Biography
Who is Zidane Iqbal?
Early life and youth career
Zidane Iqbal was born in Manchester, England, to parents of Pakistani and Iraqi heritage. His father comes from the city of Sahiwal in the Punjab province, while his mother has roots in Samawah, Iraq. As a young child, he began his football training with a local team called Sale United at the age of four.
When he turned nine, the young player joined the youth system at Manchester United. He remained with the club throughout his development years, eventually signing his first professional contract with the organization in April 2021. During his time as a youth athlete, he supported initiatives like South Asian Heritage Month by participating in a content series for the Football Association.
Professional club career
Zidane made his senior debut for Manchester United in December 2021 during a UEFA Champions League fixture against the Swiss side Young Boys. By appearing in this match as a substitute, he achieved the distinction of being the first British South Asian player to participate in the competition. This remained his only senior appearance for the club.
In June 2023, the midfielder transferred to the Dutch club Utrecht on a four-year agreement. After spending three years in the Netherlands, he moved to Scotland to join Dundee United. He signed a two-year contract with his new team, which includes an option to extend the deal for an additional season.
International experience
Although eligible to represent England, Pakistan, and Iraq, the athlete chose to compete for the Iraqi national team. He obtained an Iraqi passport in May 2021 and began participating in youth international setups. His first call-up for the Iraq under-23 team occurred in September 2021, and he made his debut against the United Arab Emirates shortly thereafter.
He captained the under-23 squad and scored his first goal for that age group in October 2021 during the WAFF U-23 Championship. His senior international debut followed in January 2022 during a qualification match for the FIFA World Cup against Iran. Later, he scored his first senior international goal in March 2024 during a World Cup qualification victory over the Philippines. He was subsequently named to the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Personal details and style
Zidane Iqbal performs primarily as a central midfielder and is noted for his versatility on the pitch. The athlete is a practicing Muslim and has mentioned that the footballer Mesut Özil served as a significant inspiration for his own career. Outside of his professional duties, he is fluent in English and maintains the ability to speak some Punjabi and Arabic.
His career achievements include individual recognition in the Netherlands, where he was named to the Eredivisie Team of the Month in both December 2024 and March 2025. These honors highlighted his performance while playing for Utrecht before his eventual move to the Scottish Premiership.
Birthday and age
Zidane Iqbal was born on April 27, 2003, which makes Zidane 23 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Zidane shares the date with 59 other famous people.
