At just 22 years old, Zidane Iqbal’s journey from a promising Manchester United academy star to a regular first-team player in the Dutch Eredivisie is a tale of talent, frustration, and resilience. The Manchester-born midfielder, who broke barriers as the first British-born South Asian and Iraqi international to play for the Red Devils, recently opened up about the difficult period he endured under former United manager Erik ten Hag before making the decisive move to FC Utrecht in 2023.
Iqbal’s rise at Manchester United was meteoric in its early stages. Having joined the club at the tender age of eight, he quickly made a name for himself, particularly during the 2022 pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia, where he was the breakout star. His performances earned him a spot on the bench for all six Europa League group games in the 2022/23 campaign and hinted at a promising breakthrough into the first team.
His professional debut came in December 2021 during a Champions League match against Young Boys, where he replaced Jesse Lingard and made history as the first British South Asian to play in the Champions League. Iqbal recalled the nerves and excitement of that day, describing how he and teammate Charlie Savage stayed in a hotel near his childhood home, nervously trying different coffees to calm their jitters. “I just wanted to touch the ball and I got a few touches,” he said. The moment was emotional for his family, with his mother, father, and uncle moved to tears, and he proudly framed Lingard’s match shirt, which bore the number 14 — his favourite number.
Despite these early highlights, Iqbal’s path to regular first-team football at Old Trafford was fraught with challenges. Throughout the 2022/23 season, he was on the bench 19 times but struggled to get meaningful minutes on the pitch. The frustration reached a peak in January 2023 during the Carabao Cup quarter-final against League One side Charlton Athletic. Iqbal was set to start as the No.10 after impressing in all pre-match training drills and even received words of encouragement from senior player Lisandro Martinez, who told him, “Now’s your chance, all of us are supporting you. Just show yourself, you’re a good player.”
Filled with hope, Iqbal had arranged for family and friends to attend the game, anticipating his moment to shine. However, upon arriving at the stadium and checking the whiteboard, he found his name missing from the starting lineup and, later, he was not brought on as a substitute either. “I was gutted,” he said. “That was the turning point for me. I didn’t feel the manager respected me enough to play me.” This omission was a bitter pill to swallow, especially after years of dedication to the club.
Following this incident, Iqbal’s opportunities dried up further. He did not make the bench again in the cup competitions as Manchester United went on to win the Carabao Cup and also missed out on FA Cup squads. His Premier League involvement was limited to three more occasions as an unused substitute, including back-to-back matches against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest.
The lack of game time took a toll on Iqbal’s mental well-being. He confided in his father and agent, saying, “I can’t do this for another year.” Training with the first team but not playing, and being barred from featuring for the under-23s, left him feeling like “just a number.” Senior teammates Lisandro Martinez and veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton offered support during this trying phase. Heaton advised him on how to approach manager Ten Hag about playing in the Under-19 World Cup in April 2023, suggesting he frame his request around the manager’s perspective rather than his own ambitions.
When Iqbal spoke to Ten Hag about the tournament, the manager urged him to stay patient, citing the end of the season, injuries, and the need for training numbers. “He told me to stay patient. So I did. I was sure I’d play some minutes and become the first Iraqi player in the Premier League,” Iqbal recalled. Unfortunately, those minutes never came, and the milestone was instead achieved by his best friend Ali Al Hamadi, who appeared for Ipswich Town against Liverpool in August 2024.
Realizing his prospects at Manchester United were diminishing, Iqbal informed his agent that he needed a change. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Jadon Sancho and Paul Pogba, who revitalized their careers by moving abroad, he made the bold decision to join FC Utrecht in June 2023 on a four-year deal. United included a sell-on clause and a buy-back option in the transfer, indicating that the club still valued his potential.
Since moving to the Netherlands, Iqbal has flourished, making 40 appearances and scoring once for Utrecht. The club finished fourth in the Eredivisie in the 2024-2025 season, nine points behind champions PSV Eindhoven. Despite suffering a knee injury that curtailed his last season, Iqbal remains optimistic about his future. He describes Utrecht as a “family club” and praises manager Ron Jans as “very nice,” though he acknowledges the competitive nature of the environment as “ruthless.”
Iqbal’s journey is a testament to perseverance and self-belief. From his early days climbing fences to play football during lockdowns to making history at Old Trafford and now establishing himself in a European league, he embodies the spirit of a modern footballer navigating the challenges of elite sport. As he focuses on recovery and consistent performances, Iqbal is determined to continue giving his best for both his club and the Iraq national team, embracing the life he always dreamed of.
