Mikel Arteta has appointed a new coach to Arsenal's backroom staff, and he has been stand-in for some huge names in football, including Lionel Messi.
Hussein Isa, also known as the 'tekkers guru', will provide specialist assistance to Arsenal's attacking players, claim The Athletic.
Isa will work closely with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, along with the Gunners' academy players, as Mikel Arteta seeks an attacking edge in Premier League title race.
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The 34-year-old has had a fascinating career, most recently playing for non-league YouTube sensation Hashtag United. Here he is, answering questions on the club's YouTube channel.
Who is Hussein Isa?
Isa procured his nickname of 'tekkers guru' following a series of videos showcasing his his skills and free-kick abilities were uploaded online.
He started his career as a youth player at Arsenal's North London rivals Tottenham, also playing for QPR's academy.
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Isa went on to have spells at a variety of non-league clubs, including Barnet, Staines Town, Dartford, Cray Wanderers and Romford.
His performances earned him another complimentary nickname by The Mirror, who referred to Isa as ‘non league’s Dimitri Payet’ in 2016.
He has also represented England at futsal, before becoming a coach. He has since worked with the academies of both QPR and Crystal Palace, before starting his own coaching programme.
But that's not all. Fascinatingly, Isa was picked to play the body double of Lionel Messi for an Adidas advert in 2011.
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He has worked on further commercial shoots, standing in for the likes of Sergio Aguero and Eden Hazard. Gunners fans will hope he can channel his inner-Messi in training, and translate what he's learnt to Arsenal's attack.
The former non-league midfielder's role in North London is thought to begin in the summer, as the league-leaders prepare for the 2023/24 campaign.
Topics: Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Tottenham Hotspur, Lionel Messi, Eden Hazard, Sergio Aguero, Premier League
Joe Adams