Kevin Johnston

IndyStar correspondent

Indy Eleven at Rayo OKC, 8 p.m., Saturday, BeIN Sports

He is Irish-born, represented Libya's national team and has played in leagues as far away as Norway, Iran and Malaysia.

So how did Eamon Zayed wind up in Indianapolis scoring goals for the Indy Eleven?

Simple: Tim Hankinson.

The Eleven's new manager tried to lure Zayed to the U.S. in 2012 at a previous coaching stop in San Antonio but was unable to land the striker because he was still under contract.

"At the time, I was in Iran. I was in contract, and there was no way of me getting out of it," Zayed said.

While in Iran, Zayed received the nickname "Mr. Hat Trick" — a flattering name for any striker. In 2012, he scored a hat trick off the bench in front of 80,000 fans in the Tehran derby — a heated in-town rivalry. Adding to the legend, his team was losing 2-0 at the time and down a man from a red card.

“That’s where I got the name ‘10-10-3’ which means 10 minutes, 10 men, three goals. And then ‘Mr. Hat Trick’ came a month later," Zayed said. "We had another game, my first Asian Champions League game, and I scored three again. A few weeks later, I played a league game and I scored three again. So it was three hat tricks there in like two to three months."

When Hankinson, who also has a well-traveled resume, got the Eleven job in December, he wanted to add punch to Indy's offensive attack. So he dipped into his contacts list.

"The reason I'm here is because of coach Hankinson," Zayed said. "I'm delighted to work with him and I think we have a good relationship. I just want to repay his faith that he's shown in me."

Zayed did just that April 16 against the New York Cosmos. He scored the game-tying goal in the final minute of regular time and added the game-winner in stoppage time in front of the Eleven's supporters group, The Brickyard Battalion, setting off bedlam in the west end of Carroll Stadium.

“It was 10,000 people, but it still felt like it was packed," Zayed said. "The Brickyard Battalion was an unbelievable atmosphere behind the goal. It reminded me slightly of (my hat trick in the Tehran derby).

“It brought back a few memories because it was quite similar the way the game ended. It was beautiful. The fans were brilliant. And the celebrations — I’m sure you’ve seen it — the celebrations with a lot of players jumping into the fans. It was a great moment."

Added Hankinson: "For him to climb up into The Brickyard Battalion after scoring the eventual winner and share that moment with the fans, that capped a great night both for Eamon and for the team.”

After its dramatic win over the Cosmos, Indy (1-0-2) enjoyed a week off, allowing for a few players to nurse injuries. The Eleven return to action at 8 p.m. Saturday against NASL expansion franchise Rayo OKC in Oklahoma City. Zayed's performance against the Cosmos not only gave the Eleven their first win of the young season, but also earned him North American Soccer League Goal of the Week and Player of the Week honors.

The well-traveled 32-year-old was an academy product for unlikely English Premier League leaders Leicester City from 2000-02 and shared a microphone with Cameroonian soccer star Samuel Eto'o as part of FIFA's Fair Play initiative prior to Libya falling one game short of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. He has played across the globe but is settling into his new Indianapolis surroundings.

"The people are very friendly. I don't know if it's a Midwest thing," Zayed said. "I've traveled to New York before, Las Vegas, Florida, and the people are friendly enough, but here, I definitely notice the difference in terms of the people and how friendly they are."

If Zayed keeps scoring, he'll find Indy increasingly friendly. And if you see him on the street, his name is pronounced AYE-mon ZYED (rhymes with dyed). Or you can just call him "Mr. Hat Trick."