Shadab Iftikhar

{{short description|Pakistani-English football manager (born 1989)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Shadab Iftikhar

| fullname =

| image =

| image_size =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Preston, England{{cite web|last1=Amos|first1=Owen|title=Far-flung adventures: Shadab Iftikhar on moving from Preston to Mongolia|url=http://thesetpieces.com/interviews/far-flung-adventures-shadab-iftikhar-moving-preston-mongolia/|publisher=The Set Pieces|accessdate=12 August 2016}}

| currentclub = Thimphu City (manager/head coach)

| position =

| manageryears1 = 2012–2013 | managerclubs1 = Nelson (caretaker)

| manageryears2 = 2015 | managerclubs2 = University of Central Lancashire

| manageryears3 = 2016–2017 | managerclubs3 = Bayangol

| manageryears4 = 2018 | managerclubs4 = Vailima Kiwi

| manageryears5 = 2021–2022 | managerclubs5 = Fort William

| manageryears6 = 2023–2024 | managerclubs6 = Pakistan U-20

| manageryears7 = 2025– | managerclubs7 = Thimphu City

}}

Shadab Iftikhar is an English football manager who is currently coaching Bhutan Premier League club Thimphu City.{{cite web|title=Erchim FC: Mongolia's Football Powerhouse|url=http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/07/25/erchim-fc-mongolias-football-powerhouse/|publisher=HITC Sports|accessdate=12 August 2016}}

He currently holds an UEFA "A" license.{{cite web|title=Blues Appoint New Coach|url=http://www.football.co.uk/nelson/blues-appoint-new-coach/2524825/#v2RmYPVyz8lKFZa4.97|publisher=football.co.uk|accessdate=12 August 2016}} In addition to coaching, Iftikhar has also served as a scout for Roberto Martinez at Wigan Athletic and Everton for two years at each club,{{cite web |last1=Fothergill |first1=Lucas |title=MEET THE MONGOLIAN PREMIER LEAGUE SIDE RUN BY AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF FANS |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/meet-the-mongolian-premier-league-side-run-by-an-international-group-of-fans/ |access-date=12 August 2016 |publisher=Vice}} and the Belgium national team.{{Cite web |title=Belgium scout Shadab Iftikhar praises Roberto Martinez as he gets set to become Fort William manager |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12484615/belgium-scout-shadab-iftikhar-praises-roberto-martinez-as-he-gets-set-to-become-fort-william-manager |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Sky Sports}}

Early life

Shadab was born in Preston, Lancashire to a British Pakistani family.

Managerial career

= Early years =

In May 2010, Iftikhar was named the reserve team manager for Hesketh Bank after previously working with the junior teams{{cite web|title='EVERGREEN' TAKES RESERVE TEAM POST|url=http://www.heskethbankafc.co.uk/NEW%20MANAGER.htm|publisher=Hesketh Bank AFC|accessdate=12 August 2016}} since 2007 at age 17 while working on his early coaching badges.{{cite web|last1=Sergeant|first1=Paul|title=Evergreen makes the tough decision to move on|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/heskethbankafc/news/shadab-iftikhar-evergreen-1438015.html|publisher=Hesketh Bank AFC|accessdate=12 August 2016}}

In 2015, he was named manager of the senior squad the day before the season began. Despite working with a completely new squad and a difficult start to the season, the team finished out of the relegation zone. He also continued to strengthen the reserve squad and saw it promoted to the top reserve league that season. He declined an offer to continue being the squad's manager and left the club following the season. While at Hesketh, he was mentored by Dave Sutton, former professional player and manager of Rochdale.

= Nelson =

In June 2012, Iftikar was appointed a first team coach of Nelson of the North West Counties Football League prior to the 2012–13 season. In October 2012 he temporarily took charge of the senior team after co-managers Robert Grimes and Michael Morrison resigned in October 2012.{{cite web|last1=Flanagan|first1=Chris|title=Iftikhar to take charge of managerless Admirals|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/9995412.Iftikhar_to_take_charge_of_managerless_Admirals/|publisher=Lancashire Telegraph|accessdate=12 August 2016}}{{cite web|title=Nelson bosses depart|url=http://www.pendletoday.co.uk/sport/football/non-league/nelson-bosses-depart-1-5041955|publisher=Pendle Today|accessdate=12 August 2016}}

= Central Lancashire =

He was named manager of the university men's team for the University of Central Lancashire which competes in the BUSA Football League for the 2015 season.{{cite web|last1=Richardson|first1=Joseph|title=Men's Football 4-2 University of Manchester|url=http://pluto-online.com/mens-football-4-2-university-of-manchester/|publisher=Pluto Online|accessdate=12 August 2016}}

= Bayangol =

In May 2016, he was appointed manager of Bayangol of the Mongolia Premier League{{cite web |title=Bayangol FC – Our new manager Shadab Iftikhar |url=http://bayangolfc.com/2016/05/14/bayangol-fc-our-new-manager-shadab-iftikhar/ |publisher=Bayangol FC |accessdate=12 August 2016}} The previous season, Bayangol were playing in the Mongolia 1st League but were forced into promotion by the Mongolian Football Federation ten days before the season began after second division club, Continental, declined promotion after earning it for financial reasons. Bayangol were unable to meet Premier League requirements for the team's manager to hold at least an UEFA "B" license or equivalent so they posted the opening on Twitter. Prior to his move to Mongolia, Iftikhar was preparing to travel to Canada for a coaching position he had accepted.{{cite web|title=The Blue Wolves of Mongolia Attempt to Howl a Little Louder|url=http://www.footynions.com/2016/07/25/blue-wolves-attempt-howl-little-louder-across-asia/|publisher=Footynions|accessdate=13 August 2016}}

