Zak Rudden

Last updated

Zak Rudden
Zak Rudden.png
Rudden training with Dundee in 2023
Personal information
Full name Zak Andrew Rudden [1]
Date of birth (2000-02-06) 6 February 2000 (age 25)
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.87 m) [2]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Dunfermline Athletic
Number 9
Youth career
Rangers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2018–2020 Rangers 0 (0)
2018–2019 → Falkirk (loan) 31 (12)
2019–2020 → Plymouth Argyle (loan) 14 (2)
2020–2022 Partick Thistle 36 (14)
2022 → Dundee (loan) 13 (1)
2022–2024 Dundee 33 (7)
2023 → St Johnstone (loan) 12 (1)
2024 → Raith Rovers (loan) 14 (3)
2024–2025 Queen's Park 34 (9)
2025 Livingston 1 (0)
2025– Dunfermline Athletic 1 (1)
International career‡
2014 Scotland U16 [3] 2 (0)
2015–2017 Scotland U17 [3] 12 (2)
2017–2019 Scotland U19 [3] 14 (6)
2021 Scotland U21 [3] 3 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:22, 30 August 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 18:22, 27 March 2022 (UTC)

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

Contents

Club career

Rangers

Born in Edinburgh, [4] Rudden began his career with Rangers [5] and joined the first-team for pre-season before the start of the 2018–19 season for the first time. [6]

Loans

In August 2018, Rudden moved out on loan to Falkirk. [7] On 15 September 2018, Rudden scored on his debut for Falkirk. [8]

On 23 August 2019 Rudden moved on loan to EFL League Two side Plymouth Argyle. [9] [10] 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. [11] The loan ended in January 2020. [12]

Partick Thistle

On 15 January 2020 Rudden signed for Partick Thistle on a two-and-a-half-year deal. [13] [14]

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. [15]

In April 2021, Rudden scored his first and second league goals for Thistle in a 2–0 home win against Clyde. [16]

Dundee

In January 2022 he signed a pre-contract agreement with Dundee on a three-year deal, starting in summer 2022. [17] On 31 January 2022, Rudden joined Dundee on loan until the end of the season. [18] [19] 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. [20]

After officially joining Dundee permanently the following season, Rudden scored his first goal of the season in a home league win over Arbroath. [21]

On 31 January 2023, Rudden joined St Johnstone on loan until the end of the season. [22] [23] On 25 February Rudden scored his first goal for the Saintees in a draw against St Mirren. [24]

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. [25] On 23 September, Rudden came off the bench on for 10-man Dundee and scored a late equaliser against Kilmarnock. [26]

On 26 January 2024, Rudden joined Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers on loan until the end of the season. [27] He made his debut the following day in a league game at home against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. [28] 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. [29]

On 12 July 2024, Dundee announced that Rudden had departed the club after both parties mutually agreed to terminate his contract. [30]

Queen's Park

The day after departing Dundee, Rudden signed for Scottish Championship club Queen's Park on a two-year deal. [31] 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. [32]

Livingston

On 12 June 2025, it was announced that Rudden had signed for Scottish Premiership club Livingston. [4]

Dunfermline Athletic

On 28 August 2025, less than three months after signing for Livingston, Rudden signed for Scottish Championship club Dunfermline Athletic on a two-year deal. [33] Rudden made his debut on 30 August and scored his first goal for the club in a draw against Ross County. [34]

