Background
He is the son of Scottish international player Alan Gilzean.
He is the son of Scottish international player Alan Gilzean.
Active in England, Scotland, and Ireland, Gilzean made over 250 career appearances, scoring nearly 100 goals. He is currently manager of Scottish junior side Carnoustie Panmure. Gilzean began his career with the youth team of English team Tottenham Hotspur, before making his professional debut with Scottish team Dundee.
Later on in his career, Gilzean played in England for Doncaster Rovers and Northampton Town, in Scotland for Ayr United, Elgin City and Montrose, and in Ireland for Sligo Rovers, Drogheda United, Street Patrick"s Athletic and in Northern Ireland for Glentoran.
Gilzean signed for Sligo Rovers on a three-year deal in July 1995 and scored on his League of Ireland debut on the opening day of the 1995-1996 League of Ireland season. In September 1997 he joined Drogheda United but after only 4 appearances he moved to Street Patrick"s Athletic where he scored a hat trick on his debut at Sligo.
He played twice against Celtic F.C. in the 1998-1999 Union of European Football Associations Champions League qualifying round. Days after the disappointment of losing to Celtic Street Pats were involved in a 4 team tournament at Lansdowne Road.
The Carlsberg Trophy pitted them against Liverpool F.C. and South.S. Lazio where Gilzean scored a consolation goal as a tired Street Pats lost 4–1.
The following season he played twice against Football Club Zimbru Chişinău in the 1999–2000 Union of European Football Associations Champions League qualifying round. In October 1999 Gilzean moved to Glentoran F.C. In July 2000 he moved back to the League of Ireland, this time to Shelbourne F.C. where he made his debut as a substitute against Rosenborg BK in the 2000–2001 Union of European Football Associations Champions League qualifying round.
After only one substitute league appearance he moved back to Sligo in December who were now in the League of Ireland First Division.