Football News Update: Shadab Iftikhar Returns to Wigan as First-Team Coach
In a significant move for the football community, Scottish football trailblazer and former Pakistan U20s manager Shadab Iftikhar has returned to Wigan Athletic as a first-team coach. This announcement comes as a notable development in the world of football.
Iftikhar made history during the 2021/22 season when he became the first British South Asian to manage in senior Scottish football, leading the Highland League side Fort William. Now, he embarks on a new chapter, rejoining Wigan, where his football journey initially began.
“I am very excited and very grateful to the gaffer for giving me the opportunity. I cannot wait to get started and hopefully, we can have a fantastic season.”
- Shadab Iftikhar
At Wigan, Iftikhar will be reunited with former Latics boss Roberto Martinez, who now manages the Portugal national team. Iftikhar will be responsible for providing opposition match analysis, drawing on his extensive experience working alongside Martinez at both Everton and Wigan.
Iftikhar’s appointment comes as part of a broader coaching restructuring at Wigan, with former Hibernian manager Shaun Maloney taking the helm as the club’s new manager. Maloney has also brought in former Derby County, Tottenham, and England midfielder Tom Huddlestone as a first-team coach, after Huddlestone’s stint as a player-coach with Manchester United’s U21 squad.
In a statement, Maloney expressed his delight in welcoming both Iftikhar and Huddlestone to the club, highlighting their vastly different experiences and the valuable contributions they will make to the coaching team.
Huddlestone also expressed his enthusiasm, noting that the last two years as a coach have been “really educational” and that he is grateful for the opportunity to begin his coaching journey at Wigan.
As the 2023/24 EFL season approaches, Wigan fans can look forward to their team being featured live on Sky Sports at least 20 times, ensuring that the club’s progress and Iftikhar’s contributions will be widely accessible to football enthusiasts across the country.
🔗 Source