Pakistani footballer
Easah Zaheer Suliman (born 26 January 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Azerbaijan Premier League club Sumgayit. Born in England, he captains the Pakistan national team.
Suliman is a product of the Aston Villa Academy. He has represented England at youth level and is the first player of Asian heritage to captain an England football side, having done so at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-19 levels. Suliman played every game at centre back in the England Under-19s victorious UEFA European Under-19 Championship campaign in July 2017, scoring the opening goal in England's 2–1 final victory over Portugal. Suliman has played on loan at English Football League sides Cheltenham Town and Grimsby Town as well as Eredivisie side FC Emmen.
Club career
Aston Villa
Easah hails from Hall Green area of Birmingham,[3] and started in the Aston Villa academy at 8 years old.[3]
In January 2015, after reported interest from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and Premier League giants Liverpool,[3] Easah secured his future with Aston Villa, signing a two year professional contract.[3][4]
Suliman was called up to train with the first-team squad by Rémi Garde during the 2015–16 season, and was named as a substitute for a match in the League Cup against Notts County on 25 August 2015.[5] Suliman made his first team debut under manager Steve Bruce, featuring as a late substitute in a 4–1 League Cup victory over Wigan Athletic on 22 August 2017.[6]
Cheltenham Town (loan)
On 4 August 2016, Suliman joined Cheltenham Town on loan until 2 January 2017.[7] He made his Cheltenham debut on 6 August 2016 in a 1–1 home draw against Leyton Orient.[8] Three days later he played the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 League Cup win against League One side Charlton Athletic.[9]
Grimsby Town (loan)
On 31 January 2018, Suliman joined League Two side Grimsby Town until the end of the 2017–18 season.[10] He made his league debut in a 1–1 draw with Port Vale on 10 March 2018.[11]
FC Emmen (loan)
On 17 August 2018, Suliman joined Dutch Eredivisie side FC Emmen on a season-long loan deal.[12]
On 28 December 2018, Suliman was recalled from his loan spell at Emmen due to him playing only 9 minutes in his 4-month spell there. The Villa staff and Emmen manager came to an agreement that the loan was 'no longer useful'.[13]
Vitória SC
On 21 January 2020, Suliman joined Portuguese side Vitória SC for an undisclosed fee.[14] On 5 June 2020, Suliman made his debut in a 2–2 draw with Sporting CP. In doing so, he became the first player of Pakistani descent to play in the top flight in Portugal.[15] He made his first Primeira Liga start on 30 June 2020, helping his side earn a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory over Vitória FC.[16]
Nacional (loan)
On 28 July 2021, Suliman joined recently relegated Nacional on a season-long loan.[17] On 15 August 2021, he made his debut for Nacional as a late substitute in a 4–0 victory over Vilafranquense.[18] Suliman made his first start on 28 August 2021 in a 2–1 home victory against Varzim in which he played the full ninety minutes.[19]
Vilafranquense (loan)
On 1 September 2022, Suliman joined Vilafranquense in the Portuguese second tier on a season-long loan.[20] Suliman made his debut for the club on 8 October 2022, in a 0–1 home defeat to Penafiel.[21]
Sumgayit
On 13 July 2023, it was reported that the Azerbaijan Premier League club Sumgayit FK was very close to sign Suliman from the Portuguese side Vitória.[22][23] On 21 July, Sumgayit confirmed the signing of Suliman to a two-year contract.[24][25][26] He made his debut on the opening game of the league in 5 August 2023 in a 4–1 away victory over Sabail playing the full 90 minutes.[27] He scored his first senior professional goal (across all leagues) in the 3rd minute in a 2–1 away victory against Gabala.[28][29]
International career
Suliman has represented England at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U20 levels[30] and was the first British Asian to captain an England side at any level.[31] Suliman captained England Under-16s at the 2014 Montaigu Tournament with the side finishing third overall.[32] Suliman has also captained England at under-17 level against the Faroe Islands.[33]
Suliman was promoted to the England Under-19 side in August 2016 and played the full match in a 1–1 friendly against the Netherlands Under-19 side. A penalty shoot-out was held following the match with Suliman scoring the winning penalty.[34] Tom Davies of Everton started the game as captain but passed the armband to Suliman after he was substituted in the 61st minute.[34]
Suliman started every game at centre back in England Under-19's victorious 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship campaign in July 2017.[35] He scored the opening goal in the final, a header following a rebound off the opposition goalkeeper, in England's 2–1 win over Portugal in Georgia's Tengiz Burjanadze Stadium.
Suliman is eligible to play for Pakistan because of his Pakistani background. On 18 May 2023, it was confirmed that Easah would represent Pakistan after FIFA approved the request from Pakistan Football Federation.[36]
On 14 June 2023, Suliman made his debut for the Pakistan national football team in a 1–0 friendly defeat to Kenya.[37] On 17 June, he was selected in the Pakistan squad for the 2023 SAFF Championship which is a FIFA-sanctioned competition and would therefore tie Suliman's international future to Pakistan.[38]
Personal life
Suliman has discussed his British Pakistani heritage and being a Muslim professional footballer in interviews.[39] His family originates from the city of Mirpur in the Azad Kashmir region of Pakistan.[40] He has spoken of his family's friendship with England cricketer Moeen Ali and how he encouraged him to keep going to secure a professional contract.[39]
