{{short description|Scottish footballer (born 2000)}} {{Lead too short|date=February 2024}} {{Use British English|date=April 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2026}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Zak Rudden | image = Zak Rudden.png | image_size = | caption = Rudden training with Dundee in 2023 | fullname = Zak Andrew Rudden<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/general-news/efl-squad-numbering-06.09.2019.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Plymouth Argyle |publisher=English Football League |page=54 |access-date=4 January 2020}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|2|6|df=y}} | birth_place = Edinburgh, Scotland | height = {{convert|1.87|m|order=flip}}<ref>{{soccerway|zak-rudden/404509}}</ref> | position = Striker | currentclub = Dunfermline Athletic | clubnumber = 9 | youthyears1 = | 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 = 2024–2025 | clubs9 = Queen's Park | caps9 = 34 | goals9 = 9 | years10 = 2025 | clubs10 = Livingston | caps10 = 1 | goals10 = 0 | years11 = 2025– | clubs11 = Dunfermline Athletic | caps11 = 8 | goals11 = 2 | nationalyears1 = 2014 | nationalteam1 = Scotland U16<ref name = SFA>{{SFA Profile|id=236570|name=Zak Rudden}}</ref> | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2015–2017 | nationalteam2 = Scotland U17<ref name = SFA/> | nationalcaps2 = 12 | nationalgoals2 = 2 | nationalyears3 = 2017–2019 | nationalteam3 = Scotland U19<ref name = SFA/> | nationalcaps3 = 14 | nationalgoals3 = 6 | nationalyears4 = 2021 | nationalteam4 = Scotland U21<ref name = SFA/> | nationalcaps4 = 3 | nationalgoals4 = 0 | club-update = 12:29, 1 February 2026 (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 {{Scottish football updater|DunfermA}} 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.
==Club career==
===Rangers=== Born in Edinburgh,<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://queensparkfc.co.uk/zak-rudden-to-leave-queens-park/|title=Zak Rudden To Leave Queen's Park|first=David|last=Oliver|date=12 June 2025}}</ref> Rudden began his career with Rangers<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/16284660.rangers-kid-zak-rudden-putting-in-the-hours-to-catch-steven-gerrards-eye-at-ibrox/|title=Rangers kid Zak Rudden putting in the hours to catch Steven Gerrard's eye at Ibrox|date=13 June 2018|access-date=17 September 2018|first=Christopher|last=Jack|newspaper=The Herald}}</ref> and joined the first-team for pre-season before the start of the 2018–19 season for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/zaks-best-week/|title=Zak's best Week|date=26 June 2018|access-date=17 September 2018|publisher=Rangers F.C.}}</ref>
===Loans=== In August 2018, Rudden moved out on loan to Falkirk.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45376379|title=Morton 'saddened' by Ray McKinnon's departure for Falkirk|date=31 August 2018|access-date=17 September 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 15 September 2018, Rudden scored on his debut for Falkirk.<ref name = "18-19"/>
On 23 August 2019 Rudden moved on loan to EFL League Two side Plymouth Argyle.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2019/august/zak-attack/|title=Zak Attack|date=23 August 2019|access-date=23 August 2019|publisher=PAFC.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49449315|title=Zak Rudden: Plymouth Argyle sign Rangers striker on loan|date=23 August 2019|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref name = "19-20"/> The loan ended in January 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2020/january/rudden-returns-to-rangers/|title=Zak Going Back|website=www.pafc.co.uk}}</ref>
===Partick Thistle=== On 15 January 2020 Rudden signed for Partick Thistle on a two-and-a-half-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-news/signing-news-zak-rudden-joins-the-club/|title=Signing News: Zak Rudden Joins the Club|date=15 January 2020|publisher=Partick Thistle F.C.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51123284 |title=Zak Rudden: Rangers striker signs for Partick Thistle |website=BBC Sport |date=15 January 2020 |access-date=15 January 2020}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-fixture/partick-thistle-v-cowdenbeath-23rd-march-2021/|title=Partick Thistle v Cowdenbeath – 23rd March 2021|website=Partick Thistle FC}}</ref>
In April 2021, Rudden scored his first and second league goals for Thistle in a 2–0 home win against Clyde.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56740532|title=Lower league round-up: Partick Thistle maintain League One title hopes|work=BBC Sport |date=13 April 2021}}</ref>
===Dundee=== In January 2022 he signed a pre-contract agreement with Dundee on a three-year deal, starting in summer 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/dundee-fc/2933124/dundee-sign-zak-rudden/|title=Zak Rudden: Dundee confirm pre-contract agreement with Partick Thistle top scorer|first=Scott|last=Lorimer|date=21 January 2022 }}</ref> On 31 January 2022, Rudden joined Dundee on loan until the end of the season.<ref>{{Cite web|date=31 January 2022|title=Zak joins on loan|url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/zak-joins-on-loan/|access-date=31 January 2022|website=Dundee Football Club – Official Website|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60206893|title=Dundee sign Thistle's Rudden on loan|work=BBC Sport }}</ref> 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.<ref name = "21-22"/>
