Finn Azaz Explained

Finn Azaz
Fullname:Finn Isaac Azaz
Birth Date:7 September 2000
Birth Place:Westminster, England
Height:1.85m[1]
Position:Attacking midfielder
Currentclub:Middlesbrough
Clubnumber:20
Youthyears1:2009–2020
Youthclubs1:West Bromwich Albion
Years1:2020–2021
Clubs1:West Bromwich Albion
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2020–2021
Clubs2:Cheltenham Town (loan)
Caps2:37
Goals2:1
Years3:2021–2024
Clubs3:Aston Villa
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2021–2022
Clubs4:Newport County (loan)
Caps4:42
Goals4:7
Years5:2022–2023
Clubs5:Plymouth Argyle (loan)
Caps5:34
Goals5:8
Years6:2023–2024
Clubs6:Plymouth Argyle (loan)
Caps6:26
Goals6:7
Years7:2024–
Clubs7:Middlesbrough
Caps7:22
Goals7:4
Nationalyears1:2022
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U21
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2024–
Nationalteam2:Republic of Ireland
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:13:10, 17 August 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:16:09, 5 June 2024 (UTC)

Finn Isaac Azaz (born 7 September 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for club Middlesbrough and the Republic of Ireland national team.

Azaz was a product of the West Bromwich Albion academy and spent the 2020–21 season on loan at Cheltenham Town. He moved to Aston Villa in July 2021 and was immediately loaned out to Newport County for the 2021–22 season. He spent two loan spells with Plymouth Argyle before signing for Middlesbrough in January 2024.

Born in England, Azaz made his senior debut for the Republic of Ireland national side in March 2024.

Early and personal life

Born in Westminster, Azaz is of mixed Irish and Israeli heritage.[2] [3]

His family moved to Birmingham when he was 15 months old. He attended Kings Heath Primary School and King Edwards School, where he achieved 9 A*s at GCSE,[4] and 2 A-Levels in French and Business, which he completed as a scholar at West Bromwich Albion. He continued his studies in French and Spanish after his A levels, for his own personal development.[5]

Club career

West Bromwich Albion

Azaz joined West Bromwich Albion at the age of 9.

Azaz moved on loan to Cheltenham Town in August 2020.[6] He made his professional debut in September 2020 in an EFL Cup 1–0 win over Peterborough United, and his first professional goal came in the same competition in the same month in a second round 3–1 loss to Championship side Millwall.

Aston Villa

On 26 July 2021, Azaz joined Aston Villa and was immediately loaned out to Newport County for the 2021–22 season.[7] [8] He made his Newport debut on 10 August 2021, in a 1–0 EFL Cup victory over Ipswich Town, in which he provided an assist for the winning goal.[9] Azaz scored his first goal for Newport on 24 September 2021 in the 2–1 League Two defeat to Barrow.[10] Azaz was awarded the EFL Young Player of the Month award for January 2022 after three assists as his side picked up thirteen points from six matches.[11]

At the 2022 EFL Awards, Azaz was awarded the League Two Young Player of the Season award[12] as well as being named in the League Two Team of the Season with teammate Dom Telford.[13]

On 11 July 2022, Azaz signed a contract extension with Aston Villa,[14] and joined Plymouth Argyle on a season-long loan.[15] [16] Azaz made his first appearance for Plymouth on 30 July 2022, scoring a debut goal in 1–0 victory over Barnsley.[17] On 25 October, Azaz suffered a "serious" ankle injury during a 2–1 victory over Shrewsbury Town which was expected to keep him sidelined for over two months.[18] Azaz made his return to the Plymouth starting line-up on 21 January 2023 - with two assists in a 4–2 league victory over Cheltenham Town.[19]

On 2 August 2023, Azaz signed another contract extension with Aston Villa and re-joined Plymouth Argyle on another season-long loan.[20] [21] The loan was terminated in January 2024 after Azaz was recalled by Villa.[22]

Middlesbrough

On 5 January 2024, Azaz signed for EFL Championship club Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee.[23] [24]

International career

Azaz was called up the Republic of Ireland under-21 side for the first time in September 2022.[25] He made his under-21 debut on 27 September 2022, in a 0–0 draw against Israel in a UEFA Under-21 Championship qualification play off that Ireland lost in a penalty shootout.[26] His first call up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad came in March 2024, ahead of their friendly games against Belgium and Switzerland.[27] He made his senior debut for the country on 26 March 2024, coming off the bench in a 1–0 defeat against Switzerland at the Aviva Stadium.[28] [29]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Bromwich Albion2020–21Premier League0000000000
Cheltenham Town (loan)2020–21League Two371312120443
Aston Villa2021–22Premier League0000000000
2022–23Premier League0000000000
2023–24Premier League0000000000
Total0000000000
Newport County (loan)2021–22League Two427102000457
Plymouth Argyle (loan)2022–23League One348001040398
Plymouth Argyle (loan)2023–24Championship267002000287
Middlesbrough2023–24Championship204000000204
2024–25Championship2000100030
Total224001000234
Career total1512741816017929

