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Manchester United Youngster So Good He Ran Rings Around Other Kids

Manchester United Youngster So Good He Ran Rings Around Other Kids

The 18-year-old made history for the Red Devils last week.

James Hilsum

James Hilsum

Zidane Iqbal's first football coach gave a fascinating insight into the teenager's incredible talent, by revealing that he used to put him in goal to give other kids a chance.

Iqbal made history last week after becoming the first British South Asian player to feature for Manchester United in their Champions League clash against Young Boys on Wednesday.

Stewart Hamer starting coaching the 18-year-old as an under-5s player for Sale United, and he explained just how far ahead he was in his development compared to the other boys.


"When we played a few six-a-side competitions [as he got older] he would do very well. He would stand out," Hamer told Sky Sports News.

"We got to the point where sometimes we would have to take him off the field in fairness to the opposition because he was just too dangerous on the field and it didn't feel fair on the others. We had a process, even in four, five and six-a-side where the kids would play in all sorts of different positions.

"So, they all took the part and played in goal and Zee would quite often go in goal for us, and he was happy to do that. I've still got visions of Zee being in goal and leaning on the goalpost, waiting for something to happen!

"But he's just never changed. He's just very focused on his football career. And what happened [with him making his Manchester United debut] was just the icing on the cake so far. But it's only the beginning of the story, hopefully."

PA: Zidane Iqbal
PA: Zidane Iqbal

Iqbal has been a regular for United's Premier League 2 side this season, and scored in the 2-1 EFL Trophy defeat to Sunderland in October.

He received international recognition too, after featuring for Iraq's under-23s in last month's WAFF (West Asian Football Federation) Championship.

The future certainly seems to be bright for young Zidane.

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Topics: Manchester United, Premier League, Champions League, Zidane Iqbal