . Zak joins St. Johnstone . 31 January 2023 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  16. News: St Johnstone sign Dundee striker Rudden on loan. BBC Sport .
  17. Web site: St Johnstone 1-1 St Mirren: Alex Gogic scores late on as Buddies salvage a point against 10-man Saints . 25 February 2023 . Sky Sports . en.
  18. News: Bonnyrigg Rose v Dundee . en-GB . BBC Sport . 18 July 2023.
  19. News: Ten-man Dundee stun Kilmarnock with late leveller . en-GB . BBC Sport . 23 September 2023.
  20. Web site: Zak Rudden signs Raith Rovers FC . 26 January 2024 . www.raithrovers.net. 26 January 2024 .
  21. News: Nine-minute Samuel hat-trick dents Raith's title bid . 27 January 2024 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  22. News: Stunner revives Raith's title hopes as Dundee Utd falter . 17 February 2024 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  23. Web site: 12 July 2024 . Rudden departs . 12 July 2024 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  24. Web site: 13 July 2024 . Zak Rudden Signs for Queen's Park . 13 July 2024 . Queen's Park Football Club: Home . en-US.
  25. Web site: Peterhead vs. Queen's Park - 13 July 2024 - Soccerway . 2024-07-13 . uk.soccerway.com.
  26. News: Partick Thistle seal League 1 title. BBC Sport .
  27. News: Dundee promoted: How the bedlam of their chaotic title win unfolded. BBC Sport .