After officially joining Dundee permanently the following season, Rudden scored his first goal of the season in a home league win over Arbroath.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dundee end Arbroath run in six-goal thriller |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62431314 |access-date=12 August 2022}}</ref>
On 31 January 2023, Rudden joined St Johnstone on loan until the end of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 January 2023 |title=Zak joins St. Johnstone |url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/zak-joins-st-johnstone/ |access-date=31 January 2023 |website=Dundee Football Club – Official Website |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64471150|title=St Johnstone sign Dundee striker Rudden on loan|work=BBC Sport }}</ref> On 25 February Rudden scored his first goal for the ''Saintees'' in a draw against St Mirren.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St Johnstone 1–1 St Mirren: Alex Gogic scores late on as Buddies salvage a point against 10-man Saints |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/st-johnstone-vs-st-mirren/report/465180 |access-date=25 February 2023 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bonnyrigg Rose v Dundee |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66191435 |access-date=18 July 2023}}</ref> On 23 September, Rudden came off the bench on for 10-man Dundee and scored a late equaliser against Kilmarnock.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ten-man Dundee stun Kilmarnock with late leveller |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66828957 |access-date=23 September 2023}}</ref>
On 26 January 2024, Rudden joined Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers on loan until the end of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zak Rudden signs {{!}} Raith Rovers FC |url=https://www.raithrovers.net/67002/zak-rudden-signs.htm |access-date=26 January 2024 |website=www.raithrovers.net|date=26 January 2024 }}</ref> He made his debut the following day in a league game at home against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Nine-minute Samuel hat-trick dents Raith's title bid |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68039855 |access-date=27 January 2024 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Stunner revives Raith's title hopes as Dundee Utd falter |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68144329 |access-date=17 February 2024 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>
On 12 July 2024, Dundee announced that Rudden had departed the club after both parties mutually agreed to terminate his contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 July 2024 |title=Rudden departs |url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/rudden-departs/ |access-date=12 July 2024 |website=Dundee Football Club – Official Website |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Queen's Park===
The day after departing Dundee, Rudden signed for Scottish Championship club Queen's Park on a two-year deal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 July 2024 |title=Zak Rudden Signs for Queen's Park |url=https://queensparkfc.co.uk/zac-rudden-signs-for-queens-park/ |access-date=13 July 2024 |website=Queen's Park Football Club: Home |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peterhead vs. Queen's Park – 13 July 2024 – Soccerway |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2024/07/13/scotland/league-cup/peterhead-fc/queens-park-fc/4360400/ |access-date=13 July 2024 |website=uk.soccerway.com}}</ref>
===Livingston=== On 12 June 2025, it was announced that Rudden had signed for Scottish Premiership club Livingston.<ref name="auto"/>
===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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dafc.co.uk/welcome-to-dunfermline-zak-rudden/ |title=Welcome to Dunfermline, Zak Rudden |date=28 August 2025 |publisher=DAFC.co.uk |access-date=28 August 2025 |archive-date=28 August 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250828121525/https://dafc.co.uk/welcome-to-dunfermline-zak-rudden/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Rudden made his debut on 30 August and scored his first goal for the club in a draw against Ross County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dunfermline Athletic vs Ross County: Scottish Championship updates & report |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cpv0wnn0lz9t |access-date=30 August 2025 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> After suffering an injury in February 2026, Rudden returned for the final game of the season as a substitute for the ''Pars'' in the 2026 Scottish Cup final.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duncan |first=Live ReportingThomas |title=Celtic vs Dunfermline Athletic LIVE: Scottish Cup final TV, radio, text, team news, reaction, stats |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cn4pd19zv9dt |access-date=1 June 2026 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==International career== Rudden has represented Scotland at youth international levels, up to and including under-21.<ref name = SFA/>
