Zidane Iqbal
![]() Iqbal with Manchester United in 2021 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Zidane Aamar Iqbal[1] | ||
Date of birth | 27 April 2003 | ||
Place of birth | Manchester, England[2] | ||
Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Utrecht | ||
Number | 14 | ||
Youth career | |||
2007–2012 | Sale United | ||
2012–2021 | Manchester United | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2021–2023 | Manchester United | 0 | (0) |
2023– | Utrecht | 2 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2021– | Iraq U23 | ||
2022– | Iraq | 4 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 05:17, 8 December 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:00, 7 September 2023 (UTC) |
Zidane Aamar Iqbal (Arabic: زيدان عمار إقبال, Urdu: زیدان عامر اقبال; born 27 April 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club Utrecht. Born in Manchester, England, he plays for the Iraq national team.
Iqbal joined Manchester United's youth system aged nine. He made his first-team debut in a UEFA Champions League match in December 2021. Iqbal represented Iraq at under-23 level before making his senior international debut in January 2022.
Early life
Born in Manchester to a Pakistani father and an Iraqi mother, Iqbal played for local side Sale United from the age of four before joining Manchester United at the age of nine.[3]
Club career
Manchester United
Iqbal signed his first professional contract with Manchester United in April 2021.[4][5] He made his first-team debut for Manchester United on 8 December 2021 as an 89th-minute substitute in a Champions League match against Young Boys.[6] Thus, he became the first English-born South Asian to play for the club, and the first ever English South Asian to play in the Champions League.[7][8]
Utrecht
On 23 June 2023, Iqbal announced that he would be leaving Manchester United to a new club, subject to registration and international clearance.[9] His move to Utrecht was announced and finalised on 26 June on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[10]
International career
Iqbal is eligible to represent England, Iraq and Pakistan at international level.[11]
In May 2021, he received an Iraqi passport, and has represented Iraq at youth international level.[12][13] In June 2021, he was called up to the Iraq under-20 team for the 2021 Arab Cup U-20. However, he was refused to travel by Manchester United, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]
In September 2021, Iqbal received his first call up to the Iraq U23s for a training camp in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He made his debut on 4 September against the UAE U23s, making the starting line-up. In October 2021, Iqbal was named as part of the 23-man Iraq U23 squad for the 2021 WAFF U-23 Championship in Saudi Arabia.[15] On 8 October, Iqbal scored his first goal for the Iraq U23 team as the captain of his side.[16]
In January 2022, Iqbal was called up to the Iraq national team for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Iran and Lebanon.[17] He made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Iran on 27 January.[18]
Style of play
Iqbal is a midfielder with lots of flair, and is fairly versatile. His main position is as a central midfielder however he has been deployed as a defensive midfielder and attacking midfielder before.[19]
Personal life
As one of a small number of British Asians in association football, Iqbal was part of an FA content series to support South Asian Heritage Month in 2021.[20]
Iqbal is Muslim, and cites Mesut Özil as an inspiration for him.[21][22]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 3 December 2023[23]
Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Manchester United U21 | 2021–22 | — | — | — | — | — | 3[a] | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||||
2022–23 | — | — | — | — | — | 3[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||
Total | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | ||||||
Manchester United | 2021–22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
2022–23 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||
Utrecht | 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
Career total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
- ^ a b Appearances in the EFL Trophy
- ^ Appearance in the UEFA Champions League
International
- As of match played 7 September 2023[24]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Iraq | 2022 | 2 | 0 |
2023 | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 4 | 0 |
References
- ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2020/21 retained lists". premierleague.com. 4 June 2021. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ a b Zidane Iqbal at WorldFootball.net
- ^ "Who is Zidane Iqbal? Manchester United teenager profiled after Champions League call-up". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 8 December 2021. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ^ Luckhurst, Samuel (7 April 2021). "Manchester United teenager Zidane Iqbal signs professional contract". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Kumari, Priyanca (9 April 2021). "Sports: Pakistani-Origin Zidane Iqbal Signs Professional Contract with Manchester United". britasia.tv. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Stone, Simon (8 December 2021). "Man Utd 1-1 Young Boys: Youthful United side held in final Champions League group game". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ Varley, Ciaran (9 December 2021). "Zidane Iqbal becomes Manchester United's first English South Asian player". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ "Zidane Iqbal becomes first English South Asian to play in the UEFA Champions League". skysports.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ Bostock, Adam (23 June 2023). "Iqbal's emotional post as he departs United". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ Marshall, Adam (26 June 2023). "Iqbal transfer confirmed". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ "Zidane Iqbal: Manchester United youngster called up by Iraq". BBC Sport. 23 January 2022. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ^ "لاعب مانشستر يونايتد "زيدان إقبال" يتسلم الجواز العراقي" [Manchester United player Zidane Iqbal receives Iraqi passport]. shafaq.com (in Arabic). 20 May 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Feliciano, Daniel (10 July 2021). "Manchester United video suggests Zidane Iqbal may be the next David Beckham in the making". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "مانشستر يونايتد يرفض التحاق زيدان بمنتخب الشباب" [Manchester United refuse Zidane to join the youth team]. ina.iq (in Arabic). 10 June 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "3 لاعباً في قائمة منتخبنا الأولمبي لبطولة غرب آسيا" [Iraqi Olympic team squad]. Iraq FA (in Arabic). 1 October 2021. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ "Zidane Iqbal captains Iraq under-23s and scores". United In Focus. 9 October 2021. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ "Zidane Iqbal: Iraq set to hand Manchester United teenager international debut away in Iran". Sky Sports. 20 January 2022. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ "Zidane Iqbal becomes 32nd international player in Manchester United squad". Manchester Evening News. 27 January 2022. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Zidane Iqbal Positions". FootballCritic. Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ "A New Content Series will be Released to Support South Asian Heritage Month". thefa.com. 27 July 2021. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Holt, Matthew (3 August 2021). "Iqbal Enjoying the 'Rollercoaster Ride'". manutd.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Wood, Liam (3 August 2021). "Manchester United academy star Zidane Iqbal names his football idol". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Zidane Iqbal at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Zidane Iqbal". national-football-teams.com (in German). Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Zidane Iqbal at Soccerway.com
- Zidane Iqbal at WorldFootball.net
- Zidane Iqbal at Soccerbase.com
- Zidane Iqbal at National-Football-Teams.com
- Zidane Iqbal at BDFutbol
- 2003 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Manchester
- Iraqi men's footballers
- Iraq men's youth international footballers
- Iraq men's international footballers
- English men's footballers
- English people of Iraqi descent
- English people of Pakistani descent
- British Asian footballers
- Iraqi people of Pakistani descent
- Men's association football midfielders
- Manchester United F.C. players
- English expatriate men's footballers
- Iraqi expatriate men's footballers
- English expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
- Iraqi expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
- Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
- FC Utrecht players