Scottish soccer trailblazer and previous Pakistan U20s supervisor Shadab Iftikhar has returned to Wigan as a first-team trainer.
Iftikhar made historical past at Highland League aspect Castle William all through the 2021/22 season when he changed into the primary British South Asian to supremacy in senior Scottish soccer.
He returns to Wigan the place his soccer advance began, shadowing former Latics boss Roberto Martinez, who now manages Portugal, and offering opposition fit research.
Preston-born Iftikhar, who has up to now controlled Mongolian aspect Bayangol and Samoan group Kiwi FC, labored along stream Wigan supervisor Shaun Maloney when the pair have been a part of the Belgium nationwide group set-up beneath Martinez.
Maloney has additionally introduced Tom Huddlestone in as a first-team trainer with the previous Derby County, Tottenham and England midfielder becoming a member of nearest serving as a player-coach with Manchester United’s U21s.
Wigan boss Maloney advised the membership’s web page: “I’m thrilled to welcome Tom and Shadab to the soccer membership, who each fix us with vastly-different reviews. Tom has arrived following two seasons at Manchester United U21s and we additionally labored in combination at Hull as team-mates.
Huddlestone performed along Maloney at Hull Town
“He is an extremely calm, but also very passionate coach and has been involved at the elite level for a long time which will help our younger players.
“I worked previously with Shadab at Belgium and he also worked with Roberto Martinez at Everton and Wigan and therefore understands the DNA of our club.
“Each can be admirable additions to the training group.”
Iftikhar said: “I’m very excited and really thankful to the gaffer for giving me the chance. I can’t wait to get began and confidently, we will be able to have an implausible season.
“Wigan Athletic has always been close to my heart. I started here with Roberto Martinez a long, long time ago and I am really excited to be back and to be involved in the project.
Iftikhar labored along Roberto Martinez and Maloney with Belgium
“It’s an absolute honour to be working for this football club. The gaffer has been a mentor to me, and I have learned a lot already from him, and I am very happy to be working under such a top manager.”
Huddlestone added: “The last two years have been really educational from a coaching standpoint. It’s given me the ambition as coaching is something I want to do long term, and I’m grateful to have this opportunity at the beginning of my coaching journey.”
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