THE FIRST EVER PAKISTANI ORIGIN FOOTBALL PLAYER TO PLAY IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Zidane Iqbal is an English-Iraqi footballer who plays as an Attacking Midfielder for Premier League Club Manchester United. Zidane Iqbal was born in Manchester to a father from British-Pakistan and a mother from Iraq & likely to represent Iraq National Team and England National team and Pakistan National Team. Zidane Iqbal had pretty impressive performances during season 2020/21 and will be promoted to The Man United Under 23.

Zidane Iqbal said that his was the key reason that build up his interest as a young boy. Zidane Iqbal said, “I used to go along my father and watch him play the game as a young boy and I kind of joined him to play together sometimes.”

Zidane Iqbal becomes the first British South Asian football player in Manchester United’s history. The talented Manchester born mid fielder has Pakistani and Iraqi heritage. Iqbal has spent almost ten years at Manchester United. Zidane has worked his way up the hard way through the youth setup. The Eighteen year old, Zidane Iqbal has impressed and is highly regarded by his coaches. Zidane is admired by his coaches so much that he has become a regular at the Under 23 level even though he is still eighteen years old.

Zidane Iqbal has all the world at his feet. This is because he has the option to play for three nations, England, Iraq and Pakistan. Iraq’s Football Federation are hopeful that they can convince Zidane Iqbal to pledge his allegiance to the Iraqi Flag. He has already played for the Iraq in the West Asian Federation Championship at the Under 23 level. Zidane Iqbal also captained his team during the West Asian Federation Championship in one match. His choice may have been influenced by world football governing body FIFA’s ban on Pakistan due to third party interference since March and overall instability of Pakistan national team which has played around six international matches since 2015

Zidane Iqbal Wrote,” Alhamdulillah always and forever.” On the Instagram post to mark his landmark appearance for Manchester United on Thursday December 9, 2021.

 

The teenager Zidane Iqbal made his Manchester United debut in a 1-1 draw with Young Boys in the Champions League match at Old Trafford. The Eighteen year old came on the pitch as a replacement at the 89^th minute of the game. Even though Zidane Iqbal played the match for a few minutes still he became the first ever Pakistani to play for leading European Club, Manchester united in a Champions League match. As one of the smaller numbers of British Asians (minorities) in English Football Association EFA, Iqbal was a part of PFA Professional Football Association to support South Asian players. Zidane Iqbal is a practicing Muslim and the footballer Mesut Ozil who is also an attacking mid fielder is Iqbal’s favorite player. Mesut Ozil is a Muslim player and plays for Germany and has played at many clubs like Real Madrid and Arsenal.

 

Zidane Iqbal is an attacking mid fielder with a lot of flare. He wears the number 73 shirt. He plays either in a box to box or number ten row. He is born in Manchester to a Pakistani father and Iraqi mother from southern Iraq. Iqbal is likewise a skilled football player who has been prepared by his dad Ammar, who is himself a FA level two qualified mentor. His more youthful sibling Yahya is likewise a decent footballer.

 

While Zidane became the first player of Pakistani origin to represent a club of such a high stature in the European football scene, there are numerous players with Pakistani ancestry playing professional football in the continent and are eligible to play for the Pakistan national team.

Ghayas Zahid, Norwegian-Pakistani became the first player of Pakistani origin to feature in the Champions League when he made his debut against Real Madrid whilst playing for Cypriot club APOEL FC in 2017.