International career

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

Career statistics

As of match played 30 August 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rangers U20 2016–17 [35] SPFL Development League ———2 [a] 020
2017–18 [36] ———1 [a] 010
2018–19 [8] ———1 [a] 111
Total0000004141
Rangers 2018–19 [8] Scottish Premiership 0000000000
2019–20 [11] 0000000000
Total0000000000
Falkirk (loan) 2018–19 [8] Scottish Championship 31120000003112
Plymouth Argyle (loan) 2019–20 [11] EFL League Two 14210102 [b] 1183
Partick Thistle 2019–20 [11] Scottish Championship4000000040
2020–21 [37] Scottish League One 136212000177
2021–22 [20] Scottish Championship19720421 [a] 0269
Total36134162104716
Dundee (loan) 2021–22 [20] Scottish Premiership131——00131
Dundee 2022–23 [38] Scottish Championship19521303 [a] 2278
2023–24 [39] Scottish Premiership142002100163
Total3372151324311
St Johnstone (loan) 2022–23 [38] Scottish Premiership12100—00121
Raith Rovers (loan) 2023–24 [39] Scottish Championship143——3 [c] 0173
Queen's Park 2024–25 [40] Scottish Championship34942514 [a] 34715
Livingston 2025–26 [41] Scottish Premiership1000410051
Dunfermline Athletic 2025–26 [41] Scottish Championship1100—0011
Career total1894911421517723865
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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

Club

Partick Thistle
Dundee

Queen's Park

References

  1. ↑ "Notification of shirt numbers: Plymouth Argyle" (PDF). English Football League. p. 54. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  2. ↑ Zak Rudden at Soccerway
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Zak Rudden at the Scottish Football Association
  4. 1 2 Oliver, David (12 June 2025). "Zak Rudden To Leave Queen's Park".
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "Zak's best Week". Rangers F.C. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  7. ↑ "Morton 'saddened' by Ray McKinnon's departure for Falkirk". BBC Sport. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  9. ↑ "Zak Attack". PAFC.co.uk. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  10. ↑ "Zak Rudden: Plymouth Argyle sign Rangers striker on loan". BBC Sport. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  12. ↑ "Zak Going Back". www.pafc.co.uk.
  13. ↑ "Signing News: Zak Rudden Joins the Club". Partick Thistle F.C. 15 January 2020.
  14. ↑ "Zak Rudden: Rangers striker signs for Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  15. ↑ "Partick Thistle v Cowdenbeath – 23rd March 2021". Partick Thistle FC.
  16. ↑ "Lower league round-up: Partick Thistle maintain League One title hopes". 13 April 2021 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  17. ↑ Lorimer, Scott (21 January 2022). "Zak Rudden: Dundee confirm pre-contract agreement with Partick Thistle top scorer".
  18. ↑ "Zak joins on loan". Dundee Football Club – Official Website. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  19. ↑ "Dundee sign Thistle's Rudden on loan". BBC Sport.
  20. 1 2 3 "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  21. ↑ "Dundee end Arbroath run in six-goal thriller". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  22. ↑ "Zak joins St. Johnstone". Dundee Football Club – Official Website. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  23. ↑ "St Johnstone sign Dundee striker Rudden on loan". BBC Sport.
  24. ↑ "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.
  25. ↑ "Bonnyrigg Rose v Dundee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  26. ↑ "Ten-man Dundee stun Kilmarnock with late leveller". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  27. ↑ "Zak Rudden signs | Raith Rovers FC". www.raithrovers.net. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  28. ↑ "Nine-minute Samuel hat-trick dents Raith's title bid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  29. ↑ "Stunner revives Raith's title hopes as Dundee Utd falter". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  30. ↑ "Rudden departs". Dundee Football Club – Official Website. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  31. ↑ "Zak Rudden Signs for Queen's Park". Queen's Park Football Club: Home. 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  32. ↑ "Peterhead vs. Queen's Park – 13 July 2024 – Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  33. ↑ "Welcome to Dunfermline, Zak Rudden". DAFC.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  34. ↑ "Dunfermline Athletic vs Ross County: Scottish Championship updates & report". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  35. ↑ "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  36. ↑ "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  37. ↑ "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  38. 1 2 "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  39. 1 2 "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  40. ↑ "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  41. 1 2 "Games played by Zak Rudden in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  42. ↑ "Partick Thistle seal League 1 title". BBC Sport.
  43. ↑ "Dundee promoted: How the bedlam of their chaotic title win unfolded". BBC Sport.
  44. ↑ "Queen's Park vs Livingston". BBC. 30 March 2025.
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