= Mongolia =

He began serving as an assistant coach for the Mongolian national team during the 2017 EAFF East Asian Cup.{{cite web|last1=Lloyd|first1=Rich|title=The Football Experience|url=https://thefootballexperience.com/2016/07/20/bayangol-fc-trying-to-do-things-differently-in-mongolia/|publisher=The Football Experience|accessdate=12 August 2016}}

= Accrington Stanley =

In June 2017, Iftikhar was announced as a new academy coach for Accrington Stanley, then of League Two, securing his return to Britain.{{cite web |title=Accrington Stanley Announcement |url=https://twitter.com/ASFCacademy/status/873173357918867456 |publisher=Accrington Stanley FC |access-date=2 December 2020}}

= Valima Kiwi =

In October 2018, Iftikhar signed a deal to take over as new head coach of Vailima Kiwi of the Samoa National League.{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Dylan |title=Iftikhar Appointed as New Manager of Kiwi FC |url=https://sportcareers.co.uk/news/iftikhar-appointed-as-new-manager-of-kiwi-fc-10-04-2018 |publisher=sportcareers.co.uk |accessdate=27 October 2018}}

= Fort William =

By 2021, Iftikhar was part of the staff of Skelmersdale United of the North West Counties League Premier Division.{{cite web |title=NORTHERN DIVISION - STUDENT OF THE HALF-TERM |url=https://www.espfa.co.uk/post/northern-division-student-of-the-half-term-2 |access-date=24 September 2021 |publisher=Education & Semi-Professional Football Academy}} At the end of November 2021, Iftikhar was appointed manager of Fort William in the Scottish Highland Football League{{cite web |title=Shadab Iftikhar: From Belgium role to Fort William manager's job |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59480180 |website=bbc.co.uk/ |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=1 December 2021 |date=1 December 2021}} who were deemed "The Worst Team in Britain" in 2019, by many news media publishers.{{cite news |last1=McVeigh |first1=Niall |title=Fort William: how the 'worst football team in Britain' kept their club alive |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/08/fort-william-how-the-worst-football-team-in-britain-kept-their-club-alive |access-date=23 August 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=8 July 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Lillibury |first1=Simon |title=‘Worst Team In Britain’ Win After 882 Day Losing Streak |url=https://www.thesportsman.com/features/worst-team-in-britain-win-after-882-day-losing-streak |access-date=23 August 2024 |work=The Sportsman |date=12 September 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Merritt |first1=Mike |title=More woe for Fort William FC — the worst team in Britain |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/more-woe-for-fort-william-fc-the-worst-team-in-britain-ng5cvk7jx |access-date=23 August 2024 |work=thetimes.com |date=23 August 2024}}

= Pakistan =

On 5 September 2023, Iftikhar was appointed as the head coach of the Pakistan under 19 football team in their first participation in the 2023 SAFF U-19 Championship.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-05 |title=PFF expands Technical Department with Shadab Iftikhar's appointment |url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/05-Sep-2023/pff-expands-technical-department-with-shadab-iftikhar-s-appointment |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Daily Pakistan Global}}{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=The Newspaper's Sports |date=2023-09-06 |title=Diaspora influx continues as PFF NC brings in Shadab as U-19 coach |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1774280 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=DAWN.COM}}

=Return to Wigan Athletic=

On 2 July 2024, it was announced that he had been appointed as a first team coach at EFL League One side Wigan Athletic along with Tom Huddlestone.https://wiganathletic.com/news/2024/july/02/Tom-Huddlestone-and-Shadab-Iftikhar-join-Shaun-Maloney-s-backroom-staff--/, Tom Huddlestone and Shadab Iftikhar join Shaun Maloney's backroom staff, Wigan Athletic FC, 2 July 2024

=Thimphu City=

On 2 March 2025, Wigan Athletic announced that Iftikhar had departed the club having accepted an offer to become manager of Bhutan Premier League club Thimphu City. {{cite web|url=https://wiganathletic.com/news/2025/march/02/shadab-iftikhar-to-manage-thimphu-city-in-bhutan/|title=Shadab Iftikhar to manage Thimphu City in Bhutan|website=wiganathletic.com|date=2 March 2025|accessdate=2 March 2025}}

Scouting career

= Wigan Athletic =

During his early years coaching Hesketh Bank, Iftikhar met Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez, and become a voluntary scout for two years at the club.

= Everton =

Iftikhar followed Martinez to Everton after his appointment as manager in 2013, and spent further two years working under Martinez at Goodison Park.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-27 |title=Meet The Man Who Went From Football Manager Addict To History-Making Real Life Manager |url=https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-community-exclusives-take-a-bow-meet-the-man-who-went-from-fm-addict-to-real-life-manager-20211221 |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=SPORTbible}}

= Belgium =

In 2021, Iftikhar was reunited with Roberto Martinez as Iftikhar served as a scout for the Belgium national team during UEFA Euro 2020.{{cite web |last1=Earnshaw |first1=Tom |title=Belgium's Euro 2020 chances boosted by presence of highly-rated coach from Preston |url=https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/belgiums-euro-2020-chances-boosted-20803512 |access-date=24 September 2021 |publisher=lancs.live}}