Pakistani footballer (born 1992)
Muhammad Adil Iqbal (Urdu: محمد عادل اقبال; born 9 July 1992[1]) is a Pakistani professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Pakistan Premier League club Lyallpur FC. A right-footed player, he usually plays as central midfielder.[1] Earlier in his career he primarily played as a wide midfielder. Adil is known for his dribbling skills, speed, crossing ability and his accurate right foot long-range shots from the centre of midfield.
Adil first came to prominence with Pak Elektron, signing a professional contract for the club at the age of 18 - scoring six goals in 25 appearances in his first season. The following season he signed for Khan Research Laboratories, where he went on to win three Pakistan Premier League titles, two Challenge Cup titles and finishing runners-up in 2013 AFC President's Cup.[2][3] Three years later Adil's signature was pursued by a leading Kyrgyzstani club, and after protracted transfer negotiations he joined Dordoi Bishkek in 2014.[4][5] Adil played a major role in helping the team win a treble; the league title, league cup and super cup, scoring four goals and making six assists in the league.
Adil received his first international cap in a 2–1 defeat against Palestine.[1]
Club career
Pak Elektron & KRL
Early years
Pak Elektron placed Adil in their first team for the 2010 season, signing his first professional contract at the age of 18. Adil went on to score six goals in 25 appearances, making a lot of assists, in all competitions. His performances and record made Khan Research Laboratories, the runners-up of the league, caught their attention to sign him permanently. The following season, Adil won the Pakistan Premier League with Khan Research Laboratories in 2011 as KRL set a Pakistan Premier League record scoring the most points in a season in the Pakistan Premier League with 77 points.[6] Adil also won the Challenge Cup with KRL (1–0) against rivals K-Electric in 2011. Later, Adil went on to make his debut AFC President's Cup on 8 May 2012 in a 0–0 draw against Erchim from Mongolia.[7]
2012–2013 season
During the 2012 season, Adil played an important in the first-team under then manager Tariq Lutfi, who replaced Sajjad Mahmood the previous season; Adil established himself as a key player in the midfield and guided the team to clinch a historic double; winning the league title, the domestic cup and qualified for the AFC President's Cup[2] for the following season – finishing runners-up in the competition losing (1–0) to Turkmenistan's Balkan.[8] Adil scored his first goal in the continental competition in the 77th minute in a 2–0 group stage victory over Philippine's Global and later scoring the second goal in a 2–0 win over Hilal Al-Quds from Palestine in the final group stage.[9][10] He helped KRL to reach the final, which they eventually lost. In 2013 season, Adil won his third and last league title with the Rawalpindi side.[11]
During his three years stint at Khan Research Laboratories, Adil scored a total of 24 goals in 65 matches in all competitions before signing for Kyrgyzstani club FC Dordoi Bishkek, managed by former Pakistan national team coach Zaviša Milosavljević, in 2014.[12]
Dordoi Bishkek
Adil completed his move to FC Dordoi Bishkek in 2014, joining his former club and Pakistan national team player Kaleemullah Khan, after successful performances in 2013 AFC President's Cup, on an initial one-year contract.[5][13] Since his arrival in Dordoi, he has helped the club win their pre-season tour friendly matches in Turkey and Russia. He played a major role in helping the team win a treble; the league title, league cup and super cup, scoring four goals and six assists in 13 appearances in the league.
Adil made his AFC Cup debut on 9 February 2015 in a 1–0 defeat against Turkmenistan side Ahal in the preliminary round.[14] In an interview with Dawn News, it was reported that Adil has got an offer from football club of Eerste Divisie in Netherlands and that "he will travel to Netherlands in May 2015 to attend the trial to show them his skills".[15] He was later offered a two-year contract by Championship side Derby County after he impressed the manager Paul Clement with his performances for Dordoi Bishkek, but by then he had already signed a contract extension with the Kyrgyz side, effectively ending his chances of playing in the English second-tier till January at least.[16] In 2016, he was reported to have undergone a three-week trial for the Maltese Premier League side Pembroke Athleta, after refusing to further extend his contract with Dordoi Bishkek.[17][18]
KRL
After successfully completing the trial for Pembroke Athleta, the move to the club was put on hold due to visa hurdles.[19] In the meantime, Adil reported to train with former side KRL.[19][20] After the move failed to materialise, he stayed with KRL, winning the 2016 Pakistan Football Federation Cup.
Hawkesbury City
In wake of the crisis of the Pakistan Football Federation in 2017, Adil signed for Australian club Hawkesbury City FC in the NSW League Two in a short-term deal, which would allow him play ten matches till the end of next month.[21] He returned to KRL by the end of the deal.
Defenders FC
In 2021, Adil joined Defenders FC in the Sri Lanka Super League.[22][23] After a short stint at the club, Adil trained with WADA too maintain his fitness.[23]
Lyallpur
After a short stint in the Sri Lankan Super League, Adil joined Lyallpur FC in 2021.[24]
International career
Adil started his international youth career in 2006 being part of the under-14 Pakistan team in the AFC U-14 Football Festival held in Bangladesh. Apart from the under-14 team, Adil also represented the under-17, under-19, under-21, and the Pakistan under-23 national sides. Whilst with the under-23 team, Adil also represented Pakistan in the Asian Games and South Asian Games, scoring his first goal in the 54th minute in a 2-2 draw against Palestine in Al-Nakba International Football Cup 2012.
Adil earned his first senior cap for Pakistan in a 2–1 defeat against Palestine on 1 March 2011.[1] He has earned 26 caps for the national team since his debut in 2011, playing in the 2012 and 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification tournaments, 2013 SAFF Championship, the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the 2018 SAFF Championship.[1]
Personal life
Adil was born in Bahawalpur, Punjab and was a fruit and sugarcane seller, going around the streets of Bahwalpur with his cart, to financially support his family.[25] However, he used to play football whenever he found the time and thus was scouted when he got selected for the regional team in the National U-14 Championship held in 2006.[26] He eventually impressed the coaches to secure a call-up for the Pakistan U-14 side that took part in AFC Festival of Football in Bangladesh.[27]
Adil has described the Argentina national team player Carlos Tevez as his ideal football star and has been compared with Brazilian footballer Roberto Carlos for his quick pace and composure by the local media in Pakistan.[28]
In an interview with Football Pakistan, Adil said that he enjoys eating the national dish of Kyrgyzstan, Pilaf, which is a particular favourite of his, and he also enjoys grabbing a slice of pizza or two when possible.[29]
