1. Early Life
Zidane Aamar Iqbal was born on 27 April 2003 in Manchester, England. His father is of Pakistani descent, and his mother is Iraqi. From a young age, Iqbal showed a keen interest in football, starting to play for the local side Sale United at the age of four, encouraged by his father. He attended St. Margaret's C of E Primary School. At the age of nine, in 2012, he joined the prestigious Manchester United youth academy, marking the beginning of his formal football development.
2. Club Career
Zidane Iqbal's club career began in the renowned youth system of Manchester United, where he spent over a decade honing his skills before moving to FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie.
2.1. Manchester United
Iqbal's journey through the Manchester United youth system saw him progress rapidly. By the age of 16, he was already playing for the club's Under-18 team. His impressive performances led him to sign his first professional contract with Manchester United in April 2021.
His senior team debut for Manchester United came on 8 December 2021, when he was introduced as an 89th-minute substitute in a UEFA Champions League match against BSC Young Boys. This appearance was historic, as Iqbal became the first British-born South Asian player to represent Manchester United, the first Iraqi player to play for the club, and the first ever British South Asian to feature in the Champions League.
During his time with the reserve team, particularly in the Premier League 2, he made 18 appearances and scored 2 goals in the 2021-22 season, and 10 appearances in the 2022-23 season. He also featured in the EFL Trophy, making 3 appearances and scoring 1 goal in 2021-22, and 3 appearances in 2022-23. Following his senior debut, in June 2022, Iqbal signed a new three-year contract with an option for an additional year, reflecting the club's faith in his potential. Although he accompanied the first team during the pre-season under new manager Erik ten Hag for the 2022-23 season and was named on the bench for senior matches 17 times, he primarily played for the reserve team and did not make any further senior appearances. On 23 June 2023, Iqbal announced his departure from Manchester United.
2.2. FC Utrecht
Following his departure from Manchester United, Zidane Iqbal's move to FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie was officially announced and finalized on 26 June 2023. He signed a four-year contract with the Dutch club for an undisclosed fee. Since joining Utrecht, Iqbal has become an integral part of the squad, making 18 appearances in the Eredivisie and 1 appearance in the KNVB Cup during the 2023-24 season. He also made one appearance for Jong FC Utrecht, the club's reserve team, in the Eerste Divisie.
3. International Career
Zidane Iqbal's international career has seen him represent Iraq at various youth levels before making his debut for the senior national team.
3.1. Youth Career
Given his heritage, Iqbal was eligible to represent three national teams: England, Iraq, and Pakistan. In May 2021, he received an Iraqi passport, signaling his commitment to represent Iraq internationally.
In June 2021, he received a call-up to the Iraq U-20 team for the 2021 Arab Cup U-20. However, Manchester United did not permit him to travel due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In September 2021, Iqbal received his first call-up to the Iraq U-23 team for a training camp held in the United Arab Emirates. He made his debut for the U-23 side on 4 September 2021, starting in a match against the UAE U-23. The following month, in October 2021, Iqbal was included in the 23-man Iraq U-23 squad for the 2021 WAFF U-23 Championship held in Saudi Arabia. On 8 October, he scored his first goal for the Iraq U-23 team while serving as the team's captain.
3.2. Senior Career
Zidane Iqbal's senior international career began in January 2022 when he was called up to the Iraq national team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Iran and Lebanon. He made his senior debut in a 1-0 loss to Iran on 27 January 2022.
In September 2023, Iqbal was called up for the 2023 King's Cup tournament in Thailand. He was subsequently included in Iraq's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup tournament, held in Qatar in January 2024. He made his first appearance in the tournament on 15 January 2024 against Indonesia.
On 26 March 2024, Iqbal scored his first international goal for Iraq during a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against the Philippines. This goal contributed to a dominant 5-0 away victory for Iraq at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
4. Style of Play
Zidane Iqbal primarily plays as a midfielder and is known for his flair and versatility on the field. While his main position is that of a central midfielder, he has also been effectively deployed in more specialized roles, including as a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder. His technical skills allow him to operate as a box-to-box player, contributing to both defense and attack, and he has been noted for his ability to play a creative role similar to a traditional number 10.
5. Personal Life
Zidane Iqbal is a Muslim. He has cited German footballer Mesut Özil as a significant inspiration for his own playing style and career. Iqbal is fluent in English and has stated in interviews that he can also speak some Punjabi and Arabic.
As one of a growing number of British Asians in association football, Iqbal has actively participated in initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion within the sport. In 2021, he was part of a content series by The Football Association (FA) to support South Asian Heritage Month, highlighting the contributions and potential of players from South Asian backgrounds in British football.
6. Career Statistics
6.1. Club
| 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 U18/U21 | 2019-20 | U18 Premier League | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 3 | 1 | |||
| 2020-21 | U18 Premier League | 14 | 6 | - | - | - | - | 14 | 6 | |||||
| 2020-21 | Premier League 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2021-22 | Premier League 2 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 1 | - | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 28 | 5 | ||
| 2022-23 | Premier League 2 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Manchester United Youth Total | 45 | 9 | 7 | 1 | - | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 62 | 12 | |||
| Manchester United | 2021-22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022-23 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Manchester United Senior Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | |||
| Jong Utrecht | 2023-24 | Eerste Divisie | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Utrecht | 2023-24 | Eredivisie | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 19 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 64 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 83 | 13 | ||
6.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iraq | 2022 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 11 | 1 | |
| Total | 15 | 1 | |
Scores and results list Iraq's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 March 2024 | Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines | 10 | Philippines | 4-0 | 5-0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
7. Impact and Legacy
Zidane Iqbal's career holds significant impact, particularly as a trailblazer for British South Asian representation in professional football. His debut for Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League marked him as the first British-born South Asian and the first Iraqi player to achieve this milestone for the club, and the first British South Asian to play in the Champions League. This achievement is seen as a crucial step towards increasing diversity and inclusion within the sport, inspiring young players from underrepresented communities. His journey highlights the potential for talent from diverse backgrounds to reach the highest levels of football, contributing to a more inclusive sporting landscape.