Zak Andrew Rudden (born 6 February 2000) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Dundee.

Zak Rudden
Rudden training with Dundee in 2023
Personal information
Full nameZak Andrew Rudden[1]
Date of birth (2000-02-06) 6 February 2000 (age 24)
Height6 ft 2 in (1.87 m)[2]
Position(s)Striker
Team information
Current team
Dundee
Number20
Youth career
Rangers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2018–2020Rangers0(0)
2018–2019Falkirk (loan)31(12)
2019–2020Plymouth Argyle (loan)14(2)
2020–2022Partick Thistle36(14)
2022Dundee (loan)13(1)
2022–Dundee33(7)
2023St Johnstone (loan)12(1)
2024Raith Rovers (loan)14(3)
International career
2014Scotland U16[3]2(0)
2015–2017Scotland U17[3]12(2)
2017–2019Scotland U19[3]14(6)
2021Scotland U21[3]3(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:00, 27 April 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:22, 27 March 2022 (UTC)

Club career

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Rangers

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Rudden began his career with Rangers[4] and joined the first-team for pre-season before the start of the 2018–19 season for the first time.[5]

Loans

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In August 2018, Rudden moved out on loan to Falkirk.[6] On 15 September 2018, Rudden scored on his debut for Falkirk.[7]

On 23 August 2019 Rudden moved on loan to EFL League Two side Plymouth Argyle.[8][9] 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.[10] The loan ended in January 2020.[11]

Partick Thistle

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On 15 January 2020 Rudden signed for Partick Thistle on a two and a half year deal.[12][13]

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.[14]

Dundee

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In January 2022 he signed a pre-contract agreement with Dundee on a three-year deal, starting in summer 2022.[15] On 31 January 2022, Rudden joined Dundee on loan until the end of the season.[16][17] 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.[18]

After officially joining Dundee permanently the following season, Rudden scored his first goal of the season in a home league win over Arbroath.[19]

On 31 January 2023, Rudden joined St Johnstone on loan until the end of the season.[20][21] On 25 February Rudden scored his first goal for the Saintees in a draw against St Mirren.[22]

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.[23] On 23 September, Rudden came off the bench on for 10-man Dundee and scored a late equaliser against Kilmarnock.[24]

On 26 January 2024, Rudden joined Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers on loan until the end of the season.[25] He made his debut the following day in a league game at home against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[26] 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.[27]

International career

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Rudden has represented Scotland at youth international levels, up to and including under-21.[3]

Career statistics

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As of match played 26 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rangers U202016–17[28]SPFL Development League2[a]020
2017–18[29]1[a]010
2018–19[7]1[a]111
Total0000004141
Rangers2018–19[7]Scottish Premiership0000000000
2019–20[10]0000000000
Total0000000000
Falkirk (loan)2018–19[7]Scottish Championship31120000003112
Plymouth Argyle (loan)2019–20[10]EFL League Two14210102[b]1183
Partick Thistle2019–20[10]Scottish Championship4000000040
2020–21[30]Scottish League One136212000177
2021–22[18]Scottish Championship19720421[a]0269
Total36134162104716
Dundee (loan)2021–22[18]Scottish Premiership13100131
Dundee2022–23[31]Scottish Championship19521303[a]2278
2023–24[32]Scottish Premiership142002100163
Total3372151324311
St Johnstone (loan)2022–23[31]Scottish Premiership1210000121
Raith Rovers (loan)2023–24[32]Scottish Championship1433[c]0173
Career total153397212313418548
  1. ^ a b c d e Appearance(s) in the Scottish Challenge Cup.
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in the Football League Trophy.
  3. ^ One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup, two appearances in the Premiership play-offs

Honours

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Club

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Partick Thistle
Dundee

References

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  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Plymouth Argyle" (PDF). English Football League. p. 54. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  2. ^ Zak Rudden at Soccerway
  3. ^ a b c d e Zak Rudden at the Scottish Football Association
  4. ^ Jack, Christopher (13 June 2018). "Rangers kid Zak Rudden putting in the hours to catch Steven Gerrard's eye at Ibrox". The Herald. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  5. ^ "Zak's best Week". Rangers F.C. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  6. ^ "Morton 'saddened' by Ray McKinnon's departure for Falkirk". BBC Sport. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Zak Attack". PAFC.co.uk. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Zak Rudden: Plymouth Argyle sign Rangers striker on loan". BBC Sport. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Zak Going Back". www.pafc.co.uk.
  12. ^ "Signing News: Zak Rudden Joins the Club". Partick Thistle F.C. 15 January 2020.
  13. ^ "Zak Rudden: Rangers striker signs for Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Partick Thistle v Cowdenbeath – 23rd March 2021". Partick Thistle FC.
  15. ^ Lorimer, Scott (21 January 2022). "Zak Rudden: Dundee confirm pre-contract agreement with Partick Thistle top scorer".
  16. ^ "Zak joins on loan". Dundee Football Club – Official Website. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Dundee sign Thistle's Rudden on loan". BBC Sport.
  18. ^ a b c "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  19. ^ "Dundee end Arbroath run in six-goal thriller". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  20. ^ "Zak joins St. Johnstone". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  21. ^ "St Johnstone sign Dundee striker Rudden on loan". BBC Sport.
  22. ^ "St Johnstone 1-1 St Mirren: Alex Gogic scores late on as Buddies salvage a point against 10-man Saints". Sky Sports. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  23. ^ "Bonnyrigg Rose v Dundee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  24. ^ "Ten-man Dundee stun Kilmarnock with late leveller". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Zak Rudden signs | Raith Rovers FC". www.raithrovers.net. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  26. ^ "Nine-minute Samuel hat-trick dents Raith's title bid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Stunner revives Raith's title hopes as Dundee Utd falter". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  28. ^ "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  29. ^ "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  30. ^ "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  31. ^ a b "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  32. ^ a b "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  33. ^ "Partick Thistle seal League 1 title". BBC Sport.
  34. ^ "Dundee promoted: How the bedlam of their chaotic title win unfolded". BBC Sport.