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland
202420
Total20

Honours

Cheltenham Town

2020–21[30]

Plymouth Argyle

2022–23[31]

Individual

January 2022[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Finn Azaz . 11v11.com . AFS Enterprises . 17 September 2020.
  2. Web site: Finn Azaz - a footballer who wants to make a difference on and off the pitch. Jacob. Tanswell. 20 March 2024. The Athletic.
  3. Web site: Finn Azaz on track to become next Aston Villa star thanks to EFL loan system. Mike. Walters. 11 February 2022. Irish Mirror.
  4. Web site: Baggies trainee scoops 10 GCSEs. David. Cosgrove. 24 August 2017. Express & Star.
  5. The Pilgrim: Matchday Programme of Plymouth Argyle F.C.. Profile. 23 December 2023.
  6. News: Lewis Freestone & West Brom's Finn Azaz join Cheltenham Town. BBC Sport . 1 August 2020.
  7. Web site: Azaz joins Aston Villa and seals Newport loan . Aston Villa Football Club.
  8. Web site: County sign Aston Villa midfielder on loan for the season. South Wales Argus.
  9. News: Cole. Rob. 10 August 2021 . Ipswich Town 0–1 Newport County: Exiles' positive start to season continues with Carabao Cup win. Wales Online . 11 August 2021.
  10. News: Barrow 2–1 Newport County . BBC Sport .
  11. Web site: Finn Azaz earns EFL Young Player of the Month award. www.efl.com. 12 February 2022. 14 February 2022.
  12. Web site: Aleksandar Mitrovic named Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season. www.efl.com. 24 April 2022. 25 April 2022.
  13. Web site: Football Manager EFL Team of the Season line-ups announced. www.efl.com. 24 April 2022. 25 April 2022.
  14. Web site: 11 July 2022 . Villa duo head out on loan . 11 July 2022 . Aston Villa Football Club.
  15. Web site: Azaz comes aboard . 11 July 2022 . 11 July 2022 . www.pafc.co.uk .
  16. News: Argyle sign Villa's Azaz on season-long loan. BBC Sport .
  17. Web site: Errington . Chris . 30 July 2022 . Debut goal for Finn Azaz seals Argyle win on opening day . 4 August 2022 . PlymouthLive.
  18. Web site: Errington . Chris . 1 November 2022 . League One leaders Argyle dealt major injury blow over Finn Azaz . 4 November 2022 . PlymouthLive.
  19. Web site: O'Connor . Sean . 23 January 2023 . The three best Irish performances of the weekend – Evan Ferguson finds the net once again . 23 January 2023 . Irish Independent.
  20. Web site: 2 August 2023 . Finn Azaz signs new deal and seals loan to Plymouth Argyle . 2 August 2023 . Aston Villa Football Club.
  21. News: Villa midfielder Azaz returns to Plymouth on loan . BBC Sport . 2 August 2023.
  22. Web site: Azaz returns to Villa | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC. www.pafc.co.uk.
  23. Web site: Finn Azaz Joins Boro From Aston Villa. www.mfc.co.uk. 5 January 2024. 5 January 2024.
  24. Web site: Middlesbrough sign Villa midfielder Azaz. www.bbc.co.uk.
  25. Web site: Argyle midfielder Azaz gets Republic of Ireland under-21s call-up. Reach. Chris. Errington. 15 September 2022. PlymouthLive.
  26. Web site: McCarry . Patrick . 27 September 2022 . Ireland U21s miss out on European Championships history after devastating shootout drama . 27 September 2022 . SportsJOE.ie.
  27. News: Sammie Szmodics, Finn Azaz and Jake O'Brien called into John O'Shea's first Ireland squad. Independent.ie. 14 March 2014. Aidan. Fitzmaurice. 4 June 2024. Media Huis.
  28. Web site: Finn Azaz Could Not Contain His Joy After Ireland Debut. Mahoney. Donny. Balls.ie. 26 March 2024. 29 March 2024.
  29. News: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Switzerland. Gray. Andy. BBC Sport. 26 March 2024. 29 March 2024.
  30. Web site: Report & highlights: The Town are Champions. www.ctfc.com.
  31. News: 7 May 2023 . Plymouth beat Port Vale to win League One title . BBC Sport . 4 August 2023.
  32. Web site: Pilnick . Brent . 2 April 2023 . Bolton crush Plymouth to win Papa Johns Trophy . 4 August 2023 . BBC Sport.