Manchester United Champions League – Zidane Iqbal: 18-year-old Manchester United Academy player Zidane Iqbal made history after becoming the first British Asian footballer to play for Manchester United and also the second Iraqi player to feature in a Champions League group stage match. Several teenagers were called upon by Ralf Rangnick for United’s final group stage match after sealing a top spot in Group F. Follow InsideSport.IN for news and live updates
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Manchester United: 18-year-old teenager Zidane Iqbal becomes the first British Asian footballer for Man United; Full details on United’s upcoming star
Ralf Rangnick handed several teenagers their debuts and starts at Old Trafford at the Champions League stage. A total of six teenagers featured for the Reds and this was only the fifth time this had happened in Champions League history, and only the second time an English side had featured as many teens on the biggest stage of European football. Follow Live Football news & updates on InsideSport.IN
The History Zidane Iqbal made yesterday: Zidane Iqbal made his debut for Manchester United yesterday against Young Boys, he had joined the Red Devils when he was nine years old. He simultaneously also made his UEFA Champions League debut at the famous “Theatre of Dreams.” He became only the second Iraqi player in history to play in the UEFA Champions League competition.
Born in Manchester to a Pakistani father and an Iraqi mother, Iqbal joined United’ academy aged just nine years old the earliest legally permitted and he’s since spent just under a decade developing his skillset. This season he’s been promoted to Neil Wood’s United U23 squad where he has become a key player and gained valuable experience for the side in the EFL Trophy.
Full Details of Zidane Iqbal – Date of Birth: 27 April 2003
Position: Centre-Midfield
Joined United: July 1 2019
Squad number: 73
He also became the first British Asian footballer to play for Manchester United. It was a huge moment for the club and their academy as 6 teenagers played yesterday against Young Boys and a total of nine players of the MU Academy were on the pitch at the full time whistle.
The 18-year-old trained with the first team on Tuesday, before taking his place on the bench for Wednesday’s visit of the Swiss side, with qualification and top spot in Group F already secured. Iqbal wore shirt number 73 came on in the 89th minute of the game, replacing England international Jesse Lingard.
Zidane Iqbal became the first British South Asian footballer in #MUFC‘s history after coming off the bench in the #UCL game against Young Boys ✨
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 9, 2021
Manchester United: 18-year-old teenager Zidane Iqbal becomes the first British Asian footballer for Man United; Read which other history was made yesterday
A Proud moment for all Asian’s as the Manchester-born midfielder, who has Pakistani and Iraqi heritage, became the first British South Asian to play at Old Trafford, in April, and is now the first footballer from the community to play for the club.
Despite making up 7 per cent of Britain’s population, just 0.25 per cent of professional footballers are from a British Asian background. One such player that helped the FA was Manchester United youngster Zidane Iqbal.
