I managed 'Britain's worst football team' to chase my dream

British-Asian football manager, Shadab Iftikhar grew up in Preston in northern England, completely obsessed by the beautiful game. Introduced to it by his older brother, he spent his childhood playing in the streets, analysing live matches and testing his tactical ideas on the popular computer game, Football Manager.

While his playing abilities were limited, Shadab soon realised his sporting talents lay in calling the shots from the sidelines and, inspired by his highly-decorated managerial icon, Rafa Benitez, Shadab dreamed of becoming a football manager himself. It was a lofty ambition considering his South Asian heritage, a group that remains significantly under‑represented in the elite game in England, particularly in coaching roles. But Shadab’s unwavering determination and self‑belief set him on a mission to rival the best in the business. But it wasn't a straight road.

At 17, he created his own opportunities by setting up clubs and approaching professional teams around the world to gain experience. Nothing seemed to work, until an encounter with former Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez. This led to a scouting role and Shadab’s first break into the professional game. His whirlwind journey has since taken him to coaching and manager­ial positions in countries far from home, including Pakistan, Bhutan and Mongolia, as well as to the 2022 World Cup with Belgium, the world’s top-ranked team at the time. He even attempted to rescue the infamous Fort William FC, once described as the worst team in Britain. Shadab's documentary with Fort William FC is called Fight at the Fort

Abandoned by his parents and placed in an orphanage at the age of seven, Robert Sundholm began street‑hustling for money and taking on odd jobs to survive. While working as a janitor at 60, he picked up a paintbrush and discovered a natural talent for art. Splitting his time between mopping floors and sketching, Robert’s work was noticed in 2009 by attorney and artist Daniel Belardinelli. Impressed by his raw ability, Daniel helped curate Robert’s first exhibition and launch a late‑blooming career. This interview was first broadcast in 2017

Presenter: Jo Fidgen

Producer: Tommy Dixon

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(Photo: Shadab Iftikhar standing in front of a mountainous scenery)