==Career statistics== {{Updated|match played 23 May 2026}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- | rowspan="4"|Rangers U20 |2016–17<ref>{{soccerbase season|93296|2016|accessdate=25 February 2022}}</ref> |rowspan="3" |SPFL Development League |colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=SCC|Appearance(s) in the Scottish Challenge Cup.}}||0||2||0 |- |2017–18<ref>{{soccerbase season|93296|2017|accessdate=25 February 2022}}</ref> |colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|name=SCC}}||0||1||0 |- |2018–19<ref name = "18-19"/> |colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|name=SCC}}||1||1||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!4!!1!!4!!1 |- |rowspan="3"|Rangers |2018–19<ref name = "18-19">{{soccerbase season|93296|2018|accessdate=25 February 2022}}</ref> |rowspan="2"|Scottish Premiership |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |2019–20<ref name = "19-20">{{Soccerbase season|93296|2019|name=Zak Rudden|accessdate=25 February 2022}}</ref> |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0 |- |Falkirk (loan) |2018–19<ref name = "18-19"/> |Scottish Championship |31||12||0||0||0||0||0||0||31||12 |- |Plymouth Argyle (loan) |2019–20<ref name = "19-20"/> |EFL League Two |14||2||1||0||1||0||2{{Efn|Appearance(s) in the Football League Trophy.}}||1||18||3 |- |rowspan="4"|Partick Thistle |2019–20<ref name = "19-20"/> |Scottish Championship |4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||4||0 |- |2020–21<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=93296|season=2020|accessdate=25 February 2022}}</ref> |Scottish League One |13||6||2||1||2||0||0||0||17||7 |- |2021–22<ref name = "21-22">{{Soccerbase season|id=93296|season=2021|accessdate=25 February 2022}}</ref> |Scottish Championship |19||7||2||0||4||2||1{{efn|name=SCC}}||0||26||9 |- !colspan="2"|Total !36!!13!!4!!1!!6!!2!!1!!0!!47!!16 |- |Dundee (loan) |2021–22<ref name = "21-22"/> |Scottish Premiership |13||1||colspan="2"|—|| colspan="2"|—||0||0||13||1 |- |rowspan="3"|Dundee |2022–23<ref name="22-23">{{Soccerbase season|id=93296|season=2022|accessdate=7 June 2022}}</ref> |Scottish Championship |19||5||2||1||3||0||3{{efn|name=SCC}}||2||27||8 |- |2023–24<ref name="23-24">{{Soccerbase season|id=93296|season=2023|accessdate=18 July 2023}}</ref> |Scottish Premiership |14||2||0||0||2||1||0||0||16||3 |- !colspan="2"|Total !33!!7!!2!!1!!5!!1!!3!!2!!43!!11 |- |St Johnstone (loan) |2022–23<ref name="22-23"/> |Scottish Premiership |12||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||12||1 |- |Raith Rovers (loan) |2023–24<ref name="23-24" /> |Scottish Championship |14||3|| colspan="2" |—||colspan="2"|—||3{{Efn|One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup, two appearances in the Premiership play-offs}}||0||17||3 |- |Queen's Park |2024–25<ref name="24-25">{{Soccerbase season|id=93296|season=2024|accessdate=13 July 2024}}</ref> |Scottish Championship |34||9||4||2||5||1||4{{efn|name=SCC}}||3||47||15 |- |Livingston |2025–26<ref name=":0">{{Soccerbase season|id=93296|season=2025|accessdate=12 June 2025}}</ref> |Scottish Premiership |1||0||0||0||4||1||0||0||5||1 |- |Dunfermline Athletic |2025–26<ref name=":0" /> |Scottish Championship |8||2||3||0|| colspan="2" |—||1{{efn|name=SCC}}||0||12||2 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !196!!50!!14!!4!!21!!5!!18!!7!!249!!66 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== ===Club===
;Partick Thistle *Scottish League One: 2020–21<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56936302|title=Partick Thistle seal League 1 title|work=BBC Sport }}</ref> ;Dundee *Scottish Championship: 2022–23<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65505493|title=Dundee promoted: How the bedlam of their chaotic title win unfolded|work=BBC Sport }}</ref> '''Queen's Park''' *Scottish Challenge Cup runner-up: 2024–25<ref>{{cite web |title=Queen's Park vs Livingston |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cz03vzdrgmpt|publisher=BBC|date=30 March 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}{{Dunfermline Athletic F.C. squad}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Rudden, Zak}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:Scottish men's footballers Category:Scotland men's youth international footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Rangers F.C. players Category:Falkirk F.C. players Category:Plymouth Argyle F.C. players Category:Scottish Professional Football League players Category:English Football League players Category:Partick Thistle F.C. players Category:Dundee F.C. players Category:St Johnstone F.C. players Category:Raith Rovers F.C. players Category:Queen's Park F.C. players Category:Scotland men's under-21 international footballers Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen Category:Livingston F.C. players Category:Dunfermline Athletic F.C. players